Look with me this morning at
the book of Ephesians chapter 3. The Apostle Paul often speaks
of the mystery of the Gospel. Quite a few times throughout
his writings he talks about the mystery of the gospel. Here in Ephesians 3, he says
it three times. In Ephesians 3, he says that
God, by revelation, made known unto me the mystery. And in verse 4, he says, when
you read this, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ. In verse 9, he says, His mission,
his ministry was to make all men see what is the fellowship
of the mystery. Now, the gospel is a mystery
until God Almighty reveals it. Isn't that the meaning of mystery? Mystery is something that is
unknown, and it must be revealed. The revelation of the gospel
is by God's sovereign grace made known unto those he chooses to
make it known unto. The Apostle wrote this in 1 Corinthians
chapter 2. He says, 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
But up in verse 10, he said of those that God has chosen, that
God hath revealed these things unto us by his Spirit. In another place it says, the
secret things belong unto the Lord, but the revealed things
unto us and our children. Now, if anyone knows the truth,
It's because God the Holy Spirit revealed it to them. If anyone
believes the truth, it's because God sovereignly bestowed upon
them the gift of faith. If anyone knows the truth, it
is by revelation from God. The truth is a mystery until
revealed. The mystery. Now, the gospel
is a mystery. The gospel is a mystery made
known by the revelation of God's Spirit. I challenge you to think
about the modern conception of the gospel, of what is preached
by the vast majority of so-called preachers and churches today. The religion, the common religion
of today. I challenge you to think about
it and consider if there is any mystery to it at all. I don't believe there is. It's
so simple anybody can figure it out. It's just some historical
facts that if someone can be convinced of these facts and
accept it, or these facts, they will be saved. The old Puritans
would call it decisional regeneration. That is, giving themselves spiritual
life by simply accepting some facts. Here it is. They say,
God loves you. Jesus died for you. Now, if you'll
accept that fact, and if you'll start living right, well, you'll
go to heaven. Where's the mystery in all that?
Where is the mystery? in all of that? Well, God's people
know better. No man knoweth the Spirit of
God save he to whom God will reveal His Spirit, His mystery
to. The deep things of God, Paul
called them there in 1 Corinthians 2. But here in Ephesians 3, Paul
said He's made known unto me, verse 9. He made known unto me,
verse 3, I'm sorry, verse 3, he says, God by revelation made
known unto me the mystery, the mystery, as I wrote in a few
words. Now, it's a mystery to most because
it's kept hid. It says, God hath hid these things
from the wise and the prudent and revealed them unto babe.
And it is still hid today, largely, from the wise and the prudent.
That is, the religion. Well, Paul said, I am sent to
preach this mystery. It is such a mystery that it
is kept hid even from the angels. Peter said, which things the
angels desire to look into. But in verse 10 here, of Ephesians,
Paul says to the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold
wisdom of God. That is, the angels now, by the
gospel, through the preaching of the gospel, they understand
this mystery. That's right. Paul says the angels, before the gospel was preached.
did not really understand the mystery, why God became a man,
why God puts up with man, what God's purpose was and is for
man. Well, in verse 11 and 12, Paul
says, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with
confidence by the faith of Now, here is the first part of this
mystery. It's the eternal purpose of God
in Christ. And human beings only have access
by faith of Christ. It does not say in him, but rather
faith of Christ. This is no misprint or grammatical
error here, but it's said It is written several times throughout
the scriptures, the faith of Christ. That is, you and I, if
any human being gets into heaven, it will not be by our faith per
se, but it will be by the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
representative of his people, the one who lived by faith perfectly
and earned heaven himself. Well, it's a mystery. The eternal
purpose of God in Christ is a mystery. People just don't believe what
they can't reason. People don't believe and they
reject those things which they cannot reason or rationalize,
such as, let me give you an example, the sovereignty of God. and the
responsibility of man. Since people cannot reconcile
the two, since they cannot rationalize or reason how God can purpose
and work all things, everything, predetermine all things, and
yet how man can be a responsible creature. and be held responsible
for his actions. Since they cannot understand
or reason or rationalize these things, they reject. What do
they reject? The sovereignty of God. And they
place everything in man's hand. Because they can't understand
these things, they reject them. Well, God cannot be understood
completely. The book of Job says, Searching
to find out God unto perfection? No. His ways are past finding
out. Does that mean we are to ignore
them and not believe them? Certainly not. We are to believe
what God's Word says about Himself. God indeed reigns and rules among
the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth,
Scripture says, and none can stay His hand. Known unto God
are all His works from the beginning. God worketh all things after
the counsel of his own will. Everything works together, everything,
all things work together for good to them that love God who
are called according to his purpose, his eternal purpose, Paul said,
which he purposed in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the
world. They argued with Paul in Romans 9 about this. Well,
if God is sovereign, if God works all things after the counsel
of His will, none can stay His hand, then why does He yet find
fault? Who can resist that will? That's Romans 9, verse 19. That's the argument then, and
it's the argument now. Well, God's people have no argument.
God's people believe. thing they believe, the primary
thing, the essential thing they believe about God is that He
is an absolute, sovereign God in control of all things. God
has purposed faith, but yet that is not of ourselves. It is the
gift of God. Well, this mystery is concerning
the purpose and will of God. This mystery is concerning the
person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy 3, if you want to
turn over there with me, we'll see what Paul says about this
mystery further. 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, Paul's
controversy. Great is the mystery of Godliness. The mystery of how God became
a man, and how man may become Like God. Like the Son of God. How man can get to be with God. Godliness. It's a mystery. Well, here's the mystery. He
says in verse 16, God was manifest in the flesh. God became a man. Most people don't believe that.
There are denominations all over the world who go about door to
door discounted, try to disprove the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Mormons, the Jehovah Witnesses,
yeah, I'm going to call names, folks. These false religions
deny the deity. I mean, that Jesus Christ is
God Almighty. God manifests in the... 9-6 clearly tells us that. Unless
a child is born, a son is given, His name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father." Thomas said,
My Lord and my God. God was manifest in the flesh.
That baby, and it's a mystery, but that baby, that boy and that
man that lived on this planet 2,000 years ago was none other
than the Creator of this planet, God Almighty. John 1 tells us
that. Now, some openly deny this, those
that I mentioned and others. But many, if not most, so-called
fundamental preachers deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
They deny it in their preaching by saying that He's done all
He can do and now it's up to you. That's denying His absolute
power. They have a form of godliness,
Peter said, but they deny the power thereof. Well, Paul said
it's a mystery. God was manifest in the flesh,
but He was justified in the Spirit. That is, Jesus Christ was declared
by the Spirit of God to be the Son of God with power, all power,
according to the Spirit of holiness. Perfect sinless life. And the
resurrection from the dead. He rose from the dead. He wasn't
raised. He rose of His own volition,
own power. It says, great is the mystery,
he was seen of angels, that is, preacher. John Peter said, we
beheld his glory. We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Certain chosen ones then and
chosen ones now. Behold his glory. Read on. It says, the mystery is he was
preached unto the Gentiles. Preach. Preaching is the power
of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. It's a mystery
how the mere declaration of The person and work of Christ is
what God uses to regenerate to give spiritual life. Folks don't
believe that. They believe it's some kind of
decision. You have to convince people and beg people and all
that. Nope. It's the mere declaration,
the preaching of who Christ is. And God in His Holy Spirit overshadows
people and creates life by planting that seed. And believed on in
the world. He's believed. I mean, actually
believe. People believe want someone they
have never seen, never actually heard his voice, but yet they
truly believe with all their heart. That's the gift of God. And received up into glory. This
is a mystery. Christ was received up into glory,
and now He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
and so will all of His people someday. It's rejected by most
as a foolish notion of religious people, but it's true. He's coming,
and all eyes shall see Him, and God's people shall meet Him in
the air. Well, it's a mystery. I hope
He'll make it known to you. Good day.