Mystery: Why does it continue to be one to so many?

I’m afraid most churchgoers have absolutely no understanding of the Mystery at all.  Furthermore, they have no idea how very important it is.  This website where you are reading this was created to help people understand this which is so unknown to so many.  This 4Us2UsMinistry is here declaring that although the whole Bible is FOR us, it is not all TO us or about us.  Making these distinctions is what the right division of Scripture is all about.  It is also the means to a clear and correct understanding of the Bible.

2 Timothy 2:15

¹⁵ Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]

It was the Apostle Paul alone who wrote about the principles and promises that are specifically addressed to us today.  It was to Paul alone that these things were first given.  That’s why he speaks of them as having been a mystery, that is, a secret held in the mind of God until it was revealed to him.

Ephesians 3:1-9

¹ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

² If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given ME to you-ward:

³ How that by revelation he made known unto ME the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand MY knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

⁵ Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Then he gives one of a number of examples of this.

⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

⁷ Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto ME by the effectual working of his power.

⁸ Unto ME, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable [UNXICHNIASTOS = not traceable (things nowhere found or understood in the OT Scriptures)] riches of Christ;

⁹ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [Emphasis added]

You’ll find that there are already numerous articles you can access through this website that provide a fuller explanation all this—

Mystery:  What is The Key to Understanding the Bible?

Mystery:  What is this Secret that Paul wrote about?

Mystery:  What is the fellowship of the mystery?

There are also numerous videos available to you on this website.  Here’s the link to one of them—

#248-EP48 ~ Ephesians 3:1 – The Mystery Truths of Scripture

Instead of seeing and accepting the differences, most of “the church” of today has tried to blend all these things together.  But because of the obvious differences, there’s been the development of denominationalism.  Many groups have split over these differences in beliefs.  We have thousands of people working out of basically the same Bible but drawing different conclusions about their meaning and application today.  So much of this has to do with the power of “religious” tradition.  They’ve always been so opposed to the principle of grace whether it has to do with salvation or anything else.  But the doctrine pertaining to the mystery truths has also been so opposed by these same people.  The apostle Paul experienced conflict and opposition from these people to the end of his life.  Note some of his comments about them.

1 Timothy 1:19-20

¹⁹ Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

²⁰ Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. [Emphasis added]

Paul makes a similar statement about this at the very end of his life.

2 Timothy 4:14-15

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

¹⁵ Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. [Emphasis added]

Question: Who has withstood your words lately? Who are you having to deal with because of their opposition to Paul’s teaching?  People who choose to be Pauline in their theology will always have to deal with some of this.  But because so many reject it, it remains something still unknown to most churchgoers.  I can still remember people talking about this problem fifty years ago.  Some things never change.  Please note some of the details about what all Paul had to deal with in opposition—

2 Corinthians 11:22-28

²² Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [Emphasis added]

Paul calls these people who put him through so much “enemies of the cross of Christ.” Jesus exhorts us to follow His example.  During His earthly ministry He made it quite clear that “religious” people do the most to hinder the salvation of people.

Matthew 23:13

¹³ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. [Emphasis added]

Matthew 23 is a whole chapter devoted to one rebuke of these people after another.  Shouldn’t we do the same if we’re to be “Christ-like”?  Didn’t He love these people? He surely did!  He even went to the cross to pay for their sins.  But that didn’t stop Him from exposing them and their thoroughly evil thinking.  Then later we see the Apostle Paul setting an example for us.  Here’s what he said—

Philippians 3:17-18

¹⁷ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

¹⁸ (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: [Emphasis added]

Paul’s command to stand one’s ground in dealing with these people is plainly stated.

Philippians 4:8-9

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. [Emphasis added]

He even reminds us that if we take such a stand, we’ll be generously rewarded in eternity for such.

2 Timothy 4:8

⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. [Emphasis added]

You’ll find numerous articles on this website about this—

Awards:  Are there awards we can qualify to receive in Heaven?

Rewards:  For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?

Then note Paul’s words when he speaks of all the good that came out of those suffering situations he experienced.

Philippians 1:12-14

¹² But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

¹³ So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

¹⁴ And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. [Emphasis added]

We can only wonder what good will come from the stand that we take on this.  But if we fail to do so, the mystery truths revealed of God through Paul will remain a “mystery” to so many.  Only when people take a stand against the strong current of traditionalism will this ever change.  I hope you’ll choose to be one such person.