Mystery Revealed, Mystery Remains
Some faiths are just too mysterious. Christianity is unique in having a mystery, that can be revealed to us, whereupon we discover the mystery still exists.
Although something is unique, it doesn't mean it's truth though, just take a look at Scientology...
Anyway, that was a side track. The mystery of Christianity is revealed to us when we accept Christ.
Romans 16:25-27, "Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him- to the only wise God be the glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."
Colossians 1:24-27, "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Ephesians 1:7-10, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment- to bring all things under heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."
The mystery of Christ is in us. It is our hope, and it is our salvation. Interestingly enough, Ephesians doesn't say that we discovered the mystery, but that God made it known to us, no choice on our part. Predestination perhaps? It does correlate well with other predestination passages.
But there's another unique factor of Christianity. After the mystery is revealed, it is still not solved.
Many religions have mysteries. It is a captivating tactic, which works well when (wow, four w words in a row) dealing with spiritual and supernatural concepts. What I would like to know though, is, how many of those other religions' mysteries, once uncovered, have more to them?
Christianity is not man-made. Christ changes our hearts and pulls the scales from our eyes, whereupon we understand the mystery of what Christ has truly done for us, and yet remain forever in awe of why?
That, is the mystery which still exists.
Ephesians 3:16-19, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
The mystery that still exists being the fullness of God, something that surpasses knowledge, and yet something we still attain to grasp. What other religion is as simple as the gospel of Christ, with immeasurable mystery as well? Mystery not for the sake of being mysterious or unknown, but mysterious because of our inability to fully grasp all its facets?
Faith in mystery and the unknown. Simply because it is unknown. Or because the gods haven't said anything in a long time. Or they have and they're generic calls for greater devotion to the faith. Hm.
Or, faith in a mystery revealed, which remains mysterious because it is obviously from a perfect and holy God beyond human limitations. Mystery that can be studied and learned bit by bit because it's in one place, the bible. The bible, written over multiple generations and by multiple people, while remaining the most accurate historical document available. How? Inspired by God, the mystery. God, writing us a letter, so that we might be saved, and strive to understand the fullness of God.
Although something is unique, it doesn't mean it's truth though, just take a look at Scientology...
Anyway, that was a side track. The mystery of Christianity is revealed to us when we accept Christ.
Romans 16:25-27, "Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him- to the only wise God be the glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."
Colossians 1:24-27, "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Ephesians 1:7-10, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment- to bring all things under heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."
The mystery of Christ is in us. It is our hope, and it is our salvation. Interestingly enough, Ephesians doesn't say that we discovered the mystery, but that God made it known to us, no choice on our part. Predestination perhaps? It does correlate well with other predestination passages.
But there's another unique factor of Christianity. After the mystery is revealed, it is still not solved.
Many religions have mysteries. It is a captivating tactic, which works well when (wow, four w words in a row) dealing with spiritual and supernatural concepts. What I would like to know though, is, how many of those other religions' mysteries, once uncovered, have more to them?
Christianity is not man-made. Christ changes our hearts and pulls the scales from our eyes, whereupon we understand the mystery of what Christ has truly done for us, and yet remain forever in awe of why?
That, is the mystery which still exists.
Ephesians 3:16-19, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
The mystery that still exists being the fullness of God, something that surpasses knowledge, and yet something we still attain to grasp. What other religion is as simple as the gospel of Christ, with immeasurable mystery as well? Mystery not for the sake of being mysterious or unknown, but mysterious because of our inability to fully grasp all its facets?
Faith in mystery and the unknown. Simply because it is unknown. Or because the gods haven't said anything in a long time. Or they have and they're generic calls for greater devotion to the faith. Hm.
Or, faith in a mystery revealed, which remains mysterious because it is obviously from a perfect and holy God beyond human limitations. Mystery that can be studied and learned bit by bit because it's in one place, the bible. The bible, written over multiple generations and by multiple people, while remaining the most accurate historical document available. How? Inspired by God, the mystery. God, writing us a letter, so that we might be saved, and strive to understand the fullness of God.
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