The Mystery

 

It has been said that everyone loves a mystery.  But, what do we mean by “mystery?”  Checking several different dictionaries the word “mystery” is defined as “something strange or unknown which has not yet been explained or understood,” “something that is a secret,” “a hidden or secret thing.”
And, the Greek word musterion as used in the New Testament means much the same.  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines the word as “hidden thing, secret, mystery.”

The apostle Paul speaks of THE mystery in a number of his letters.  Let us look at some of those passages.  As there are several we won’t look at all of them here but you can search them out yourself.

In Romans 11, verse 25 he calls it THIS mystery and states “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;...”  We see that understanding the mystery is important.  In chapter 16 of Romans he speaks of the mystery in this way, breaking into verse 25, “according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.  But now is made manifest, ...”  He tells us that this mystery had been kept secret since the world began.  But, he states that it has been revealed.  What is revealed is no longer a mystery.  But, he doesn’t give us that revelation here.  Let us look at a few more passages.

He tells us in Ephesians 1 and verse 9 that the Father has “...made known unto us the mystery of his will,...”  Yet, once again he doesn’t go ahead and explain or define what that mystery is.  Over a few pages, chapter 3 and verses 3-5, he states “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;...”  So, it is no longer a mystery but he doesn’t state here just what it is.  He continues in a parenthetical thought, “( as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Whoa!  Apparently the letter to the Ephesians is actually the second and we don’t have letter number 1. 

In his letter to the saints at Colose Paul speaks again about the mystery.  Notice Col 1:26, “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his   saints:” However, if we keep reading we find that Paul does finally tell us what the mystery is.  Verse 27, “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:”

Now that we see what THE mystery is we find that Paul has told us before, but without telling us that it was the mystery.  We find it stated in what is probably the most powerful and important verse in all of his writings, 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.” 

Paul speaks in several place about us becoming a new man, a new creature or creation.  And, as we shall see that entails the Messiah being in us.  Notice a few Scriptures.   2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”  And, Eph. 4:23-24, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind: And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  And lastly, Rom. 8:10, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

IF we can just get our minds wrapped around that mystery which has been revealed, that the Messiah lives His life within us, how things in our lives will change.  He isn’t far off somewhere.  He is right here within each of us.  He hears us when we talk to Him.  He is here to give us the help, encouragement, the words we need to speak, IF only we grasp this wonderful truth!  The One who has all power and authority is right here, in you and me!