THE GREAT MYSTERIES LISTED IN THE BIBLE

 One of the  first mysteries mentioned in the Bible is found in Matthew 13 is told by Christ and pertains to the “kingdom of heaven”.  So of course the next question is; “What is the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ ”?  The next major mysteries, also the majority of mysteries come from the writings of Paul.  These are the ones that pertain to the Church Age, which is the present time or age that we are living in right now.  The last major mystery listed in the Bible is found in Revelation 1: 20 which is the mystery of the seven stars.  The mysteries are explained in God’s Word, but one must get off the milk and study for the “meat” of the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15).

First we will start with a short explanation of the “kingdom of Heaven”.  The phrase “the kingdom of heaven” was announced by John the Baptist and first found in Matt. 3:2.  This is referring to Christ, the Messiah who was among them right then and there, in physical form walking among them, ministering, healing and showing miracle and signs proving who He was (1 Cor. 1:22).  We can gather from this that Christ has to be physically present in order for the “kingdom of heaven” to be here on earth.  We also know that the kingdom is what the Jew has been looking for as is mentioned many times throughout prophecies listed in the Old Testament.  Christ is now in heaven, so the kingdom is currently in heaven.  This kingdom will not return to the earth till King’s second coming and then He will reign 1000 years as King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19 and 20).  This time is known as the seventh dispensation, the kingdom and it is also referred to as the Millennial Reign.  So when the Bible talks about the “kingdom of heaven” it is talking about an earthly event (as far as man is concerned) and this is exactly what Israel was looking for the first time Christ was on earth.  This seventh dispensation also is referenced in Eph. 1:10 as, “the dispensation of the fullness of times”, where Christ brings together things of heaven and earth in His reign in this 1000 year kingdom.  One should always keep in mind that these covenants and promises of this wonderful kingdom and age have always been directed to the Jews.  So when this happens it will once again be a fulfillment of prophecies, covenants and promises made to the forefathers (the Jewish nation).

The next mystery mentioned is that of Romans 11:25, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, . . .that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in”.   Another reference found in Rom. 11:7-8, “Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day”.  These verses tell that Israel will be spiritually blinded by God for a time.  And additional verses found in 2 Cor. 3:14 and 4:4 tells of Israel’s blindness today.  But God’s hiding His meaning to the Jews is not new, (look up Luke 18:34).  What are they blinded to:  they are blinded to the fact that God walked among them 2000 years ago.  This blindness in turn leaves the Jewish majority blinded to the Gospel of Grace (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 10: 9-10 or the “death, burial and resurrection), naturally if you do not believe that Christ was here in the first place (1 Cor. 2:7-8), then certainly one cannot believe in His death or resurrection. 

Another mystery revealed by Paul is found in Romans 16:25-26 and this mystery tells about salvation going to “all nations”, meaning the Gentiles.  It will be taken by the apostle Paul to the Gentiles and their conversion being by faith alone.  A better detailed explanation of this mystery is found in Eph. 3:2-7, here you will discover that this was a revelation given to Paul by the ascended Christ to give to the Gentiles and that past ages had no knowledge of it.   Now in this time period God is giving salvation through grace alone to all having faith in that gospel of grace. 

Another mystery found in 1 Cor. 2:7, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory”.  For further explanation drop down to verse 12 which tells us that we have received the indwelling Holy Spirit, “that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (Dt. 29:29).  Then drop down to verse 14 to find out why not all can understand the deeper meanings of Scripture, “But the natural (carnal or the unbelieving) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. . .”, but this means that the believer can. 

One more mystery is that now the Church is now the body of Christ, (Col. 1:24-27). 

Another mystery that all Christians are waiting for is found in 1 Cor. 15:51”Behold I show you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  More information about this event is found in 1 Thess. 4:13-17 and in verse 17 we find the words, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  These underlined phrases answers much confusion today.   Also found in 2 Thess. 2:1-3 which tells us about the being gathered unto to the Lord and that the “man of sin” cannot be revealed until there comes a “departure” (which is what “falling away” means and is what word most older version use).  This brings about another mystery mentioned in verses 7 and 8.

The mystery of 2 Thess. 7 and 8 where the antichrist is revealed is another mystery which of course takes place in the tribulation period.  This section of scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit is hindering the man of iniquity.  And how is this accomplished today?  The indwelling Holy Spirit in Christians is a hindrance to keep sin from taking over the world today.  Now what is going to happen when all believers depart?  When those doing the hindrance will no longer be here and now verse 8 can come about, “And then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth…”   What we have here is a verse that validates a pre-tribulation rapture.

When we READ and study the Bible we find that it is definitely multi-leveled and when we actually do what Christians are supposed to do (that is to mature in the Word), then we are following 2 Tim. 2:15 by rightly dividing the Word of truth.  And when the Bible is rightly divided into the applicable groups we find that the Bible is not confusing (1 Cor. 14:33), it actually fits nicely like a puzzle.

Col. 1:26, “Even the mystery which hath been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints, To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”.  (Gal. 2:20”…but Christ liveth in in me:…”.)  To understand about this mystery read and apply what Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8: 12-19 about “…if you had known me, you should have known my Father also”, again reference to the trinity all in one.  The Church now has the indwelling Holy Spirit which is the third part of the trinity, so statements like “God in us” or “Christ in us” or “the Holy Spirit in us” is concerning the trinity and all become one in the same.  Romans 8:9, ”But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you,.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  1 Cor. 3:16”…and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you”  1 Cor. 6:19, Eph. 4:6, “But God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”    Of course there are other references to the indwelling Spirit, but this is just one more new thing to identify this age of grace like Col. 1:27, etc. 

Many more things are brought out to this age of grace here in the Pauline writings; such as the Church is the Bride of Christ, Eph. 5:23-32.  Christ is the head of body (the Church), Col. 1:18.  Sin is not imputed, Romans 5:13; Col. 2:13; 2 Cor. 5:19.  The Church’s citizenship is in heaven, Phil. 3:20 and Col. 1:13.  Paul’s important part when he was given these revelations to reveal to us, Gal. 1:10-19, Eph. 1:9, 3:3.  The Church is joint-heirs with Christ, Eph. 1:11, Rom. 8:17, and the list could continue.  But we must realize that we are living in a very special time this “Age of Grace” and these mysteries revealed mostly here in the Pauline Epistles give us great insight to what is happening today and how special we really are to God.

The last major mystery spoken of is the one of seven stars in Rev. 1:20.  These seven stars are angels or messengers that take God’s message to a believer.  In this particular instance the message was sent to the seven listed churches found in chapter two and three of Revelation.  A star represents light and God is light and His Word represents God’s light, so consequently any bringing a message of God’s Word could be considered such a messenger.

Mysteries are only secret until God decides to reveal them to man (Dt. 29:29).  Now our job as believers is a combination of 1 Cor. 4:1-2 and Rom. 10:14-15 and here we are to be “ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.”  And in Romans it tells us that we are to proclaim or teach God’s Word.  Rom. 10:17, “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Our job is not to SAVE sinners, but to present the Word to sinners and leave the saving of the soul to the one who can 1 Cor. 3:6.  To present the truth to sinners we must first know what we are talking about and that requires knowledge and wisdom of God’s Word that He has given us.  That requires searching the scriptures for the truth and this will prevent the spreading of false doctrine and teachings so often warned about in the scriptures.  All should often re-read 2 Tim. 2:15.

What does the word “church” mean?  Is it a word that has changed meaning over the years?   The word church means a calling out of people such as an assembly or group for a specific cause.  Now this cause could be for religious purposes, but it could also be for any purpose that anyone might call, such as a town or committee meeting.  The word “church” is often associated with a building where religious people assemble for worship.  This use of the word church is used in the Bible for the building at Ephesus, Galatia, Thessalonica, Jerusalem and the ones mentioned in Revelation. 

The church is actually the group of people that are referred to as Christians today, ones who are reborn by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12:13-28.  This is a body of people that are selected during the time (dispensation) after the law was completed (“it is finished” Jn. 19:30), until the rapture occurs (the resurrection, 1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:14-17).  The church is referred to under many names, as the “body of Christ” (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18), the “bride of Christ” (Rom. 7:4; 2 Cor. 11:2) and also as those in the “dispensation of grace”.  The seal (proof) of a member of the church is the “indwelling” Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) within the Christian.

The Old Testament has not one prophesy mentioning the “Church Age”.  But one must remember that while studying the Bible one must read what it says and also “read” what it does not say.  There is no mention of the word church until Mt. 16:18 and this word is the Greek word ekklesia which is a verb meaning to call out.  This word is used to depict an assembly or gathering of people together for a specific purpose.

The Old Testament goes from talking about Christ’s first coming (first advent) straight into the second.  This is why the Apostles felt that they were in the “last days” and they were very soon to go into tribulation and then the Kingdom.  Examples of these scriptures are found:

Joel 2:28 and 29, they take us up to Pentecost, but verse 30 goes straight into the tribulation.

Ps. 2:1-4 talks about how the nations together crucify Christ and then in verse 5 talks about the tribulation.

Ps. 118:22 talks about the refusal of Christ and straight into the Kingdom.

Isa. 9:6 from His birth straight to His government.

Isa. 61:1-2 from preaching the good tidings to tribulation to millennium.

Dan. 9:24 from making a payment for sin to Kingdom.

Zech.  9:9-10; Lk. 1:31-32; Acts 2: 7, 12, 17-21; Acts 15: 15-16, etc.

The mystery of the church age, the taking out of the world a body for Christ, the time from when the Holy Spirit started “indwelling” up to the time of the rapture was not revealed to just anyone, it was revealed to Paul (Rom. 16:25; Gal 1:16:  Eph. 3:3).   Paul brought his gospel (good news) to the Gentiles after the Jews rejected his message just the same as they did Christ’s good news of the kingdom.  For this reason the Jews as a nation are spiritually “blinded” (2 Cor. 3:14) as well as the lost are blinded (2 Cor. 4:4).

As Paul says in 1 Cor. Chapter one, when we are sanctified by being called by Jesus Christ who is going to faithfully keep us to the end (rapture) so we can be presented that day blameless (bema seat).  What a beautiful time (church age) we are so fortunate to live so we can have such an opportunity that has never been offered before, nor will ever be offered again.  How long will this opportunity continue?   Paul writing to Christians said in 1 Thess 5:4, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.”  Remember this is to Christians and this scripture is not in conflict with Mt. 16:1-3.  Who was Jesus talking to?  Hypocrites, not Christians, these are among the lost and as mentioned before in 2 Cor. 4:4 the lost are blinded by the god of this world (Satan) who does not want the light (word of God) to shine and light up the “Truth” to their understanding.

Other biblical persons who thought they were saved, but were not. References Acts 16:14, where Lydia worshiped God, but had not received the Holy Spirit, was she saved? No. Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue in Acts18:8, did he feel as though he was saved? Certainly, but was he saved? No. The 12 men of Acts 19:1-7, where Paul asked these men if they had received the Holy Spirit, since they believed? No.

Why were these people not saved? They had no indwelling Holy Spirit. After the time of Pentecost the Holy Spirit became an indwelling Spirit. Before this the Holy Spirit was what we might refer to as a clothing Spirit. That is, He would come upon an individual and be around that individual for a period of time and then would leave and perhaps come back later or perhaps not. Before Pentecost the Holy Spirit did not stay with the individuals, nor was He indwelling. After Pentecost the Holy Spirit is indwelling. Today we are in a dispensation that we call the Age of Grace or the Gospel of Grace. This is the time period between Pentecost and the Rapture. The former way of salvation was though the Gospel of the Kingdom, which was started with John the Baptist. The Gospel of the Kingdom has been put on hold starting at 70 AD with the destruction of the Temple and will resume with the start of the tribulation.

Now back to the topic of the “indwelling” Holy Spirit. John 14:16-17, 26 says “And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” V. 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. . .” 2 Cor. 1:22 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” Eph. 4:30 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by who ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Another example can be found in Acts 15:8.

The indwelling Holy Spirit is the true mark of a Christian today. It does not matter what we say or even what we do if we do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit, then we are lost, unsaved, destined to the lake of fire.

Even Saul/Paul was saved under the Gospel of the Kingdom, trusting and having faith that Christ was the Messiah. Believing this alone did not save Saul and it did not wash away his sins. The steps were 1. Realizing that he was a lost sinner in need of salvation. 2. Have faith that Christ was the Messiah, believing in His Name. 3. Repent. 4. Be baptized. Then you were to: 5. Receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Remember this was after Pentecost). Afterwards he was to 6. Keep the Law of Moses. (Remember this was SAUL, not Paul). The Gospel of Grace, which is Paul’s gospel, had not yet been revealed to Paul. You can read what happened to Paul in Gal. 1:12-19, but specifically verse 17.

Now lets return to the indwelling Holy Spirit. Now remember that under the Gospel of the Kingdom, believing in the Name of Christ, that He was the Messiah did not relieve you of sins. (That did not happen until after the repentance and baptism) without the washing away of sins through baptism your vessel/Temple or heart was still unclean. An “unclean” spirit, a demon, can only inhabit an unclean vessel. The Holy Spirit will not become an indwelling Spirit until the vessel has been cleansed. Under the Gospel of the Kingdom the remission, or cleansing of sins happened after baptism. Now under the Gospel of Grace this occurs at the time of belief and acceptance of Christ as the one who paid the price for our sins thorough His sacrificial death on the cross and this is before baptism.

Are the differences between the order of steps to salvation in the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace splitting hairs? Perhaps, but be assured that believing in Christ’s Name and acknowledging that He is the Messiah will not get you to heaven today. Nor will repenting and being baptized a dozen times get you to heaven. We must rightly divide the word (2 Tim. 2:15) to know which Gospel will save us.

Under the Gospel of the Kingdom, one was saved by recognizing who the Messiah was and following the required steps. Salvation under the Gospel of Grace is believing what Jesus did. So what do we have to believe for salvation today? We have to believe in what is called Paul’s Gospel. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles and his gospel can be found in 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 10:9-10.

1. One must recognize that they are a sinner, lost and want to be saved. The Philippian jailer Acts 16:30, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. Did Paul and Silas tell them to believe and repent and also to be baptized in order to be saved? No, just believe and then to follow up after they were baptized. They had salvation before being baptized. They had salvation when the Holy Spirit became and indwelling Spirit. Search out the story of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 and you will find that Peter and the Jews were amazed, dumfounded because the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit before repentance and baptism. Here Gentiles receives the Holy Spirit after hearing and believing about the death, burial and resurrection, but before repentance and baptism.

2. Realize that the only power that can save comes through Jesus Christ. Jesus was perfect and the only one worthy to pay the price for all sin at the cross (Rev. 5:1-9, the only one worthy to be the redeemer).

3.  Jesus did this because He loved us and if we’ll just accept and believe that He did this for us, trust and follow Him, then He will give us the gift of eternal life. Then the Holy Spirit will become indwelling at this instance of belief. One is now an “heir”, a son of God.

4.  After this, we should make a public notification of our accepting to follow Jesus Christ first by mouth (Rom. 10:9-10) and second by water baptism.

5.  We are also to follow Christ by putting on the “new man” 2 Cor. 5:17 and put away the former ways of sin (repent).

From the time of Pentecost a saved person will have the “indwelling” Holy Spirit and the unsaved will not.

Parable for Salvation 

I am going to relate to you a parable.  Now a parable is a short story with a heavenly meaning. 

 

A blind man and his buddy were out in the woods.  The blind man sat down to rest and his buddy went ahead to scout the trail.  While the blind man was resting on a log, something long and slithery climbed into his lap.  Now blind or not, he took off.   Now after a few seconds of running, he started yelling for his buddy while feeling for a safe place to sit and wait.  His buddy hearing his blind friend and realizing that something was amiss started in the direction of the yelling.  When the buddy arrived close to the sound he saw a sign saying “quicksand ahead” and the yelling was coming from that direction.  When the buddy arrived he was on one side of the quicksand pool and his friend was already up to his shoulders on the other side.  Knowing that there was not time to get around to the other side the friend yelled for him to reach up to his left for there was a limb that he might reach.  Now when the blind man heard his friend, by “blind faith”, he could choose to trust the word and reach for the limb for his salvation, or he could choose not to reach.  It was the blind man’s decision.  

This is faith, if the blind man believed in that which he could not see and trusted in the words he heard.  Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Romans 10:14, “How, then, shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear with a preacher (proclaimer)?”

 

Now as all good disciples asked of Jesus after he spoke of a parable,  “What is the meaning of that?” 

I call this a parable of salvation.

Woods represents life or the world. 

The blind man represents what?   (Sinner)

Being blind represents what?  (Sinner does not understand the Word of God) 1 Cor. 1:18; 2:14; 2 Cor. 3: 14 (the Jew); 4:4.

The friend represents whom?  (Friend) 2 Cor. 3:3-4;

Long and Slithery represents what? (Evil)

Running away represents what? (Man’s natural response)

Why did the blind man yell for his buddy?  (Realized he was lost or in trouble)

The quicksand represents what? (Sin)

Why did the blind man fall into the quicksand? (Because a friend was not there to guide)

The sign was what?  (Warning for those that can see)

Telling the whereabouts of the limb represents what?  (Gospel of Salvation)

Reaching out for the limb represents what?  (Accepting Salvation through faith)

The limb represents what?  (Christ)

 

 

How could the blind man be saved?  First he had to have faith in the words from his friend and having faith that following the directions would save him.  Faith was his salvation.  The result of his acceptance of salvation was holding onto the limb for his life.  Of course this would represent eternal life.

 

 

 

Read Romans 10:9-21.  Discuss  Romans 10:13-15. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14. How, then, shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15. And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tiding of good things!”  continue onto verse 17.  “So, the, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

 

                                                ——SALVATION——-

 

            REQUIRED                                         RESULT         

 

 

Recognition of Lost condition.            The transforming of ones life. 

Powerless to save yourself.                The new man, Saul to Paul, example 2 Cor.

Faith in the Death, burial and              5:17; Eph 2:15; READ Eph. 4:21-24.

resurrection.  1 Cor. 15:1-4                Repentance                                          

                

                                                           

CHANGES EXHIBITED

                                                            Attitudes            READ Col. 3:1-17.

                                                            Humility

                                                            Compassion for others

                                                            Purpose of living

            Goals

           

ACTIONS ARE CHANGED

God created for six days and He said that it was good, then, it was finished so He rested, Gen 2:2.  Now Christ has finished His work of the cross and now He also has sat down.  Heb. 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our rfaith. who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”   These two scriptures let us know that up to this particular time, God’s plan is on schedule and this part is completed.

Now we know that Christ is not walking with His disciples today.  The role of being the prophet, the sacrificial lamb is over.   The requirements for the law has been met.  All the prophecies of the first advent has been fulfilled.  Rom. 15:8, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.”  Now it is time to move on to the dispensation of grace and leave behind the dispensation of law.

Now Christ has finished-

1. The sacrifices.  The atonement for sins. 1 Cor. 3:13.  (A)  Because Christ has now atoned for all sins past, present and future.  (B)  No longer is sin the judging criteria for man.  (C)  At the Bema Judgment Seat what is the evidence that will be pesented for judgment? [Works]  (D)  What evidence will be presented at the Great White Throne Judgment? [Works]
2. Judaism that is Temple worship and sacrifices is of no avail and can now be put away.  The Temple at Jerusalem can now be destroyed like it had been prophesied by Jesus in Matthew.  This event occurred in 70 A.D. (A)  Done away with having to go to a Temple in order to worship God.  (B)  Done away with having to go to a Temple to fulfill rituals, like sacrifices and required attendance at certain feasts.  (C)  Done away with having to go to the Temple to give alms, get forgiveness or to pray.  (D)  Done away with having to go to the Temple to have someone else talk to God for you.  (E)  In this dispensation of grace, you are the Temple.  (F)  Now the Holy Spirit is “indwelling” with a role of guidance and utterance.

The old covenant is now useless and this is where the new begins.  The old covenant was OK, but Paul says the new covenant is better.  This is the whole theme of Hebrews.  The book of Hebrews is telling the Jews to give up Judaism, the old covenant and take up Grace, the new covenant.  Rom. 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace.”

The old covenant, the Mosaic Law. Rom. 10:14 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”  The old covenant was between God and Israel and was an earthly covenant.  The promised land was here on earth, the priest was here on earth, the kingdom was to be here on earth and the Temple was here on earth.  This system was full of legalism.  One must do it this way and not do these things.  Full of do’s and don’ts, rules, regulations and rituals.  Things of this covenant were physical,earthly, visibile or tangible.  Enforced by punishement or even death for wrong deeds committed.  The Jews were dealing with a God of wrath or anger.

The new covenant, that which we are under now, is called grace.  This is a heavenly covenant between God, Christ and Christians.  As the song says, “this land is not our home”, heaven is our home.  Our head (the high priest) is not in this world today.  Neither is our rewards of this world.  We are not God’s “people”, we are His children.  Israel is God’s people.  God’s children are “translated into the kingdom of his dear Son” Col. 1:13.  “They are not of this world even as I am not of the world.” John 17:16, “but ye (the Gentile and Jewish Christians that make up the Church) are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels (heavenly, not earthly). 23.  To the general assembly and Church of the first-born, who are written in heaven, and to God.  The Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. 24.  And to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant. . .” Heb. 12:22-24a.  These scriptures are referring to the Grace Age and being with Christ.  Things of this covenant are spiritual, heavenly, invisible.  Encouraged by promise of reward hereafter.  The Church is dealing with a God of forgiveness or grace “For God hath not appointed us (the Chruch) to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thess. 5:9.  “Everybody now has access to God, we no longer have to go through a Temple, priest, sacrifices or rituals.

The Gospel of the Kingdom.  This gospel was preached by John the Baptist, Jesus and the twelve. Mt. 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. . .”  This gospel has been set aside till after the Church has been ratured.  This gospel shows that God intends to set up an earthly kingdom that is prefect.  This kingdom will be in fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

The Gospel of Salvation which is also known as Paul’s Gospel.  Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  Also in Heb. 12:2 we find that Jesus is the author and  finisher of our faith.  “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Les Feldick says that “I don’t think any human being can comprehend all that was accomplished when He (Christ) finished the work of the cross.”  He also says that “Faith + (Nothing) = Salvation”.

What can we add to what Christ did at the cross?  What else must we do to be saved?  Eph. 2:8-10. “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves.  [it is] a gift of God. 9. Not of works lest any man should boast. 10.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”   Romans 4:1-4 tells us that Abraham was given righteousness by his faith, no works involved here.  What other Old Testament saint was saved by just faith alone?

Jesus came.  He was crucified, buried, and then resurrected by the power of God.  This fulfillment was in accordance to the prophecies of the Old Testament.  Today by the gospel that Paul preached, we live under the Age of Grace and our only requirement for salvation in this age is faith.

What did Christ mean by the statement “It is finished” in John 19:30?  Another term often used for the word finished is “fulfilled”.   Well what was Christ’s purpose for coming to earth as the “Son of man” or as God in the flesh?  When Christ stated that it was finished, He was meaning that His purpose up to that time, had been accomplished.  God’s plan was now completed. Christ finished another critical step that man could not do himself.  Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection has now redeemed man from the bondage of sin.

What was it that man could not do?  Man could not offer an acceptable sacrifice that would permanently cover sin and heal the relationship between man and God.  Without this sacrifice man was doomed by God’s own judgment in Romans 6:23.

God’s ultimate judgment upon man.  God said all are guilty and the sentence is death, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death. . .” then add Romans 3:23a “For all have sinned. . .” equates, from God’s point of view, all men deserve death.  But this was not God’s purpose for man.  2 Peter 3:9b tells us that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  So God devised a plan to bring man to an acceptable righteous being Romans 5:20b, “but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”  But first the law had to be fulfilled.

God’s plan for man’s redemption began in Gen. 3:15 with the prophecy about woman’s seed.  Over the next 4000 years that one prophecy was followed by over 350 more written concerning the first advent which would bring us up to the time of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  To fulfill the law there had to be a perfect sacrifice.  Jesus did not have an earthly father, therefore the sin of Adam was not present in the blood.  Because Jesus had no sin then He could be the eternal sacrifice without “any” blemish.

How the Mosaic Law affected man can be found in Romans 3:19-20, “Now we know that whatever things the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, (Israel) that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world (the law was given to Israel, but was expanded to every man and condemned the entire world.) may become guilty before God.  20.  Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  also in Gal. 2:16 “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

The law is by definition God’s character.  To God, the law is just how He is every day.  But for man, who is not perfect, man can never be free of sin on his own.  Remember if one has an earthly father, then he already has the Adam sin nature in his blood.  To man the law is a death sentence.  The law was never a saving tool, it was a judgment tool in that it showed man that no matter how hard he tried, he would still have sin, Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. . .”  Romans 6:23 “For the wages (sentence) of sin is death. . .”.

The law was the “schoolmaster” Gal. 3:24, in that it taught us that we do sin.  Keeping the law has never saved anyone nor will it ever save anyone.  Keeping the law would be saving by works and we know what the Scripture says in Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. 9.  not of works lest any man should boast.”  The action of being good is doing something to earn salvation.  Being good or doing good never saved anyone, Isa. 54:6, “our righteousness are as filthy rags. . .” .  Again in Luke 18:19 Jesus said, “Why callest thou me good?  None is good, save one, that is God.”  Now if Christ was not considered “good” then what chance does man have?  Man does not have the ability to be good and be called righteous by God.  What does Eph. 2:8-9 say?  That we are saved through what? (Faith, not works).  So in conclusion the law just lets us know that we had to have a Savior.

God’s perfect world demanded a perfect sacrifice.  Christ bore all the sins of the world (past, present and future), while on the cross.  He and He alone, could pay the price required by God.  Only Christ is worthy, Rev. 5:4-5, no man could be found that was worthy.   Only the “Lion of the tribe of Judah. . .a lamb as though it has been slain.”   Christ is the only one who had no sin in His blood.  Jesus’ father was the Holy Spirit, Luke 1:35.  Therefore, perfect blood for the perfect sacrifice.  Christ is the only one that would have the qualifications and power to bare every sin in the entire world on His shoulders and He did this at the cross.  “It is finished” meant that the perfect sacrifice had been given.   The Law was now fulfilled.  The prophecies of the first advent were fulfilled.  this part of God’s plan to redeem man was completed.

It has been told that one of the Biblical mysteries is that the Gentiles were to be presented the Gospel. It plainly stated in the Old Testament otherwise. I will show you where.

First lets define “Biblical Mystery”. It is  talking about an event that has never previously been explained in Scripture. For some reason God chose not to reveal all to man, Isa. 55:8-9. Then in some instances God chose not to reveal certain events until later. Such as Dan. 12:4, where God told him to seal up the book until the latter days.

Many of the great mysteries of the Old Testament are revealed in the New Testament. There are over ten mysteries revealed throughout the New Testament. (For a list of some check writing on “Mysteries in Scripture” on 12/01/08). Some events have been called mysteries that are not. Searching the scriptures one will find that they were explained in the Old Testament prophecies. One of these is the presenting the Gospel, that is offering the plan of salvation to the Gentiles/heathen/Greek/nations, referring to those who were not Jews. The Old Testament prophesied that this would be offered. Consequently the Gospel being presented to someone other than a Jews is not considered one of the mysteries of the Bible.

Hosea, a prophet around 750 to 700 B.C., is a book about his faithfulness to an adulterous wife. God is using this to compare this relationship between Hosea and Gomer to that of God and His relationship with His wife, Israel. In chapter one of Hosea God commanded Hosea to “Go, take unto thee a wife of [harlotry]“. In this book you will read how Hosea had so much trouble with Gomer. Just the same as God has had so much trouble with Israel.

In Hosea 2:23, “And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them who were not my people. Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou are my God.” Israel has always been God’s people since the covenant made with Abraham in Gen 17:7. So the statement, “who were not my people” above cannot mean the Israelites. Here “my people” is talking about the Gentiles.

Another prophet Isaiah foretells where Christ will bring justice to the Gentiles. Is. 42:1, “he shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles.” 6, “for a light of the gentiles.” 49:6, “I will also give thee for a light to the gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” 55:5-6, “Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD, thy God, and for the HOLY One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” You can find more in Is. 56:8.

You will also find references in the Gospels of the New Testament. Remember that only about five percent of the Gospels are considered to be under the new covenant. The new covenant started at the resurrection of Christ. So before this time you can still refer to the prophecy as under the law of the Old Testament. Mt. 21:43 “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it.” Again in Mt. 12:18. These verses are typical of several others found in the Gospels. And are sufficient to point out that the Gentiles were to be brought in and that this concept was indeed prophesied. So the idea that the Gentiles were to be given the chance to become Sons of God, “grafted in” (Rom. 11:17-24), was not one of the mysteries of the Bible. This process has been prophesied many times in the Bible.

There are over ten great mysteries presented in the Bible. We can cover these topics at another time, but for now one should be aware that bringing the Gentiles into the family of God was not one of these mysteries.

We keep searching to “rightly divide the word of truth”. 2 Tim. 2:15

The first advent fulfilled many prophecies and the second advent will fulfill bunches more. The number of prophecies can vary depending which writer you read after. There are statements that are so plain and specific that one cannot mis-interpret it. Then there are those that can be related to Jesus with more than reasonable certainty. And of course then there are those on the other end of spectrum that the prophecy might fit just as well in another event. Nonetheless, I gave the references to a list of thirty that pertained only to the Crucifixion. These were in the writing on the 10^th of March 2009, titled “Crucifixion Prophecies.” These are just the prophecies found in the Old Testament on this one subject. These do not even including the ones that Jesus told of His own crucifixion in the New Testament. Matt. 12:39-40; 17:22-23; 20:19; 26:30-32; Luke 9:22; 44-45; 18:31-33; John 2:19-22. It has been said that there are considerably more than 300 prophecies about the first advent of Jesus Christ.

You can look these scriptures up, then decide which ones are definitely and undeniably prophecies about Jesus Christ. Of course the number will vary between individuals. Then look up Peter Stoner’s, “The Law of Probability.” Many have already read this account and it has to do with covering the Sate of Texas with Silver dollars two feet deep and a number 10 to the 17^th power. A number that is over three hundred thousand times more that of Obama’s proposed budget.

This all goes back to it was all God’s plan. Matt. 26:56, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Acts 3:18, “But those things, which God before had shown by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”  

Tearing of the veil (Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; Lk. 23:45)

Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. Consequently He could not enter into the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest was allow to go into that section of the temple. Even that was limited one annual event at the Day of Atonement. This section was revered as the place where God dwelt.

This area of the Holy of Holies was separated from the rest by a curtain made from fabric which was 9 to 12 inches thick. Ex. 26:13.

1. Rent by an unseen hand at the time of Christ’s death. Mt. 27:51

2. Rent from top to bottom. Not by man, but by God.

3. Separated God and man. No more.

4. Jesus was not allowed into the Holy of Holies. Beginning of all believer’s access to God.

5. The veil represented the law. Now a new covenant between man and God.

Christ asked for the cup to be removed. Mt. 26:39.

A cup represented sin. It was not death that Jesus dreaded, nor was it the cross, it was the sin that was going to be put upon Him at the cross. All the sin of the world, past, present and future was laid on Christ by God when He was hung on the cross. Your sin, my sin, Christian’s sin, sinners sin, all those who were dead, all who were alive at that time, their sin and those that would be born from then until the Great White Throne, yes their sin too. Every sin of the entire world was put on Christ that day. Every murder or crime committed, every lie, etc. This is the “cup” that Jesus wanted to avoid. But as the end of that verse states, “not as I will, but as You will.” Remember that Christ could have had legions of angels to come a protect Him should He have asked. A Roman Legion consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 men.

Christ had to die with all our sins on Him in order for the sacrifice to be complete. Otherwise we could never become righteous in God’s sight. Without this all would be cast into Hell, where all sinners will end. Remember that Christ died so His blood could cover any sin in the world. But in order for this sacrifice to atone for sin, man must finish the process Christ started the process, but we must repent and believe. Christ’s blood does not hide God’s wrath for sin of those who die as sinners. In the Great White Throne Judgment God will finish his plan concerning sin.

In conclusion, when Adam and Eve sinned, they went hid themselves. They hid themselves because they knew God was not going to be happy with their disobedience. God found them, punished them, and then did something most unpredictable. God promised them a Savior. God did something of which man is not capable,. He allowed His innocent Son to take the guilt of someone else or a sacrifice for another sin. Jesus suffered the punishment that we deserve when He died on that cross with our sins on Him. Jesus became our propitiation to God for us. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price demanded by a righteous God. Christ lives so a bridge might be built over the gulf which separates lost souls from thier heavenly home. Jesus was condemned so we, the guilty, might be declared innocent. It wasn’t fair to Jesus, but it is salvation for us who believe. God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son.

It is all God’s plan!

The Spiritual resurrection is one referred to in John 5:24. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment but is passed from death unto life.” John 11:25. “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Rom. 6:11. “Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Rom. 8:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” Eph. 2:5. “Even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ by grace ye are saved.” Eph. 5:14. “Wherefore, he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Rom. 6:16. “Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

As you can see by these Scriptures that to be unsaved is death. In order to pass from death to life one needs to be born again. Remember that a resurrection process is from death unto life. Some refer to this as regeneration. But this is not a reforming or change of the physical body itself, this is a creative act of the Holy Spirit to the spiritual body. John 1:13. “Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” In 2 Cor. 5:17-18 we find that once saved we are no longer to be known in the fleshly body, but the resurrected body. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God. . .”. Eph. 4:24 putting on the new man. Rom. Chapter 6 tells us how Christians being crucified with Christ are resurrected with Christ into a new body to a new life. Col. Chapter 3 tells of a new person in Christ.

Gal. 2:20. “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I know that these are a lot of Scriptures, but there are really numerous others that will tell us how Christians are changed at the time of salvation. Christians now in this present world have two bodies, Paul tells us that we have the “old and the new” bodies. In Romans 6:6. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” More in verse 11, Eph. 4:22-24 and Col. 3:9.

John and Paul are telling Christians how we have been crucified and risen with Christ to a greater calling. Even though, by the people of this world, we are seen as being in the flesh because they are using a natural eye. The major difference and what is most important that we are not seen by God through a worldly eye. God being a Spirit views us through a spiritual eye. After salvation our worldly body is cloaked by Christ’s righteousness and this is what God sees when He looks at us. The righteousness of Christ give us a new appearance to God. And at the rapture our body will be permanently changed to that of a glorified righteous body.

Natural man’s knowledge relies on his own ability to reason and assemble facts, and man’s wisdom is the constructive use of such knowledge.

Many times the Jews asked for signs, but yet they were given hundreds and accepted none. (Mt. 12:38, 16:1, Jn. 4:48 and 21:25). The Greeks wanted wisdom, but refuse to accept it when revealed. (1 Cor. 1:22). Why??? Why did man not understand the prophecies presented in the Old Testament? Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2; and Num. 24:17, there is said to be over 300 of these prophecies. The chief priests and scribes told Herod about where the king was to be born, therefore, they knew of them. But did they really understand? Apparently not, or all of Israel would have been joyous in Bethlehem that night.

God maintains a division between worldly and spiritual knowledge and wisdom. God has put a barrier or a lock between the two. But for every lock there is a key. And the key for God’s lock is found in Heb. 11:1. The key is faith, and the door is Jesus. Through faith one accepts Jesus and comes to salvation. This Christian is called one of God’s “elect”. At the same time of salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells, seals and issues gifts. Since these gifts come from the Holy Spirit, then these are spiritual gifts. Two of these are the ability to understand and use the word of wisdom and another the word of knowledge. (1Cor. 12: 1-11).

C. F. Stanley states in his book, In Step with God, “God will reveal Himself to us. But before He does we must come to a point where we surrender to Him”.

Now how does God differ between the two? That is, between man’s way of thinking and His way of thinking.

In Isa. 55: 8 and 9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” In Job 37 and 38 God asks Job, Where were you “when I laid the foundations of the earth?. . .” Rom. 11:34, “For who hath know the mind of the Lord?” How dare we to believe that our thoughts are like God’s. Only one way we can have thoughts like God, and that is when God gives us His thoughts.

God maintains this separation between the natural and spiritual knowledge and wisdom. In Romans starting at 11:7 and finishing out the chapter we find that God has blinded all but the elect “until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Vs. 7, 8, 10, 23 and 25).

To read more on this subject check out part II coming next week.

Also, pick up a copy of C. F Stanley’s book to assist you in your studies.