Eternal Purpose of God: The Mystery Revealed- Pt I

Lesson 13 - The eternal purpose of God: The Mystery Revealed; Pt. I 4/30/24

Introduction:

This will be week one of two on the subject of the mystery. Mystery being defined as Something that was once hidden, concealed but is now revealed.

God through the scripture speaks of His eternal purpose, His scheme of redemption.

Our Aim:

To show through the scripture God actually purposed man’s salvation in eternity.

And, that many of the aspects of God’s purposed plan, God’s scheme of redemption are no longer a mystery but have been clearly revealed in Christ Jesus (the mystery) and His Church (the mystery)

Outline:

The gospel is according to God’s power (insert 2Tim1:8-10)

2 Timothy 1:8–10 NASB95

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Called according to His purpose, His grace not our works

Called in eternity (before time; before the beginning)

Through the cross, though our Savior Jesus Christ we are called, we are saved for

Christs manifested appearance death was abolished, overcome, and life/immortality was brought into light

How? Through the gospel (insert 2Thes2:13-14)

2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NASB95

13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chosen from before the beginning

Through sanctification of the Spirit

By true faith in God

Called through the gospel so that you may gain the glory of Christ Jesus.

Our salvation is again according to God’s own purpose and plan (insert Tit3:4-7)

Titus 3:4–7 NASB95

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

From before time began, God purposed a purpose (to save man) planned a plan (made the way for man to be saved through the revelation of Jesus Christ)

He brought all things into light through Christ as we just looked at (ref: 2The2:13-14)

Through the eternal times it was kept a mystery, it was foreknown, it was purposed, it was planned but it was not revealed

The revelation of the mystery (insert Rom16:25-27)

Romans 16:25–27 NASB95

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

It has been manifested, made known to all nations

By the one who can establish it for all eternity from eternity

Revealed through the preaching of the gospel by the power of God’s commandment

Purposed to bring obedience to the gospel to the praise of God’s glory

According to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus

According to the revelation of the mystery

According to the commandment of the eternal God.

The revealing consisted of:

God’s eternal commandment

The fulfilling of Old Testament prophesies

The revelation of Jesus Christ and then His church

The mystery is revealed ‘made known to all nations’ unto the obedience of faith (ref: Jn3:16; insert Jn3:36, then Heb5:8-9)

John 3:36 NASB95

36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

then

Hebrews 5:8–9 NASB95

8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

God’s wisdom in a mystery

1 Corinthians 2:6–10 NASB95

6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

Before the world was created Gods purposed plan, made with foreknowledge was a mystery. but now

We speak wisdom

We speak the wisdom of God through His scripture

We speak the predestined plan of salvation for

Before it was not understood or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory

It has been revealed through the Spirit for the Spirit knows, searches the deep (hidden) things of God. Makes the mystery known.

God foreordained this to happen (v.7)

God prepared the plan (v.9)

God revealed the mystery (v.10)

God made unto us know the wisdom from God, righteousness, santification, redemption, God’s wisdom through Jesus Christ (ref: 2Cor1:20-25, 30)

Paul was preaching the mystery, no longer a secret, no longer hidden, but revealed as prepared and foreordained.

All of this for the glory of God for those who believe and obey the preaching of the gospel of Christ and Him crucified (ref: 1Cor1:18-2:2)

Christ is made unto us {those in Christ}(ref: 1:30)

Wisdom from God

Righteousness

Sanctification

Redemption

Making know the mystery of God’s will

Ephesians 1:3–14 NASB95

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

He purposed for the fullness of time (v.10)

to redeem by the riches of grace (v.7)

As was His predetermined plan (v.5)

To make known the mystery (v.9)

so to receive an inheritance (v.11)

that when you believed you were sealed (v.13)

By the Holy Spirit of Promise (v.14)

Now turn down to (Eph3:1-11)

Ephesians 3:1–11 NASB95

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Stewardship of God’s grace was given (v.2) by revelation (v.3) making the mystery known. The mystery of Christ (v.4) previously not made known but now revealed (v.5), about the gentiles (the church) as fellow heirs of the promise, members of the body (v.6).

Made available through preaching of the unfathomable riches of Christ (v.8)

To bring to light the administration of the mystery which was hidden in God (v.9) now made known through the church (v.10)

This in accordance to God’s eternal purpose (v.11)!

Manifested for our sake (insert 1Pt1:17-21)

1 Peter 1:17–21 NASB95

17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

In summary

Jesus Christ and His church are the mystery revealed and they are inseparable (ref: 1Cor12:14)

God brought this about at the fulness of time (Eph1:10)

That all things are summed up in Him (Eph1:10)

That after hearing the word of Truth (Eph1:13) they obeyed the truth (Act2:38, 5:32)

There is nothing mysterious about this, God had a predetermined plan, purpose, that all things would be summed up in Christ so we can know where we are through light of the gospel, light of mystery once secret now revealed!