Secrets, Mysteries, and Revelations of God

Brethren, have you ever kept a secret? You know, a secret is something that you kept to yourself, something that you shared with nobody else. I can remember as a boy in school, whenever one of my classmates would have a secret, they liked to kind of bring that out and let everybody know that they had a secret. They wouldn't generally tell you what it was, but you know, you'd be recessed and you're out on the playground and as I recall is usually a boy going around saying, I have a secret, I have a secret. And of course it's a game because you're trying to get somebody else kind of provoked to come up and ask the question. Well, what is it? Tell me the secret. And eventually somebody would bite and ask the question and the response was usually something like, well that's for me to know and you to find out. And of course it was always sort of done as a game and tauntingly. But have you ever kept a secret? I think back as a congregation here, I know we've kept a secret because it wasn't that long ago as Alan and Sandy Hearst's 40th anniversary party and their children wanted to do something nice for them. And they were conveniently out of town and the party was thrown and it was a secret and we all managed to keep that up until that day. Certainly an enjoyable thing. So I would say for us as human, secrets surely are a part of our life. But what about God? What about God? Does God keep secrets? Does God keep secrets? I'd like to begin this afternoon in Deuteronomy the 29th chapter. It'll be sort of the anchor scripture for the message today. Deuteronomy chapter 29 and verse 29. And while you're turning there, if you like a title, the title of my message is Secrets, Mysteries, and Revelations of God. And again, the question is, does God keep secrets? Deuteronomy 29 verse 29, starting out here, it says that the secret things belong to the Lord our God. The secret things belong to the Lord our God. And so there are things that God reserves unto himself that he has told no one that he keeps, I always say his lips buttoned, I don't know if that's a proper description, but God has secrets that he's kept and is known only unto himself. The secret things belong to the Lord our God. You know, it's interesting, as a child and somebody was telling you they had a secret, you would try to figure it out, discover it. Maybe you'd watch their movements, maybe you could gain a clue as to what their secret was. You know, maybe if you thought the secret was they had a girlfriend you would see who they're hanging out with on the playground. When God has a secret, there's nothing that we can do to discover it. I mean, it's not like through academic investigation or study we could learn what it is that God is keeping to himself. If we go over to book of Job chapter 11, we're in the midst of Job's trial, and he's kind of wondering the what's and the whys of why it is he's going through these things, and a number of questions have been asked and expressed and conversation back and forth. And there's a question that's asked in Job chapter 11 and verse 7. Job 11 verse 7. And the question is, can you search out the deep things of God? Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven. What can you do? Deeper than she'll, what can you know? It says their measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. The New International Version puts it this way. It says, can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

So, brethren, can you and I search out the secret things of God, those things that he's reserved to himself? Well, I think we understand that the answer is no. Secrets of God are things God has reserved for himself unless he chooses to reveal them. There's nothing that we can do on our own to discover them apart from that. Let's go to Proverbs chapter 25. Proverbs 25, probably cover a few more than the normal number of scriptures today, but it never hurts to see what the Word of God directly says here. Proverbs chapter 25 and verse 2.

Proverbs 25 too, it says, it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. You know, if God's prerogative, it's his privilege if he should so choose to conceal a matter unto himself. It's his privilege to reveal what it is that he wants to reveal, to keep to himself. That is what it is he wants to keep to himself. And you know, it's the privilege of prerogative and really the nature of the king to want to seek out secrets. You know, I don't imagine a king wants many secrets going on, especially in his territory and kingdom. But again, it is God's privilege to keep things unto himself. Again, God is almighty. He is supreme. He rules in the universe and all his works are according to his will and his purpose. And you and I need to understand that not everything that God knows or even that God has purpose is for us to know at this time. So the question comes up because sometimes people can read these scriptures. Okay, God does in fact keep secret things unto himself. And so the question comes up, well, what's God hiding? What's he holding back? You know, is God holding something back? That could be to your betterment. Is he concealing something that if you knew what it was, it would lead to lifting you up and strengthening you and assisting you along the way? Well, the answer is no. God's not hiding anything that would be for our spiritual benefit. There's no malicious intent, no evil desire behind what God would reserve unto himself. But ultimately, the things that God does reveal to us is for our good. And the secret things of God are for our good as well. Now, let's take a look at an example of that because we might wonder, well, how could a secret be for our good if we don't know exactly what it is? Let's go to Mark chapter 13 verse 28.

Mark 13, 28. We'll look at an example of something which God has kept secret, which is, I believe, for our good in this day and time.

Mark 13, 28. The context of the run-up to this passage here, Jesus Christ is explaining to his disciples some of the events that will occur leading up to the time of the end, the end of the age, and then ultimately the return of Jesus Christ. And in verse 28, he says, now learn this parable from the fig tree. He says, when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. And so there are certain signs that you can identify and know that a certain set of events will be taking place. He says, so you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near and at the doors. And surely I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. Verse 32, he says, but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father. And so the Father has chosen to reserve to Himself the timing of the return of Jesus Christ. It's something that He has kept secret, is a matter which belongs to God, and it is His privilege to do so. Now what would be a benefit or an advantage to us of not knowing the time or date of Jesus Christ's return? Well, the answer is in verse 33. Jesus says, take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. And so a great advantage to not knowing the time is that it keeps us spiritually alert.

You know, if there was a date set out there, Jesus Christ is returning on set a date, what does that do to us in our human nature? Well, we look at that date and we say, ah, I have time. I have time. I can go about my life, do the things I want to do. I can repent later at a certain point, get my life in order and step into the kingdom of God at the return of Jesus Christ. You know, that's how the human mind would tend to rationalize that. I have time. Well, the point is, brethren, that God has not revealed to us the time. And the warning that we have recorded all throughout Scripture is the time to get your life in order is now, because you don't know when the time will be, that there will be no more time. No more time for you. No more time for me. And I could drive the car out of the parking lot today. My time could be up. I don't know. But God says, and Jesus Christ says, you don't know the time. However, take heed, watch, and pray. Develop that relationship with God. Draw close to Him now. And don't expect that somehow knowing a date or a deadline will give you a margin in some way. God wants us to take advantage of the time He has given us, no matter how much time may be left. Seize the day today.

So now that's a blessing that God gives us through a secret that He's reserved to Himself.

Acts chapter 1 and verse 6 again carries on with the same thought.

Acts chapter 1 verse 6. This is following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now He's appeared to His apostles and has been teaching them. We're approaching up to the time of Pentecost. Acts chapter 1 verse 6. And Jesus said to them, it is not for you to know times or seasons which your Father has put in His own authority. He says, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. And so the times and the seasons were not for the apostles to know. And brethren, they're not for us to know as well. What is for us to know is that Jesus Christ will one day return to the earth in great power and might. He'll establish the kingdom of God. And what is for us to know is that we want to be ready. We want to be prepared for that return. Not because of a deadline, but because it is who and what we are as we live according to the way. Again, some things God reveals to us are for our good, but those things that He keeps secret are for our good as well.

Are you okay with God having secrets? And it might seem like a silly question after what we've covered because, you know, if you're not okay with God having secrets, it's not like you can do anything about it. But the truth is, brethren, we need to be comfortable with the fact that there are some things God reserves for Himself. Because if not, what can happen is some individuals can get hung up on wanting to know, what don't I know? And they'll look and they'll hunt and they'll search and they'll find somebody that tells them that they can reveal to them the secret of God. Do you want to know the date, the return of Jesus Christ? Well, if you look around hard enough, you'll find somebody that says they can tell you. And what's the result of that? Well, a lot of times in the end, it results in selling your house and giving your money, packing your belongings, spaceships coming. You know, do you want to know the return of Jesus Christ? Well, the point is, keep your life in order and you will be prepared. You and I need to be comfortable with the fact that God has reserved some things for Himself, some things that in due time He will reveal, but according to God's will and God's choosing, not according to our own.

So what are some of the things that God's kept secret?

Well, I don't suppose that we could even imagine, because it is, after all, a secret.

To go back to Deuteronomy chapter 29, verse 29, again, our anchor scripture here, as we only read part of it, there's actually more contained in this passage for us to understand.

Deuteronomy chapter 29, verse 29, again, it says, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. But those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

And so there are some things that God has kept secret to Himself, and there are some things which He has revealed. And when you consider the fact that He's revealed something, it indicates that it had been concealed, that it had been hidden. But now, once God has opened it up, it is out there, it's open, it's revealed. So the things God keeps are for Himself, the things He reveals is for us. Now, the things that God's revealed to us are recorded in the scripture. It's not outside knowledge somewhere that we have to go hunt over here or hunt over there to try to discover what it is that God's revealed. No, it's recorded for us in His scripture, if we will, in fact, have eyes to see. Now, scripture reveals that when God reveals His secrets, He often does so in a manner in which only perhaps a small handful will see and understand. Only a select few will have their minds open to comprehend what it is that God's revealed. The vast majority of mankind will not comprehend. That is one manner in which God reveals His secrets. Now, another manner in which God will reveal on occasion a secret is in stages where He'll reveal something that is recorded in scripture, perhaps something He revealed to His prophets. And it will be recorded, it will be open, there it sits, but the understanding of it is not yet given, not to its fullest extent. And it's not until you get down the line, hundreds or thousands of years and certain events play out, that then God gives the understanding in the full ultimate realization of what it is that He's revealed. Now, sometimes God reveals something, but in many ways it still continues to remain a mystery. And we'll look at a couple of those examples as we go through the message today. Now, in many ways, the secret things of God that He chooses to reveal are out in the open, and in some ways they are hidden in plain sight. When we look at, again, back to the prophets, the writings and the law, there are so many things that we read through from our perspective, and yet for so much of mankind, down through the ages, those things still remain a mystery. The understanding of them are unknown, and it wasn't even until a specific period in time in which God opened those up to truly be understood and recognized, even by His people. And when we study God's Word, we see that God clearly has revealed Himself. He's revealed His nature, His character, His love. God's revealed His justice and His mercy. God's revealed His overview in terms of the plan of salvation, how it is He's bringing many sons to the glory as part of this family for all eternity. And all these revelations are there so that, as Deuteronomy 29, 29 says, we may do all the words of the law.

The revelations are there so that we're encouraged to be obedient to God, submit to Him, live lives that are according to His call and His purpose in our life.

Now, Moses said that the things that God reveals belong to us and our children forever. So, ultimately, the revelations of God belong to the people of God. They belong to the people who are in a relationship with Him, a covenant relationship, to who opens their minds completely to what it is He wants them to see. Again, they belong to us and our children forever. Ultimately, that wasn't just the children of Israel. It is the children of God, the Church of God, to whom He reveals understanding of these things. So, let's take a few moments to review scriptures that show directly who it is that God reveals His secret things to. Let's go to Amos chapter 3.

Amos 3, Amos back in the minor prophets. Minor prophets are minor not by importance of the message, but simply by length and simply how they've been grouped together. But they are very important for us yet, even today. Amos chapter 3 and verse 7. We want to see to whom does God reveal His secret. Amos 3, 7. Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants, the prophets. And so God isn't in the business, brethren, of simply springing things on us out of the blue. I mean, there's things that obviously we don't know. There's details that have yet to be seen as time progresses, but God's not in the business of springing big surprises on His people. God, who knows the end from the beginning, has revealed many things through His prophets. The prophet Isaiah is a good example of that. He revealed to Isaiah prophecies concerning the day in which Isaiah lived. He also revealed prophecies concerning Israel from that point going forward all the way up through the return of Jesus Christ through the millennium and beyond. And we look at those prophecies and we see some of them and say, oh, that's clear what that means. There's others that maybe aren't so clear. We see these through a glass darkly, and some of that is related to the fact of our perspective of where we are in time. Some things have been revealed and clearly fulfilled. Other things, we still wait to see exactly how they will be fulfilled. But God reveals His secrets to His prophets. The book of Daniel is another example of that, of God revealing His secrets to a prophet. But what's interesting about the book of Daniel is some things God gave him that He understood immediately. And there were other things that God gave him that weren't for His time. They weren't for His understanding. We won't turn there, but in Daniel 12, God actually told Daniel after He revealed things leading up to the time of the end. He said, go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

And so there are times when God reveals things in terms of laying the secret out, but the understanding of that revelation isn't clearly known until God purposes it to be so. Again, the point is, surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secrets to His prophets.

In addition to the prophets, Scripture shows God revealed His secrets to those who live upright lives before Him. Let's go to Proverbs chapter 3. Proverbs 3 verse 32.

Proverbs chapter 3 verse 32 says, for the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright. The NIV puts it this way, once again, it says, for the Lord detests the perverse, but takes the upright into His confidence.

So those who are living in a proper relationship with God, who seek Him, who put Him first, who put His ways first in their life, those people that are living in an upright manner before God are ones to whom God then reveals His secrets. And it's not like God comes up to an individual and just whispers something in their ear, you know, I want to tell you a secret. That's not what it is, but to that person, God reveals the understanding. God makes the revelations in that way clear of what He has purposed for them in their life and ultimately for mankind. We see, again, throughout Scripture, the plan of salvation is laid out. It's not clear to those who are not in a close and personal and direct relationship with God. Psalm chapter 25. Psalm 25 verse 14, again, the same line of thinking. Psalm 25 verse 14, it says, The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.

So those who have a respect and a proper reverence for God and worship Him through that relationship are those to whom God reveals understanding of His secret things. Ultimately, He reveals to them the understanding of the covenant relationship that He's offered them, that they've engaged in. For us today, we're in covenant relationship with the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ. Do we understand the significance of that relationship? Do we understand what it took to bring us there? The acknowledgement of our sins, the repentance, the baptism, the forgiveness that was offered, ultimately, then the laying on of hands in the Holy Spirit, which God gives us, the spirit of understanding. But He says to those who fear the Lord, they'll understand His secret things, and He will show them His covenant. To God's Spirit, He reveals to us the importance of the relationship that we must have with Him, the importance of walking and making a straight path for our feet in this life today. You know, we can think of those of faith who have gone before us, people like Noah and Abraham, Moses, David, individuals who submitted their lives to God, and God revealed to them understanding of what it was that He purposed. And not only was it a revelation from God, but God actually worked very personally and directly in their lives to bring about some of the fulfillment of the things which were then prophesied. God worked out His plan in their lives in very specific ways.

So again, God reveals His secrets, and those ones He chooses to do so anyway, and He often does so in stages. Little here, little there, the meaning becomes clear fully when God desires that it would be clear. He also reveals them to those whom He wills and desires to work with at that point. The same was true in Jesus Christ's day. When Jesus Christ walked the earth, He came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. And He didn't do it off in a corner somewhere. He didn't do it in secret. He did it in the open. You know, there were multitudes of people that followed Him, that listened to Him teach, that saw Him heal, perform miracles. They brought others as well, and He had this great following of people that would listen to Jesus Christ. So this wasn't done in a corner somewhere, but the fact is only a handful of the masses had their minds open to the understanding of the message that He brought. And that wasn't an accident. That was by purposeful design. Let's go to Matthew chapter 13. Matthew 13, we'll see an example of this. Matthew chapter 13 is full of parables. Parables were stories by which Christ then introduced understanding, concepts regarding the kingdom of God. What we're going to find, though, is that what most people think a parable is, is not really the intent and purpose of a parable. Matthew chapter 13 and verse 34. After a number of these parables, Matthew 13 verse 34 says, All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables. And without a parable He did not speak to them. In a parable, because if you go out on the street, you ask, and if somebody knows what a parable is, what they'll probably tell you about the parables of Jesus Christ was, it was a story He gave to make the explanation of the kingdom of God clear. That's not the case. The opposite is actually true. Jesus Christ revealed things, revealed the mystery of the kingdom of God, and He did so in parables, not to expose the understanding, but to conceal it from the masses. If we carry on, verse 35, He spoke it in parables, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world. And so what Jesus Christ revealed through His teachings were things that were kept secret, secret since the time of the foundation of the world. And they were secrets pertaining to the kingdom of God, secrets pertaining to salvation through Jesus Christ. Ultimately, those teachings weren't meant to be understood by the multitudes as a whole. To go back to verse 1 of Matthew 13, under the run-up to this, Matthew 13, verse 1, says, On the same day Jesus went out of the house and he sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to him so that he got into a boat and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore. So you can kind of imagine maybe these masses of people that had come to hear him, and he's on the shore and they're pressing closer, pressing closer, and he gets out into a boat so he can just at least have a little distance and teach them.

Verse 3, And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it's not my point to cover the parable of the sower, but let's jump down to verse 10. Verse 10, And the disciples came to him and said, Why do you speak to them in parables? And Jesus answered and said to them, Because it has been given to you, that know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

So even though Jesus Christ was speaking to the masses, the throngs that were following him, the message and the understanding of it ultimately was not for them. Now, the seed was to be scattered, the message was to be scattered out there, but the understanding at that time was not for them.

The commission of the church, we preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the world. I've done so for decades. The Word has gone out. Where are the masses of people with their minds opened, flooding in the door? You know, Jesus taught in the open. We teach in the open. The gospel message should go out in open, but what God is doing is very specific. It's not on a broad, broad scale at this time. God is calling who he will call. He's opening the minds of those whom he will. We put the message out there, but truly it is God's work according to his order. So Jesus has said it's not for them to understand at this time. The word here, mystery, in verse 11, it says, it has been given to you know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The word mystery is significant. According to Mounts' complete expository dictionary, the Old and New Testament words, the Greek word translated mystery denotes a secret or something unknown. It says in the New Testament and most often refers to the mystery that Christians now know, which differentiates them from unbelievers. Learning and understanding this mystery does not come via human intellectual or philosophical achievement. The only way to grasp it is through the revelation of God. So if it's a mystery, if it's a secret, you're not going to investigate it. You're not going to, through academia, discover the ultimate understanding of it. Again, it must be by revelation of God. Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables because it was for the disciples to know it wasn't for them ultimately. Verse 12, carrying on, Christ said, For those who have, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, hearing you will hear and shall not understand, seeing you will see and not perceive. For the hearts of this people have grown dull, their ears are part of hearing, their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts in turn, so that I should heal them. It simply wasn't for the masses to have their mind open at that time. Some people will read this and question that. You know, they would wonder why would God only reveal understanding to a group of people? I mean, after all Christianity says, this is the day of salvation, get saved today or be lost forever, why would the meaning of these things be masked?

Well, again, brethren, that's a revealed understanding. God, through His holy days, has showed us that today is not the only day of salvation. God is calling all mankind to salvation, but not all in this day. Scripture shows it's each in His own order. First the firstfruits. Firstfruits are those who God calls in this age. They have God's spirit. Have that understanding. They will be in the first resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ. We walk through the description of the firstfruits on the Passover. But all the rest of mankind, whose mind has not been opened, God is a merciful God. They are not lost. God has a plan for them as well, and we see that through the progression of the holy days. One day, day two, after the second resurrection will have their minds opened to the truth of God. We won't turn there, but Revelation 20 shows the first resurrection and then the general resurrection to come. All those who had ever lived and died will be resurrected to physical life. The first resurrection is to spiritual life of the saints. The second resurrection is to physical life. So those individuals can enter into a personal relationship with God on His terms. And it is a wonderful plan. It's a wonderful understanding that God gives, and it's a revealed understanding through His holy days. But God's not calling all men to salvation at this time. Another doctrine that goes alongside of that in this world is that once saved, always saved. You can't do anything to lose out on salvation once you've accepted Jesus Christ. Well, the scriptures show that is not the case either. So, frankly, the understanding that we have through God's holy day plan and the fact that this is not the only day salvation very much sets us apart from Christianity at large in the world around us.

God has an order in which He's doing things. All mankind will one day have their eyes opened. Verse 16, Jesus said, But blessed are your eyes, for they see in your ears, for they hear. For surely I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. You know, there were those of old who did have their minds open to the mystery. They had an understanding of what God was doing. Abraham. Good example. Many of the prophets as well, God gave at least a certain level of understanding of some of the things that they were recording. And it says, you know, they longed to see those things fulfilled. But it wasn't in their day, in their time, but Jesus says it's for you. It's for you to understand. If we jump forward in time to the first century church, we see the same is true. The apostles understood these things. They understood the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and they taught them as well. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 6.

1 Corinthians 2 verse 6. It's the apostle Paul. He says, however, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing. And the wisdom of the age is human reasoning. It's intellectual thought and reasoning, and perhaps, you know, like scientific proving of things. But those will only do very, very little in coming to understanding, grasp, truly the revealed things of God. So Paul says, we speak the wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor the rulers of this age, but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. You know, there were many prophecies contained in, back in the writings and the law and the prophets concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. And so, in Israel, they were looking for a Messiah. They were looking for a Savior. But you know what? They looked right past Jesus. They were looking for a conquering king that would set up the dominance of Israel once again. And they tended to look at some of the prophecies of the Old Testament and blend them and not have the full understanding of what exactly was revealed. And as a result, they were looking for Jesus Christ and the Messiah. But they looked at Jesus Christ and instead of embracing Him, they killed Him. Because the understanding for them was not there. Had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But you know what? That was by God's design. That was His purpose. Jesus Christ was to die in the manner in which He died for the sins of all mankind and to be resurrected once again as our hope was according to God's plan. It says, but it is written, verse 9, I has not seen nor ear heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. Again, you can't investigate it out. But, verse 10, this is how we come to understand, but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. And so the secrets of God, the mysteries of God, the things that He chooses to reveal, the things that the masses still don't clearly understand, they are understood by those with God's Spirit, to those whom God has clearly revealed them to. It says, for what man knows the things of a man except the Spirit of man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. So these things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but in which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. It says, but the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. Spiritual things of God, the mysteries of God, can't be clearly discerned, says by the carnal man, requires God's Spirit.

Continuing on with Paul's writings, Romans chapter 16 and verse 25.

Romans 16 verse 25, coming to the conclusion of the book of Romans. Let's see the conclusion of the matter. Romans 16 25. Paul says or writes, Now to him who was able to establish you, according to my gospel, in the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, kept secret since the world began, but now made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures, made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith, to God alone, wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever.

The things that Paul understood and was teaching was the mystery kept secret since the world began. He says, but it's now been made manifest. It's been made known. It's in the open. Understanding has been revealed to those to whom God has given eyes to see. That teaching involved the gospel message, which also included salvation being extended to all nations through Jesus Christ, not just salvation to the Jews only. Again, verse 26, it said, but now made manifest by the prophetic scriptures, made known to all nations.

The prophetic scriptures contain the words of the revelation of the mystery of God, the secret that he revealed, that Jesus Christ would come and salvation now would be available to the Gentiles as well. And that understanding then could go out to all nations. Brethren, what is the mystery hidden from the ages and from the foundation of the world? You know, we've been sort of bouncing around today. We've talked about the mystery of the kingdom of God.

The mystery kept secret since the foundation of the world to the ages through the generations. And we could probably express that in different ways. But in a concise package, if somebody came and asked you, what is the mystery hidden from the ages and the foundation of the world, what would you say? What would you say that mystery is? Well, Paul lines it out clearly for us in Colossians chapter 1.

In Colossians chapter 1, beginning in verse 24, Paul says, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the inflictions of Christ for the sake of his body which is the church. Paul suffered many hardships in his service to the body of Jesus Christ. Verse 25, The glory of the mystery is Christ in you. That's the essential element to the gospel message. That's the essential requirement unto salvation. Jesus Christ in you is the requirement and what it meant that then salvation could be extended to the Gentiles and they could be grafted in as the people of God.

Christ in you is the hope of glory for you and me to be called out of this world, given understanding of the truth of God and the Spirit to follow him. Ultimately, Christ in you is the Holy Spirit of God which dwells in you, developing the nature and the character of Jesus Christ.

Christ in you, the hope of glory, was the mystery that was hidden from ages and generations, has been revealed to the saints. How is it that God, a spiritual, all-powerful God, was going to create a physical people and then bring them into a eternal spiritual family? I mean, how is that possible? How could that be? The mystery hidden from the ages and from the generations, which has now been revealed to the saints, is Christ in you, the hope of glory. That is how that is possible. Apart from Jesus Christ in you and me, we can't fully come to understand the revealed secrets of God.

Again, they're spiritually discerned. Apart from Christ in you and me, we'll never grow up into a perfect man or woman, into the stature of the fullness of Christ. Apart from Christ in you and me, we cannot obtain the kingdom of God because he is the hope of our glory.

Jesus Christ in you, again, comes as a result of the Holy Spirit. It's not just Jesus Christ in you. It is the Father in you as well. The Father and Son are one. Jesus Christ in you is what brings us to the Father, gives us the ability to then establish that relationship directly on our knees before his throne. Christ in you, the hope of glory, is how these things, brethren, are carried out.

The mystery has been revealed. Christ in you is the key that God has purpose for all his children. Verse 27, To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Paul says, through this end, I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

Ephesians chapter 3.

Ephesians 3, verse 1, Apostle Paul once again says, For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, you know, he went out preaching to the Gentiles that they could have salvation through the name of Jesus Christ. And the Jews at large didn't like that very much. And ultimately, long story short, Paul was in prison for the gospel that he brought. He appealed and was sent to Rome and then he's in prison and he writes Ephesians, Philippians, Galadians, prison epistles, but they're full of hope because of the hope of glory. So he says, For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, write to you Gentiles, for it's indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which was given to me for you. How about by the revelation he may know to me the mystery as I have briefly written already. What was the mystery? Again, it was Christ in you, the hope of glory. Verse 4, By which when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not known to the sons of man, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. So again, the mystery was recorded back in the writings, back in the prophets, but you know the revelation, the understanding of that mystery was not clearly known. Verse 6, The Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel, which I became a minister according to the gifts of the grace of God, given to me by the effective working of his power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Again, you can't search them out. You can't discover them on their own. They must be revealed. Verse 9, And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church, to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him. Obviously, Brother Paul was fired up. He was excited to preach and make known to the churches the unsearchable riches of Christ, to reveal the mystery, to lend to them and help them have understanding of the significance of Christ in you, the hope of glory. Now, there's one other element of this mystery I'd like us to look at just briefly. We read over it quickly. I think it's quite dramatic for us to consider. Verse 10, I'll read it again. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church, to the principalities and powers in heavenly places.

Brethren, who are the principalities and powers in heavenly places?

Well, they include the angels and they include the demons. God has revealed his mystery and he has enlightened his church to the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory, the salvation that will be through us. But you know, he's also enlightened the heavenly realm through these things being revealed in the church.

Heavenly beings are watching God work out with his church, his plan of salvation. His plan of salvation. And in doing so, they are learning. They are coming to understand and see in its fullness how God indeed will carry these things out. Again, it said to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be known by the church, to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, by the angelic realm, watching what God is doing in his church. They're learning, they're understanding. The faithful angels are rejoicing. And I would say the ones that aren't so faithful probably aren't rejoicing. But you consider the fact that when you come to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the rulers that killed Christ, it said, had they known they would not have sacrificed the Lord of glory. Who killed Christ? Well, human hands killed Christ. But who ultimately killed Jesus Christ? It was Satan. It was his desire to thwart the plan of God. He tried to have Jesus Christ killed as a baby with the order that went out from Herod to kill the males. He tried to have Jesus Christ in that sense spiritually killed in the wilderness when he tried to get him to falter and stumble and turn from God. Ultimately, he had Jesus Christ killed at his crucifixion. But you know what was revealed? What was revealed is that that was part of God's plan. That's part of the manifold wisdom of God. And now those principalities and powers in heavenly places are seeing the wisdom of God revealed through his church. Not that we teach them, but they watch what God is doing on his plan of salvation. It helps to make this final scripture clear. 1 Peter chapter 1.

1 Peter chapter 1 verse 10. Here Peter had been speaking of the inheritance, the resurrection, the hope that is through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1 verse 10. It says, Of this salvation the prophets have required and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you. Searching what or what by manner of time the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. You know, the prophets that recorded these revelations of God themselves were curious and interested to see how, in fact, these things would play out. And they realized that you know what the message that they were giving was not for them in that age, but rather it was for us. Verse 11, I'm sorry, verse 12, says, To them, the prophets, it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven things which angels desire to look into. The carrying out of the gospel message, the completing of the salvation process through Jesus Christ in you and me are things that angels desire to look into. They're things that they're carefully observing, that they're seeing that is revealing the manifold witness of God. Brethren, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. But the things which have been revealed belong to us and to our children forever. Never take for granted the blessings of having your mind open to the truth of God. Remember the things that God has kept secret and reserved for himself, he does so for our good. And the things which God revealed, likewise, he does so for our good and our blessing. It truly is wonderful to understand the calling and the purpose that God has poured out on us in this age. It is a blessing that God is seeing realized as he brings us to spiritual maturity. It is a blessing that we're beginning to more fully understand as we walk through the process in our life. Brethren, again, it's a blessing we must never take for granted.