Why is KNOWING the Mystery so Important?

[Christine]

The IMPORTANCE of the MYSTERY

1. To Sinners: The MYSTERY contains the only way a soul can be saved in this Dispensation of Grace. Salvation is by grace THROUGH faith in the finished work of Christ. (Eph. 2:8,9, Gal 3:26) Forgiveness of sins is by His shed blood. This is the ONLY gospel that prepares sinners for heaven.

The Importance of the Mystery to BELIEVERS.

a. God has made it KNOWN.

Colossians 1:26,27, "Even THE MYSTERY...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.."

Ephesians 3:3-5, "...He MADE KNOWN unto me THE MYSTERY...it is NOW revealed unto His holy Aposltes and prophets by the Spirit."

b. It IS His will that ALL see it! (This is the KEY!)

Ephesians 1:9, "Having MADE KNOWN unto us the Mystery of HIS WILL, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself"

Ephesians 3:9, "And to MAKE all men SEE what is the Dispensation of the Mystery..."

c. we need boldness in our prayers for an open door
and an open mouth to make it KNOWN.

Colossians 4:3,4 "Withal PRAYING also for us, that God would OPEN A DOOR of utterance to speak the MYSTERY of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; that I may MAKE IT MANIFEST as I ought to speak."

Ephesians 6:19,20 "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, to make known THE MYSTERY of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak."

d. We (the Body of Christ) are to have a knowledge of its riches.

(I wonder why so many DON'T?...could it be they don't
KNOW?)

Colossians 1:27, "To whom God would make known what IS the RICHES of the glory of THIS MYSTERY among the Gentiles..."

Ephesians 1:18, "that ye may KNOW what is the hope of His calling , and what the RICHES of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."

Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all RICHES of the FULL assurance of UNDERSTANDING, to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD, and of the Father and of Christ."

e. Christians are to be ESTABLISHED BY IT

(The MYSTERY is the ONLY thing promised to establish believers today!)
i

Romans 16:25 "Now to HIM that is of power to STABLISH you (how?) ACCORDING TO my (whose gospel is this? Pauls) gospel and the PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST (preaching about the earthly Jesus? NO...the RISEN Christ with NEW information) , according to the REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY."


f. Proclaimed for the obedience of faith

Romans 16:26 "But NOW is made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, MADE KNOWN to all nations for the OBEDIENCE OF FAITH."


It also comes with a WARNING!

This Gospel of the Grace of God is so important that the Holy Spirit has included a warning in connection with the preaching of this revelation.

Galatians 1:8,9 "But though we or an angel from Heaven preach any OTHER gospel unto you than that which WE ( Paul and his apostles...not the 12) preach unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto than that ye have received (from Paul, as Paul is the one writing here), LET HIM BE ACCURSED."

1 Corinthians 3:10 "...But let every man TAKE HEED how he buildeth thereupon." Speaking of the foundation...whether it be the earthly Christ or the RISEN ONE that we build on. Our foundation is the RISEN Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:11, Knowing therefore the TERROR OF THE LORD, we PERSUADE men..." (knowing that to preach any OTHER gospel is to bring a curse upon oneself.)

[Christine]

Such important information for any believer today, and yet most of them aren't even AWARE. Are YOU?

[MaricoG]

Most people today have a mixed up theology, and either don't know it or don't care.  I like what you called it Christine...MUD.

It is very hard to see through MUD...and rightly dividing makes it the word of God very CLEAR. 

[Christine]

Most people today have a mixed up theology, and either don't know it or don't care.  I like what you called it Christine...MUD.

It is very hard to see through MUD...and rightly dividing makes it the word of God very CLEAR. 

Amen, Mari...Mixed Up Doctrine, IE: MUD, is the culprit behind all of the issues we see today in Christendom.  It is also the reason for all the denominations...God help us....as well.

As I came into right division and learned more , I saw that the situation was indeed MUCH WORSE than I had previously thought. Satan has had two thousand years to confuse the issues and to continue trying to keep those mystery truths HIDDEN, when God would have us ALL to SEE what IS the fellowship of the MYSTERY revealed.

We have a very cunning and sneaky adversary, and unless we make ourselves familiar with his modus operandi in this age of GRACE, we will find ourselves slogging thru all the crappola along with everyone else.

[MaricoG]

As you know, Christine, more than several of my friends have been attacking the gospel of Paul and right diviision....and it has astounded me how they ignore what is written plainly in the Bible!  I am reading the book The Plot right now, and read this sentence:

"Christians read passages that seem to flat out contradict their learning, and what is the typical response?  Inattention.  Christians ignore what they read in order to retain what they have been told."

I would not have believed it, had I not just seen it so completely!

The book goes on, and it has been explaining to me EXACTLY what transpired:

"Rethinking a postition takes energy and commitment.  "Economy of thought" is a real force. Typically, when confronted with infromation that contradicts strongly held foundational views, people immediately discard the information rather than consider it. "

I love the facts about Kepler, the father of modern astronomy...what a truely wonderful Christian, to go against what was common in Christianity, and bring out the the true,just as Galileo did,  instead of accepting the nonsense they had accepted as truth for 2000 years!

It all started making so much sense as to what happened on my old site, to even attacking Bible verses, thinking they were dangerous, such as:

Eph 3:9  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:

Calling this belief Gnostic!  Not hearing nor seeing that this is not secret knowledge, but knowledge about a secret held hid in God from the beginning of the world and revealed to the Apostle Paul, to TAKE TO THE WHOLE WORLD.  In fact...he and us, are to MAKE ALL MEN SEE THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY....not hide it!

It was so weird.  It was like talking to strangers, or a band of people who came together against, not me, as I realize now, but against all men seeing the mystery!   And called confidence in the word of God arrogance... They did not promote the love that was the by word on that site, nor did they show love for fellow believers, but attacked most viciously the messengers of Grace, and removing the message, and the posts that showed them for what they were doing....

Anyway, I believe it is important to know the mystery, because GOD thought it was so important for us to know it!  I keep my old friends in prayer, that their eyes and hearts will be opened to the mystery, and they will join in and see the fellowship of the mystery, as God wants us all to do.

[Christine]

Mari quoted from THE PLOT:

 

"Christians read passages that seem to flat out contradict their learning, and what is the typical response?  Inattention.  Christians ignore what they read in order to retain what they have been told."

I'm so glad that you SEE the truth of this very simple, yet profound statement!!!!

We tend to look for the intricate and complicated for the explanations for things, when the simplest of truths can just blow the lid off of all our attempts to "intellectualize" the reasons for things.    This truly IS the reason...we find it EASIER to simply hang onto what we have been told, either from our pulpits, or denominations, or what has been handed down from generation to generation in "Christendom" in general. No wonder satan has had such great success with denominationalism and "feel good" religion. One doesn't have to THINK!

We forget that God appeals NOT to our emotions or intellect, but to our MINDS; our way of thinking. He seeks to get us to have a "metanoia" moment when listening to the truth of His Word. A "change of MIND" is what HE is after!

Isn't it just awe inspiring when you stop and actually LOOK and LISTEN to the simplicity that is IN CHRIST??

Blows me away...every single time!  Wheeeeeeeeeee

[MaricoG]

I so agree.

What I saw, is that people would not really rely on the word of God, nor the Holy Spirit leading them into all truth.  If the majority of Christianity, did not teach it, rubber stamp it, it was not really going to be looked at, at all, because their minds could not grasp that it is what God teaches, not a religion or the majority teaches, that is important.

You know, I personally found this verse to say a lot to me, when I became a Christian.

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I have meditated on this verse a lot, and wondered often, how few is few?  And have always been interested in looking at things twice or in more depth, even a third and fourth time, because I wanted to make sure not only was I understanding the truth, but that I am not missing something that would make my life in Christ more, here and now.

While I would not judge my friend's salvation, as I do believe that they believe in Jesus Christ alone, it also bothers me greatly, that they would fight so hard for an ordiance that they say they do not believe in for salvation, baptism, and they cannot see Scripture verses plainly in Paul's Epistles.  That bothers me a great deal, that there is not even any interest in knowing the fellowship of the mystery.  I am really not sure what to make of it....

[Christine]

Interesting discussion above

[Oasis]

Mari quoted from THE PLOT:

 
Quote
"Christians read passages that seem to flat out contradict their learning, and what is the typical response?  Inattention.  Christians ignore what they read in order to retain what they have been told."

Christine said-
Quote:
I'm so glad that you SEE the truth of this very simple, yet profound statement!!!!

We tend to look for the intricate and complicated for the explanations for things, when the simplest of truths can just blow the lid off of all our attempts to "intellectualize" the reasons for things.    This truly IS the reason...we find it EASIER to simply hang onto what we have been told, either from our pulpits, or denominations, or what has been handed down from generation to generation in "Christendom" in general. No wonder satan has had such great success with denominationalism and "feel good" religion. One doesn't have to THINK!

We forget that God appeals NOT to our emotions or intellect, but to our MINDS; our way of thinking. He seeks to get us to have a "metanoia" moment when listening to the truth of His Word. A "change of MIND" is what HE is after!

Isn't it just awe inspiring when you stop and actually LOOK and LISTEN to the simplicity that is IN CHRIST??

Blows me away...every single time!  Wheeeeeeeeeee

Hi Christine and Mari,

...and so, since many wont take the time to verify/question what they are being taught, tradition becomes doctrine. The content of Scripture becomes, as Mari so aptly said above, "Mud".  Les Feldick refers to this as, "putting the Bible in a blender and what do you get?  A mess!  Blenderized Scripture!  Gobbledeguk!"  Les is the one who opened our eyes to rightly dividing Scripture about 3 years ago.  We listen to his wonderful teaching most days of the week.

Have you guys read "Things that Differ" by C.R. Stamm?  Excellent book that does a great job of explaining right dividing.  I think it should be in every Christian's library.  If you'd like to read it online, you can click here:

http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/ttd_chap1.html

Great website Christine.  I've been perusing it.  I'll try to find more time to come visit.  

Have a great evening!

ybiC,
Kab

[Christine]

Mari quoted from THE PLOT:

 
Quote
"Christians read passages that seem to flat out contradict their learning, and what is the typical response?  Inattention.  Christians ignore what they read in order to retain what they have been told."

Christine said-
Quote:
I'm so glad that you SEE the truth of this very simple, yet profound statement!!!!

We tend to look for the intricate and complicated for the explanations for things, when the simplest of truths can just blow the lid off of all our attempts to "intellectualize" the reasons for things.    This truly IS the reason...we find it EASIER to simply hang onto what we have been told, either from our pulpits, or denominations, or what has been handed down from generation to generation in "Christendom" in general. No wonder satan has had such great success with denominationalism and "feel good" religion. One doesn't have to THINK!

We forget that God appeals NOT to our emotions or intellect, but to our MINDS; our way of thinking. He seeks to get us to have a "metanoia" moment when listening to the truth of His Word. A "change of MIND" is what HE is after!

Isn't it just awe inspiring when you stop and actually LOOK and LISTEN to the simplicity that is IN CHRIST??

Blows me away...every single time!  Wheeeeeeeeeee

Hi Christine and Mari,

...and so, since many wont take the time to verify/question what they are being taught, tradition becomes doctrine. The content of Scripture becomes, as Mari so aptly said above, "Mud".  Les Feldick refers to this as, "putting the Bible in a blender and what do you get?  A mess!  Blenderized Scripture!  Gobbledeguk!"  Les is the one who opened our eyes to rightly dividing Scripture about 3 years ago.  We listen to his wonderful teaching most days of the week.

Have you guys read "Things that Differ" by C.R. Stamm?  Excellent book that does a great job of explaining right dividing.  I think it should be in every Christian's library.  If you'd like to read it online, you can click here:

http://www.geocities.com/protestantscot/ttd/ttd_chap1.html

Great website Christine.  I've been perusing it.  I'll try to find more time to come visit.  I've been rather involved in a political debate with MercyBreeze and Mari on Grace Ministries board.   

Have a great evening!

ybiC,
Kab

Hey, hey there Kab...

I found right division thru reading "Things That Differ" by CR Stam. I couldn't put the book down and kept showing my husband the things I was seeing while reading it...the light went on for him as well. I have a special place in my heart for Stam since it is thru reading this book that right division became a reality to me.

We get Les Feldick here as well, and I listen to him when I can. I got most of my training on PalTalk from some eight years of listening and learning from some of the Grace teachers there. Then I hooked up with Trent, and he has a really wonderful way of showing people how to find the answers FROM the scriptures themselves and has revolutionized the way I study MY Bible. Comparing scripture with scripture and keeping the programs separate is really the KEY, and I appreciate the dedicated grace teachers I have known who have shared their knowledge along the way.

 NOT to worry...whenever you can make it over here is always appreciated. Its awesome to be able to fellowship over the word rightly divided, isn't it? 

Hugs to you, Kab

[Oasis]

Yes, it is one of those "turn the page for yet another light bulb moment" books.

I'm glad to have found these forums.  The closest Grace Church is an hour away.  We have been looking for another property and since finding this congregation have adjusted our search to put us close enough to be actively involved.

Its awesome to be able to fellowship over the word rightly divided, isn't it?

Absolutely, Christine!   Since I've been on the other board I've spent more time studying the threads than participating.  Much to learn.  Now I've got more studying at my fingertips here.  It's nice to be able to open my Bible now and actually understand what I'm reading.

Have a great evening, Christine!

ybiC,
Kab

[MaricoG]

Kab,

How long have you been a Grace believer?  If I may ask....

[Oasis]

Kab,

How long have you been a Grace believer?  If I may ask....

Hi Mari,

Well, it was a process for Glenda and I both.  It really did start with Les about 3+years ago.  Glenda had flipped by him on TV a time or two and finally stopped to see what he was saying.  She almost immediately hit the "record" button, and when I got home she said, "Kab you've got to hear this guy!"  I sat down to listen and we've been listening ever since! 

That was the beginning of a 3 year journey to where we are now.  It wasn't until someone on another board posted an article about Mid-Acts believers about 4 months ago that we actually realized...."Hey!  We are one of those!"  LOL! 
Glenda and I had been Grace believers for some time.  We just didn't know what we were called...Grace believers, Mid-Acts beliievers, etc...

ybiC,
Kab

[MaricoG]

Hi Kab,

That is interesting!  I started to learn about two years ago, but some different things happened, and I no longer trusted the people that were teaching this...not to mention what they were teaching was not made clear at all, as well as mixed up with other doctrines that were not correct.

This last September is when I was led to BBS...and began to finally study to see if this was true or not, and lo and behold, I found I too am a Grace believer!  :-)  Best thing I have learned since getting saved! 

I love your wife's name...Glenda.  It reminds me of the beautiful, and good "witch" on the Wizard of Oz...which was my favorite program growing up.   

Right now I am reading two books...The Plot, and also Exploring The Unsearchable Riches Of Christ , The Key That Unlocks The Sacred Secret, by Paul M. Sadler. 

What channel do you watch Les on?

[Oasis]

Hi Kab,

That is interesting!  I started to learn about two years ago, but some different things happened, and I no longer trusted the people that were teaching this...not to mention what they were teaching was not made clear at all, as well as mixed up with other doctrines that were not correct.

This last September is when I was led to BBS...and began to finally study to see if this was true or not, and lo and behold, I found I too am a Grace believer!  :-)  Best thing I have learned since getting saved!

Mari, what is BBS?
 

I love your wife's name...Glenda.  It reminds me of the beautiful, and good "witch" on the Wizard of Oz...which was my favorite program growing up.

I told Glenda.  She laughed.  She's gotten teased for years about "Glenda the good witch".  LOL!  Her sister is named, Wanda...as in "Wanda the wicked witch"!    

Right now I am reading two books...The Plot, and also Exploring The Unsearchable Riches Of Christ , The Key That Unlocks The Sacred Secret, by Paul M. Sadler.

I believe "The Plot" is what the Grace believers on Paltalk are studying about right now.  We are going to join their study this next tuesday.  Have you participated in that study? 

What channel do you watch Les on?

Well, we are on a local cable channel, but here is Les's website, that contains his TV and radio schedule, and all of his teachings over the last 16 years on TV.  You can also get his quarterly newsletter.  Just give em' a call.  Les is likely to answer the phone himself.

Have a great evening!

ybiC,
Kab

http://www.lesfeldick.org/