What is the mystery that Paul wanted believers in Jesus by faith to understand? That "there shall come out of Sion on the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 12:26-27; Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:10-11)
And that, the mystery concerning Jesus would not be hid from the world.
"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)
Yet, within today's religious culture, the revelation of the mystery that was so precious to the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ has been hidden, replaced instead by longstanding traditions of men. The understanding that the Lord Himself (speaking through Isaiah the prophet) clearly stated -- "For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:27)
God wasn't sending His Son but rather He planned to become the Son. God became our Saviour. And thus, He prepared Himself a body -- made of flesh, so that He could redeem our sins. John explains it this way -- "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." (John 1:10-11)
But in order to bring us salvation, He first had to conclude them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon us all. "O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or, who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath, first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things: to whom be glory for ever, Amen." (Romans 11:29-36)
Indeed, God Himself became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 42:13)
God Himself covenanted to take away our sins. And for those who seek the truth, this revelation is not hidden. "But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ... And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:8-11)
This is why we are to "hear ye Him" because without God becoming the perfect sacrifice, we could not be saved. But because of His grace, His mercy, and His abundance of love for His beloved creation, He robed Himself in sin-prone flesh (while being without sin) so that we might be redeemed. Not just the Israelites but the Gentiles [you and I who are not Jews] also. The new testament that was written in His blood (and not in stone) was extended to one and all.
"For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief; even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy, they also may obtain mercy." (Romans 11:31-32)
This is why we are no more strangers and foreigners to the gospel, but fellow citizens with the saints and the household of God -- because we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner [stone]; in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple int he Lord -- "in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22)
"For through Him we both have access by ONE SPIRIT to the Father." (Ephesians 2:18)
The Spirit of Jesus Christ -- the Comforter -- the ONE LORD who loved us enough to shed His precious blood on the cross so that we might have life in Him, is the mystery that has been hid from the world.
Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world!" Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."
And to ensure that we understood who Jesus was, He told us that He and His Father are One. (John 10:30) He told His disciples that "if you have seen Me, ye have seen the Father." (John 14:6-18) Jesus is the Spirit of truth that will never leave us or forsake us.
This is why Jesus said, "If ye believe not that I am He ..." because He is the He that came to take away our sins.
As apostle Paul repeatedly stated, when writing to the saints, "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 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)
When God created the world in the beginning, it was because He knew there would be a people who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. And that, instead of accepting the traditions of men, we would search to understand who God is and how far He would go to redeem those whom He loves beyond measure.
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. (Ephesians 4:5-6) And because of His kindness and love for His creation, He Himself became our Saviour -- after His kindness and love. (Titus 3:4-7)
Hold fast to the truth and understanding that is in the scriptures. Don't be led astray by the traditions of men who have no understanding that is the He -- Emmanuel meaning God with us -- who came to redeem us from our sins. (Matthew 1:21-23; John 18:8)
Thus saith the Lord, "There shall come out of Sion on the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 12:26-27)
Stand in the offering plate.
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