The Mysteries of God. We began
a new series of studies last week. The series is titled The Mysteries
of God, and I'm following along a small e-book. It's not published
in written hardback or paperback that I know of. Actually, I was
thinking about that this morning. I was thinking I was going to
reach out to Shelby and see if she might have a couple copies
in paperback. It might be in that. But it's
not listed as a book that you can get in most orderings. But it's titled, The Mercies
of God. And I'm not going to beat around the bush about it.
I'm just following right along what Don has written. I've added
a few things or maybe a couple of points that I may have deleted
out of it. But for the most part, it's what
Don wrote and very little of what I have to say. Don does
a great job in his books. in referring to scriptures. And
the first thing he opens in chapter 1, and today's study is chapter
1 part B. It's the second part of what
we looked at in chapter 1 last week. And he began with Corinthians
4 verse 1 where we read, Let a man so account of us as of
the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of
God. What an exciting thing as I go
about reading this book and looking at the scriptures that Don's
referring to. The mysteries of God. Everything about our God
is a mystery, isn't it? I mean, how can these Small little
minds of ours comprehend. You know, I'm sorry. That was
rude. I should not have said that,
ours. I should have said mine. Referring to my own small little
mind. How can this small little mind understand the depth of
who our God is, what he's done, where he is now, and what his
purpose is. And we looked last week at the
mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh.
And we spent a little time looking at that. We then went on to consider
the first of six points about the Lord Jesus Christ that graciously
constrains, irresistibly compels our hearts and consecrates us
to Him, and the first of which we considered last week was from
1 Timothy 3.16, and without controversy, great is the ministry of godliness
God would manifest from the flesh, we looked at that in depth. Spirit
justified in the Spirit, we looked at that in depth. Seeing of angels,
we looked at that in depth. Priesthood to the Gentiles, we
looked at that in depth and believed on in the world and then received
into glory. Great is the mystery of godliness. This morning, Lord willing, we'll
consider two more of these mysteries that bind us to Christ given
in chapter 1 of Don's book. This next one we look at is called
The Mystery of Faith. Turn over to 1 Timothy chapter
3 if you would. 1 Timothy. The three T's right there before
Hebrews. 1 Timothy. I learned that from
one of you, and you know who you are. 1 Timothy chapter 3 Look at verse 90. Holding the mystery of the faith
in a pure conscience. This is the doctrine of the gospel.
Pastors must be, a pastor must be a man who holds the mystery
of the faith in pure conscience. That's what that's saying there.
Holding, and Paul's talking about himself, holding the mystery
of the faith in pure conscience. This mystery of faith is called
the mystery of the gospel over in Ephesians chapter 6 verse
19, and we'll look at that in just a moment. Paul does not
leave us to guess what that mystery is. It is the message which God
has sent his ambassadors to proclaim. Go to the left, if you would,
over to Ephesians chapter 6, and look at two verses with me
there, if you would. Ephesians chapter 6, 19 and 20. And for me, Paul writes, this
is Ephesians chapter 6, Verse 20 or 19 and for me That utterance may be given,
speaking of praying for folks, it says in verse 18, praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto
all the perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me,
Paul's saying, he's asking for prayer. That utterance may be
given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly. Folks, this
is my prayer. This is Gene Harman's prayer.
This was Don Fortner's prayer. This is the prayer of every one
of God's ministers. Pray for us that God would open
our mouths to glorifying Him. Open our mouths to boldly to
boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. That's what this
is talking about. The mystery of faith. The mystery
of believing. The mystery of the gospel. Now look at verse
20. For which I am the ambassador
in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak."
Paul's asking for prayer. Very simply put, the mystery
of faith is the mystery of the gospel, just as we just now read. It is the salvation of sinners
by substitution. It is the revelation of atonement,
reconciliation, peace, pardon, justification, righteousness,
sanctification, and eternal life for sinners through the merits
of Christ Jesus, His redemptive work, and the sinner as the sinner's
substitute. So this mystery of faith, where
it came from, what it entails, what it is about, is the mystery
that we preach. of substitution. It's the mystery
of faith. The mystery of the gospel is
substitution. To the holier-than-thou of the
world, it's foolishness. To those who think it was my
decision for Christ back in 2021, or whatever year you want to
go back to, it was when I decided to follow Christ. And to them,
substitution, which takes all the glory out of their hands...
Remember, substitution is election. Substitution is limited atonement. Substitution is irresistible
grace. To the holier-than-thou, it's
foolishness. To the self-righteous religion, it's a stumbling stone
and a rock of offense. Yet to every believer, everyone
for whom God has shined the light in their darkness, substitution,
Christ Jesus, The Son of the Living God is the power of God,
the wisdom of God, and the glory of God as we read in 1 Corinthians
chapter 1. We see and find everything required
for the saving of our souls in Christ our Savior. our Christ, our crucified substitute. Turn over to 1 Corinthians chapter
1. We looked at this a great deal in Friday Night Study. It's,
you know, it's one of those verses where you gotta, I was telling
my grandson, I'm just gonna call him my grandson, you folks don't
mind, do you? I know he's my grandson-in-law, but he might
as well be my grandson. He married my granddaughter. The in-laws is too much to say.
We were talking. I've embarrassed my wife now.
We were talking the other day, and I told him, I said, you know,
there's some scriptures that you just use over and over and
over again because it explains things so clearly. You can't misinterpret it. For
instance, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8 and 9. We are saved by
grace. You don't have to decipher that.
That's easy to explain. We're saved by God's mercy, by
His grace, unmerited favor. We can't earn it. Not by works. You can't do anything. Anything
you do is going to pollute the wonderful grace of God. We use
those words over and over again. Why? They don't need explanation. They're perfectly plain, especially
to one who has had these revelations brought out to him. Over here,
1 Corinthians chapter 1, in verses 30 through 31. For this cause,
many are... Wait a minute, that's not the
right one. I didn't go far enough. But of him, Are ye in Christ
Jesus, who of God has made unto us wisdom
and righteousness, sanctification and redemption, that according
as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Listen
to Galatians 3 verse 13, I'll read it for you. Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for
us, for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a
tree. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21, For
he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. Hebrews 9 verse 12,
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. We see and find everything required
for the saving of our souls in Christ, our crucified substitute. Next we see the mystery of spiritual
union. Look over at Ephesians chapter
5. The mystery of the spiritual
union. Spoken of over here in Ephesians
chapter 5, two verses, verses 30 and 32.
Ephesians 5, three verses. Beginning at verse 30, for we
are members of his body and of his flesh. We're talking about
the mystery of spiritual union. But we are members of his body,
of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and
they too shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but
I speak concerning Christ and the church." Paul was given the
inspiration by God the Holy Spirit to align the words that we are
very familiar with in marriage. Those of us who have been married
a long time, we understand what that is. We're married, we are
one. Maybe not one in flesh, but we're one in spirit. We've
been one since God joined us, me and Kathy, 47 years ago. Paul uses that to express the
union, the mysterious union between you and I and our husband, the
Lord Jesus. That's what he says there in
verse 32. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ
and the Church. This is one of the most soul-cheering,
delightful things, writes Don Fortner, revealed in the Word
of God. Nothing in all the Bible is more profound and nothing
more blessed than the wondrous union that exists between Christ
and His people. This union is a union common
to and enjoyed by all believers. We are one with Christ representatively,
listen to these words, Ephesians 1 verse 6, to the praise of the
glory of His grace wherein He hath made us accepted, and here's
that union, in the Beloved. Listen to these words. That was
our union representative. What about our unity in spirituality? There is one body, one spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. That's
Ephesians 4 verse 4. It also talks about our unity
mystically. In Ephesians 1 verse 22 and 23, And hath put all things under
his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all
knowledge." Did you catch that? You know why the Lord can say...
I mean, there's a lot of reasons why. Number one reason is because
He has purposed it. But you know where He says, All
that the Father giveth me shall come to me, because I'll tell
you what, folks, if He lost one, if one for whom He laid down
His blood for could be lost, then he would not be whole. The whole person of Jesus Christ
requires every single one that belongs to Him to be brought
to Him. That's my only hope for those
that I love who still walk in darkness. You all know I was
heavily troubled last week. I didn't even think I was going
to be able to get up here and preach. I was so troubled. I
had heard some terrible news. My son got himself in some pretty
big trouble. And I was concerned for him,
for his livelihood, going forth, and I thought to myself over
and over again, Lord, if this brings Him to you, how thankful
I would be for what it is. Our only hope for our loved ones
is that we know that all those that belong to Him shall come
to Him, and those who come to Him He shall in no wise cast
out. We are one in Him. Like the branches are one with
the vine, He is in us like the soul is in the body. Listen to
Colossians chapter 1 verse 27. to whom God would make known
what is the riches of His glory of this mystery among the Gentiles,
which is Christ in you." We're talking about the union that
we have with Christ Jesus our Lord. Folks, we were given to
God the Son before the world ever began. There's a union between
God's people that cannot ever be broken. Why? Because it's
Christ who that union is based on. It's not you. It's not you. It's not me. It's not what we
do that that union is based on. It's based on what He's done.
That union is based on the promises of God between God the Father
and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. And who's going to thwart
God Almighty? If anybody could, he wouldn't
deserve to be called God. Christ in you, the hope, the
glory. Without Him, we cannot live.
And without us, He is not complete. Yes, God's elect are the fullness
of Him that filleth all in all. We are one with Christ eternally.
We always have been one with Him. We just, as we just read
a moment ago in Ephesians chapter 1, 6, and we always shall be. Listen to these words. For the gifts and calling of
God are without repentance. That means without turning. That's
Romans 11 verse 29. We shall be one with Christ and
one with Christ perfectly forever. Turn over to John chapter 17
and read a couple of verses there with me. John chapter 17. This is Christ in his priestly
prayer. This is the prayer that we call
the Lord's Prayer. The Bible wants to call something
else from instruction the Lord's Prayer. The real prayer is right
here in verse 17 where the Lord cries out, Father the hour has
come in verse 1. The hour has come, glorify thy
son, that thy son also may glorify thee. Now I want you to go over
and look with me in verses 21 through 26. We're talking about
the, we have always been one with Him, as we read over there
in Ephesians chapter 1, and we will always be We will always be one with Christ
and perfectly forever. Look at John chapter 17 verse
21 through 26. That they all may be one, speaking
of us, speaking of all those that were mentioned there in
the first part of chapter 17, and the Lord says it over and
over again, those that thou hast given me, He says that over verse
9, I pray for them, I pray not for the world but them which
thou hast given me. Here in 21 he says that they
all may be one as thou father art in me and I in thee. That they also may be one in
us. That the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be
one even as we are one." What a mystery! What a mystery that
God declares Himself to be one with us, sinners! He declares us, us who are sinners,
to be one with Him. How? By the washing of His blood,
that's how. Let's go on. In verse 23, I am
them, and thou and me, that they may be made perfect in one, and
that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved
them as thou hast loved me. Father, verse 24, I will that
they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that
they may behold my glory which thou hast given me, for thou
lovest me from the foundation of the world. O righteous Father,
the world hath not known thee, but I have known thee, and these
have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto
them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou
hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." What a mystery
that we would be in union with Christ. Now this mystery is also
a mystery of spiritual union. It includes the mystery of providence. Look over at Romans chapter 11
with me if you would. Turn over to Romans chapter 11. Look at verses 25 through 26. For I would not, brethren," this
is Romans 11, verse 25, For I would not, brethren, that ye should
be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your
own conceit. that blindness in part is happened
to Israel. Folks, blindness came upon Israel
by the providence of God. Why? Because they were not. The
people of Israel were nothing more than a picture of God's
Israel, God's people, those who are in Christ. If the real people
of Israel were truly members of Christ, he would have
never left them. He says, I shall never leave
you nor forsake you, and he's talking about his people. He's
not talking about that country of people over there in the Middle
East that are fighting a war right now. He's talking about
his people, spiritual Israel. Blindness in part has happened
to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. Verse
26, And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written, There
shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness
from Jacob. Look up now over at Ephesians
chapter 3. Ephesians chapter 3. In verse 3 of Ephesians chapter
3, listen to this, how that by revelation, we're talking about
the providential, the mystery of providence in God bringing
his people unto himself, bringing us into union with himself. How
that the revelation he made known unto me, the mystery, as I wrote
afore in a 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." We're talking about
the providence of God, and bringing us into the mystery of union,
the mystery of providence, as it is now revealed unto His holy
apostles, and the prophets by the spirit that the Gentiles
should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of
his promise in Christ by the gospel. This mystery of providence
is that which assures and comforts our hearts as we face the sorrows,
the trials, the troubles of life in this world. This is the mystery
of providence. God Almighty sovereignly arranges,
manipulates, and disposes of all things for the salvation
of His elect. What do we read over in Romans
8, 28? Don't we read these words? All things are for the good to
them that love God, to them that are called. Is that not what
we read? Are not all things by the providential
will of our Lord? Just as the Lord God raised up
Pharaoh in Egypt to be destroyed for the saving of Israel, so
he raised up and destroyed Israel as a nation for the saving of
his elect throughout the whole world, so that all Israel of
God shall be saved. It's still true today, folks.
God hides the gospel from some, in judgment that he might reveal
it unto others in mercy. You can read that in Matthew
11, 25-26. And for the sake of time, I'm
just going to give you some verses here at the end of today's study.
Matthew 11, 25-26 in your own time if you want to write that
down. God our Father sacrifices men and nations on the altar
of His love for His elect to gather His precious people out
of all the earth. You can read about that in Isaiah
43, verses 1-5. This is the mystery of His will
that we read about in Ephesians 1, verses 9-11. And for this cause, we have adoration
and praise for him. Close with me if you would. Again,
backing up Romans 11, this time 33 through 36. Oh,
the depths of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge
of God. How unsearchable, that's a mystery,
that's what a mystery is, it's an unsearchable thing, are His
judgments and His ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind
of the Lord, or who hath been his counselor, or who hath first
given to him, and it shall be repensed unto him again. For
of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom
be the glory forever. Amen. What a mystery that God
has made himself a union with us.