What is Mystery?

The reason a lot of people believe the Bible is because of the prophecy.  God predicted what would happen and then did it.  A book written by so many authors (40 ish) over 1500 years and across three continents in three different languages when Microsoft was not even thought of should not be as consistent as it is.  Read 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 

How much Scripture is useful for us?

After my teaching on prophecy, I am afraid that some people may just toss their Old Testaments aside because prophecy is written TO the nation of Israel.  However, that does not mean it is not FOR the Gentile believer.  We learn so much about God’s holiness, faithfulness, lovingkindness and even Jesus from these Scriptures.  I am just saying be careful about taking a promise to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, or David and making it your very own.  Always look at the audience, this is why the teaching on the mystery is so powerful to me.  The audience for the teaching of the mystery is us.  Modern believers both Jew and Gentile living during this great unprophecied time called the age grace, the church age, or the mystery.      

What does the word mystery mean to you?

In the Bible this word mystery means a completely unknown, unprophecied event.  This mystery was hidden in the heart of God and was revealed to the apostle Paul.  Paul wrote what he learned from Jesus into several books in the New Testament.  Luke wrote Acts (which is largely about Paul’s ministry), Paul wrote Romans through Hebrews (there is some debate about Hebrews, but I am going with Paul here).  Mystery in the Bible is revolutionary because God has been in the habit of laying out everything that was going to happen for the Jewish people in Scripture.  As we look back we clearly see God prophecied many wars, defeats, exiles, returns, God even predicted Jesus’ birth, death, and kingdom reign.  The tough job for Israel was to wait patiently for each event, and then to know Scripture well enough to recognize when these things happened as fulfilled prophecy. 

Read Ephesians 3: 4-6, “In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generation as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.  This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus…”  Keep reading in your own Bible for more on this.

What are the parts of the mystery?

Is there any distinction between Jew and Gentile during the mystery?

So when is this mystery?  That is what I will write on next time.  Thank you so much for taking the time to read, this stuff is difficult, but if we both tap into the power of the Holy Spirit as we look at the Scriptures, I am confident this will be a profitable time for both of us.  Have a great day!