Mystery or Revelation
The scriptures are the basis of our belief as Christians they are the anchor of our faith, they contain the rudiments of Christianity.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The scriptures are given for our learning
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The scriptures are fundamental for our faith and so thorough understanding of scriptures is necessary. But we must know the method in which the scripture does communicate its message in other to understand its message.
Which method those the scripture does communicate its message?
Mystery or Revelation.
Many Christians are very confused as touching this, For many the scripture is a mystery which cannot be understood, for some the scriptures can only be understood in parts, for some the understanding of the scriptures is a gift to some few, these are the many reasons why we have many messages being preached from one scripture/Bible. This belief or understanding have only done nothing but harm to the church as the message is not rightly preached as it should.
Many pastors and Christian see the scripture as a mystery, this belief has no claim in scripture.
What is a mystery: from its Greek word
Original: μυστήριον
Transliteration: mustērion
Phonetic: moos-day’-ree-on
Thayer Definition.
the hidden thing, secret, mystery
generally, mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals
a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
a hidden purpose or counsel
1.secret will
a.of men
b.of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly
in rabbinic writings, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense
of an OT saying
of an image or form is seen in a vision
of a dream
The word mystery pictures a secret, something hidden or covered, it is a hidden truth, that which should be known but is not, that which should be opened but is closed.
If this is the method in which the scriptures communicate its message, it then tells us that the scripture is not to be understood, but this is not the revelation of the scriptures.
Ephesians 3:3-4 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
The scripture is to be read, the scripture can be understood
…whereby when you read, ye may understand…
cannot be understood, they are hidden, covered, secrets.
The scripture reveals its method of communication;
Ephesians 3:1-5 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 3:9-10 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
The scriptures above tell us that the MYSTERIES have being REVEALED.
There was a mystery, but it has been revealed.
Let’s examine the word REVELATION;
From the original Greek
Transliteration: apokalupsis
Phonetic: ap-ok-al’-oop-sis
Thayer Definition:
laying bear, making naked
a disclosure of truth, instruction
concerning things before unknown
used of events by which things or states or persons hitherto withdrawn from view are made visible to all
manifestation, appear
Revelation is an unveiling, to open that which is closed, to make clear what is unclear, to shine a light in the darkness.
Glory to God!
The scriptures have been revealed, when we study the scriptures we don’t see mysteries anymore, we see the revelation of the mystery.
From the scriptures brought up earlier, it tells us that there was a mystery, it was hidden, covered and kept for a time.
Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
1 Corinthians 2:7-16 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so, the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth, not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Glory to God!
The mysteries were kept for our glory.
This tells us that the scriptures are covered no more, its message is not for a specific person, NO! It’s not for the pastors or just the teachers, it’s for all.
For we have received the spirit of God that we might know those things that have been given us by God.
Every time we study or read the scripture, we don’t interact with mysteries, we don’t fellowship with darkness(confusion, misunderstanding, and the likes). We fellowship with light, we interact with revelations, revealed truths. The scriptures are not hard to understand, they have not covered with signs and symbols anymore, even though it used to be.
In the old testament, the method of communication was mysterious, the audience never understood the message, it was hidden, expressed in symbols, types and shadows.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
There was a shadow, type, figure, it was MYSTERY.
They never understood the message
1 Corinthians 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The disciples of Jesus also never understood this, not until Jesus arose and explained the scriptures to them.
That was why the things that happened before the cross, never made sense to them, they could not comprehend it when Jesus hung in the cross, it was for the defeat when actually it was victory,
Luke 24:18-21 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.
When his resurrection was announced they believed it not,
Luke 24:22-24 Yea and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Luke 24:1-12 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rises again.
And they remembered his words,
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
They could not understand the message of the scriptures.
Peter never understood that Christ ought to die,
Mark 8:31-33 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him.
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
The old testament was covered, it was a secret, it was hidden in its medium of communication.
But in the new testament, the mystery has been revealed, made open and plain.
Glory to God!.
The scriptures have been revealed in the new testament, Paul tells us this.
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Ephesians 3:2-4 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Galatians 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The gospel we preach is the revelation of Jesus Christ: This is the mystery which has been hidden since the foundation of the world.
Colossians 1:24-28 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
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:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
The message the scripture communicates today and its method of communication is one.
*in my next post, I will write on the message of the scriptures.
When Jesus rose he opened the understanding of his disciples.
Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
If Jesus was the first person to explain and open understanding of persons to scripture, he remains the only means to understanding scriptures.
The revelation of scriptures is the revelation of the glorious gospel of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Glory!. In the face of Jesus lies the knowledge, not in mysteries, and types, shadows, figures, patterns, principles, rules or laws.
If what you preach or what is being preached to you is the latter, you are in trouble, for you know not what the scripture says, you yet are still in darkness, the light if Gods glorious gospel has not shined on you
For the revelation of the scriptures is the revelation of Christ.
The scriptures are not mysteries, and they don’t communicate such either, they have been revealed, they communicate a message, that message is the glorious gospel of Christ.
I would talk about this in my next post.
Hope this blessed you.
I count myself blessed to have known the truth!!!.
Written by JOSHUA OCHAYI
