"My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ...." (Colossians 2:2, NIV)
If man wishes to "solve" life's mysteries, there is only One Who can do that for us, "namely, Christ." Confusion in the human race is brought about by not knowing, "the mystery of God, namely, Christ." The Greek text expresses it very powerfully clear, "....the mystery of God Christ." This powerful revelation here is that Jesus Himself is, "the mystery of God," revealed.
All the creeds speak mostly of Jesus Christ, because, "the mystery of God," remains, "the mystery," without Jesus. It is easy to speak of "God" and even quite popular among religious people because everyone can make up their own god. Bring the Name of Jesus into the conversation, and immediately convenient ideas and speculation about God is practically nonexistent. John 1:18 says, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." If the Name of Jesus Himself is not in our conversation, preaching, singing, worship, then everything is shrouded in mystery. Not only the unbeliever who may come among us, but you and I, all of us will have "church" in a mystery, indeed, life itself in a mystery which makes Sherlock Holmes and all the other "mysteries" seem like 1+1=2.
For every one song in a worship service which does not mention the Name of Jesus, three should. People who come among us, as well as we ourselves, have no understanding of God the Father apart from Jesus, "....in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ." There is a very real sense in which we could say, that God can only be to man an anomaly apart from Jesus Christ. Everyone has some idea of what/whom God is. But without Jesus it is all nonsense. If Jesus is not fundamental, central, indeed, the only definition of God, we just do not and cannot know God. "The mystery of God," remains just that: "The mystery of God."
Some may get bored with my continual "harping" on this. But you know as well as I do that when you hear in the media most "Christians" talking about God, there is very, very rarely a mention of Jesus. It is easy and even acceptable to many to say, "God," or, "the Lord." Yes, these are both Biblical "titles," but what kept Abraham going as, "he went out, not knowing where he was going," was what our Lord Jesus said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day." Without Jesus, neither you, nor I, nor any creature can ever, "go out,..knowing where [we are] going." Life will just be one big, "not knowing." Jesus said in one of His prayers, "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee." According to our text, that, "know Thee," is only in the revelation of, "the mystery of God, Christ."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for clearing up the mystery of the ages in Jesus. Amen.
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See how one European nation is loosing the battle on immigration. This is where the United States is heading. Go to: jhs58.blogspot.com
If man wishes to "solve" life's mysteries, there is only One Who can do that for us, "namely, Christ." Confusion in the human race is brought about by not knowing, "the mystery of God, namely, Christ." The Greek text expresses it very powerfully clear, "....the mystery of God Christ." This powerful revelation here is that Jesus Himself is, "the mystery of God," revealed.
All the creeds speak mostly of Jesus Christ, because, "the mystery of God," remains, "the mystery," without Jesus. It is easy to speak of "God" and even quite popular among religious people because everyone can make up their own god. Bring the Name of Jesus into the conversation, and immediately convenient ideas and speculation about God is practically nonexistent. John 1:18 says, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." If the Name of Jesus Himself is not in our conversation, preaching, singing, worship, then everything is shrouded in mystery. Not only the unbeliever who may come among us, but you and I, all of us will have "church" in a mystery, indeed, life itself in a mystery which makes Sherlock Holmes and all the other "mysteries" seem like 1+1=2.
For every one song in a worship service which does not mention the Name of Jesus, three should. People who come among us, as well as we ourselves, have no understanding of God the Father apart from Jesus, "....in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ." There is a very real sense in which we could say, that God can only be to man an anomaly apart from Jesus Christ. Everyone has some idea of what/whom God is. But without Jesus it is all nonsense. If Jesus is not fundamental, central, indeed, the only definition of God, we just do not and cannot know God. "The mystery of God," remains just that: "The mystery of God."
Some may get bored with my continual "harping" on this. But you know as well as I do that when you hear in the media most "Christians" talking about God, there is very, very rarely a mention of Jesus. It is easy and even acceptable to many to say, "God," or, "the Lord." Yes, these are both Biblical "titles," but what kept Abraham going as, "he went out, not knowing where he was going," was what our Lord Jesus said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day." Without Jesus, neither you, nor I, nor any creature can ever, "go out,..knowing where [we are] going." Life will just be one big, "not knowing." Jesus said in one of His prayers, "And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee." According to our text, that, "know Thee," is only in the revelation of, "the mystery of God, Christ."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for clearing up the mystery of the ages in Jesus. Amen.
*******************
See how one European nation is loosing the battle on immigration. This is where the United States is heading. Go to: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
