Mysteries and secrets

In pagan religions, mysteries were secrets opened only to those who were introduced into their system of worship. These secrets supposedly gave them the power and ability to influence others, and they should not be revealed to anyone else. They certainly were not proclaimed. Such powerful knowledge was dangerous and had to be kept secret at all costs.

The opposite is the case with the gospel. In the Gospel, it is the great mystery of what God has done in and through human history, which is revealed to everyone clearly and freely, instead of being kept secret.

In our English vernacular, a mystery is part of a puzzle that must be found. In the Bible, however, a mystery is something that is true but that the human mind can not understand until God reveals it.

Paul describes as mysteries all those things that were hazy in the time before Christ, but that were fully revealed in Christ - the mystery of faith (1 Tim. 3,16), the mystery of Israel's hardening (Rom. 11,25), the mystery of God's plan for humanity (1 Cor. 2,7), which is the same as the mystery of God's will (Eph. 1,9) and the mystery of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15,51).

When Paul openly revealed the mystery, he did two things: First, he explained that what was hinted at in the Old Covenant became reality in the New Covenant. Secondly, he opposed the idea of ​​a hidden mystery and said that the Christian mystery was a revealed mystery, publicized, proclaimed to all, and believed by the saints.

In Colossians 1,21-26 he wrote: Also to you who were once alien and hostile in evil works, 1,22 He has now reconciled by the death of his mortal body, so that he may make you holy and blameless and flawless before his face; 1,23 if only you remain in the faith, established and firm, and not deviate from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which has been preached to all creatures under heaven. I, Paul, have become his servant. 1,24 Now I rejoice in the sufferings that I suffer for you, and in my flesh I reimburse what is still missing in Christ's sufferings for his body, that is the church. 1,25 I have become you servants through the office that God has given me, that I should preach his word richly to you, 1,26 namely, the mystery that has been hidden from ages and generations, but now it is revealed to its saints.

God calls and orders us to work for him. Our task is to make the invisible kingdom of God visible through faithful Christian life and testimony. The gospel of Christ is the gospel of the kingdom of God, the good news of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit through fellowship and discipleship with our living Lord and Savior. It should not be kept secret. It should be shared with all and proclaimed to all.

Paul continues: ... to whom God wanted to make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, namely Christ in you, the hope of glory. 1,28 We inquire about this and admonish all people and teach all people in all wisdom, so that we can make every person perfect in Christ. 1,29 For this I struggle and struggle in the power of him who works powerfully in me (Colossians 1,27-29).

The gospel is a message about Christ's love and how He alone frees us from guilt and transforms us into the image of Christ. As Paul wrote to the church in Philippi: Our citizenship is in heaven; whence we expect the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 3,21 who will transform our vain body so that he may become like his glorified body according to the strength with which he can subjugate all things (Phil. 3,20-21).

The gospel is indeed something to celebrate. Sin and death cannot separate us from God. We are supposed to be changed. Our glorified bodies will not rot, will no longer need food, will no longer grow old or wrinkled. We will be raised like Christ in powerful spirit bodies. More than that is just not known yet. As John wrote: Dear ones, we are already God's children; but it has not yet become apparent what we will be. But we know that when it is revealed, we will be like it; because we will see him as he is (1 Jn. 3,2).

by Joseph Tkach


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