Fellowship of the Mystery
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 by
the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the
everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of
faith. Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according
to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: that in the
dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one
all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth, even in Him: according as He has chosen us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure
of His will. For whom He did foreknow, He did also predestinate to
be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren.
Moreover, whom He
did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He
also justified, them He justified, them He also glorified. Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto the obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ.
If you have heard
of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me toward you:
how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery, (For I
neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but I received it by the
revelation of Jesus 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; and to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has
been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ. Even the
mystery which has been hid from the 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 the mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you the home of Glory.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Of which salvation
the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of
the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner
of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it
testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that
should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto
you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy
Ghost send down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look
into: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to
show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He
sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.
The secret things belong unto the Lord
our God: but those things
which are revealed belong unto us and to
our children for ever,
that we may do all the words of this law. Deut. 29:29
Unto you it is
given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in
parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not
understand. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears,
for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and
righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and
have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have
not heard them.
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 has not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God has prepared for them that love Him.
He revealeth the deep and secret
things:
He knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth
with Him. Dan 2:
What is it then? I
will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with understanding also: I
will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding
also. For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men,
but unto God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the Spirit he
speaks mysteries. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words
with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also,
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. If all prophesy, and
there come in one that believes not, or one unlearned, he is
convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of
his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will
worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. For the Word
of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword,
piercing event to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart.
And I will give you the treasures of
darkness,
and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord,
which call you by your name, am the God of Israel. Isaiah 45:5
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways are past finding out!
