Come and See the Mystery that has Been Hid From Generations - Part 881

"God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints." (I Corinthians 14:33) I began this theme a couple of weeks ago but got sidetracked. Today, I believe would be a good time to start connecting the scriptures so that we can all gain an accurate understanding of the good news gospel of the Kingdom --- His truth. The grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17) 

But how do we learn of the truth when the "religious culture" of this day teaches a different gospel? First and foremost, we must look to the Word -- the Bible -- to see what He Himself said. That is, He who knew no sin and yet became sin so that you and I could be saved. That is our starting point. 

Why? Because without the Word, there is no foundation for what you believe. This is why we are instructed as believers to seek Jesus and His righteousness with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. To study the scriptures, as a workman, to show thyself approved. (II Timothy 2:15)

Jesus said, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14) Just like the woman at the well, we should be bubbling over with joy, because we have laid His Word in our hearts. 

"What seek ye?" asked Jesus of the two disciples who followed Him after hearing Him speak. They had asked, "Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master) where dwellest Thou?" Jesus said, "Come and see." (John 1:38-39) Indeed, this is what we need to do this day. Come and see that the Lord is good -- so loving of His beloved creation that He Himself would devise a plan that included shedding His precious blood on the cross.

"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to His saints ... to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory -- whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:26-29)

"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; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God -- according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Ephesians 3:9-11)

John wrote: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

John did not stop there. "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name -- which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God ... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." (John 1:10-14)

In Colossians, Paul as an apostle of Jesus Christ confirmed John's writing when he wrote: "Who hath delivered us from the darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son -- in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature -- for by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him and He is before all things and by Him all things consist ... and He is the head of the body, the church; who is he beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence .. for it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell ... and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:13-20)

This same message is further confirmed in Colossians 2:9: "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power." 

Indeed, Jesus Himself said, "I and My Father are one." (John 10:33) Not God in three persons, or a triune God or the trinity which the religious culture teaches but Jesus was God in the flesh. The same God who created us willingly became flesh so that we might experience His goodness and grace.

As John wrote, Jesus had been teaching as always but "there was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings" -- the teachings that Jesus was presenting. (John 10:19) So much so, that the Jews surrounded Jesus and said, "How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10:23-24)

Jesus answered them, "I told you and ye believed not. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But ye believe not, because ye are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:25-30)

This is not the only time Jesus indicated that He and the Father are one. 

"Jesus saith unto [Thomas], "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also, and from henceforth, ye know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:6-7)

Philip then said, "Lord, show us the Father and it sufficeth us." Jesus said unto him, "Have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, "Show us the Father" Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself but the Father that dwells in Me ... He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the very works sake." (John 14:8-18)

"And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)

"No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." (John 1:18)

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets ... hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds -- who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power when He had by Himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high ... until I make thine enemies Thy footstool." (Hebrews 1:1-14)

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and GODHEAD; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20)

This is why Matthew confirmed what the prophet had earlier wrote: "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:26)

And similarly why Isaiah wrote: "For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

But even more important, it was prophesied--  "I am the Lord, the first and with the last, I am He." (Isaiah 41:4) Jesus said the same in Revelation. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is and which was and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

And in the case where the message is still not clear, Jesus repeats it again, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last." (Revelation 1:11) 

And again, Jesus states: "Fear not, for I am the first and the last; I am He that lives and was dead, and behold I am alive evermore, Amen." (Revelation 1:18)

Even again, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4:8) And still one more time for those who still don't understand that God did not send another but came to redeem us Himself, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:13)

Yes, in the beginning God. (Genesis 1:1) And besides Him there is no other. It is He Himself who has become your Saviour. Trust Jesus today. Seek His Word so that you will know also "what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us ... that we should be called the sons of God; therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." (I John 3:1) 

"Little children, let no man deceive you." (I John 3:7) "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits -- whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (I John 4:1)

Why? Because by believing in Jesus, "you know that He was manifested to take away our sins." (I John 3:5) Who? The one and only -- God -- our heavenly Father -- was manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) Stand in the offering plate.