Colossians 06

Colossians Series #06

The Mystery

By Bill Denton

Introduction

A.  I like to read mystery books

1.  Maybe it's because I first got hooked on reading when I discovered that the county

     library in Oxford had the entire collection of Hardy Boys mystery books, and read

     every one of them the summer I was 10 years old

2.  I've always liked trying to figure out who did what

3.  When I was in the Air Force, I worked in communications intelligence and most of

     what we did was trying to figure out some very real mysteries

4.  A lot of people think that the Bible is the same kind of mystery

a.  notice 1:27 - Paul used the word "mystery"

b.  a lot of people think the Bible, then, is a kind of mystery book, where things

    are disguised, hidden behind clues that must be deciphered, and generally

    hard to understand

c.  here is an important point you need to know:  this isn't what "mystery"

     means when it comes to Jesus, and the message of the gospel

B.  In our series on Colossians, it's important to remember some of the things that the church

     in Colossae faced

1.  In Colossae, there were likely others who used the word "mystery" in order to

     attract followers to competing religions or philosophies

2.  In pagan religions, "mystery" is often associated with initiatory rites and symbols

a.  if you've read The Da Vinci Code then you understand all about the use

    of such rites and symbols

b.  in this case, things are mysterious, information is kept hidden, and only the

    select few who have been initiated into the secret society can be trusted with

    knowledge

c.  this is one of the big fallacies of all the religious-conspiracy theories; the

    proponents simply do not understand the true biblical concept of mystery

3.  We're going to learn that biblical Christianity is never composed of secrets, or

     indecipherable symbols, or unknowable information - rather the unknown revealed

I.  The Idea Of "Mystery" As Used In The New Testament

A.  Three passages record Jesus telling his disciples something about "mystery"

1.  Matthew 13:11 11Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the

     mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. NASB95

2.  Mark 4:11 11And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the

     kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, NASB95

3.  Luke 8:10 10And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the

     kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and

     hearing they may not understand. NASB95

4.  These passages tell us something about Jesus' use of parables.

a.  we think parables were intended only to reveal truth in ways easy for people

     to understand, but it's obvious this isn't how Jesus always used them

b.  Jesus revealed mysteries to his disciples, but others got parables, not to help

     them understand, but to allow people to continue with unused eyes and ears

     and thus remaining in the dark

c.  parables took some effort, usually, and the reward the perception of truth

    otherwise unknown

B.  Paul used this idea in several places

1.  Rom 11:25 - things relating to the grafting in of Gentiles is a mystery

2.  Rom 16:25f - the mystery, kept secret for ages, has been made known to all men

3.  1 Cor 2:6f - Paul ( & others) spoke about the mystery revealed through the Spirit

4.  1 Cor 4:1 - Paul claimed to be a steward of God's mysteries

5.  1 Cor 15:51 - part of the mystery had to do with the resurrection of the dead

6.  Eph 1:9 - Paul claimed that God had made known the mystery of his will

7.  Eph 3:3 - He said that the mystery was made known by revelation

8.  Eph 3:4 - Read what he wrote and you an understand his insight into the mystery

9.  Eph 3:9 - Part of his responsibility was to bring the mystery to light

10.  Eph 5:32 - another part of the mystery was the relationship between Christ & church

11.  Eph 6:19 - Paul wanted to boldly make known the mystery of the gospel

12.  Col 1:26-27 - another part of the mystery is that Christ is in us

13.  Col 2:2 - the mystery is Christ himself

14.  Col 4:3 - he prayed for opportunity to speak forth the mystery of Christ

15.  1 Tim 3:7 - deacons are to hold to the mystery of the faith

C.  What does it mean when we read about mystery?

1.  We're talking about a truth that is unknownable and undiscoverable by human beings

     unless it is revealed to us by God

2.  We're talking about spiritual truths that cannot be fully understood by finite minds

     unless God explains them to us

3.  We're talking about thing having to do specifically with Jesus, what he accomplished

     for us, our spiritual relationship with him, and he works in our lives

4.  We're not talking about something we're expected to figure out, we're talking about

     something we'd never figure out, but God has said, "Here is what I've done"

D.  1 Corinthians 2:6-10

6Yet 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; 7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8the 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; 9but 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.” 10For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. NASB95

1.  Abraham got a preview

Galatians 3:8 8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” NASB95

2.  Prophets caught a glimpse

1 Peter 1:10-11 10As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. NASB95

3.  Paul and the apostles were there when everything was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and

     God revealed once for all what he had done for mankind

II.  Paul's Message To The Colossians Is Needed Today

A.  His job was to preach the word of God which meant proclaiming what had been a mystery

1.  This demands a high view of scripture - it is not just another religious book, it is

     God's revelation to us, explaining what would otherwise be unknown to us

2.  This is why we need a re-emphasis on Bible in our classes

3.  It's why you've heard us encourage you to bring your Bible to services

4.  It's why we focus so much on what the scriptures say and mean, and how they apply

5.  God isn't in the business of making things hard or keeping things from you - he wants

     you to know and understand the most important of all things

B.  Paul's effort was to proclaim Jesus Christ, to admonish and teach everyone God's wisdom,

     so that everyone would be complete in Christ

1.  Like many of Paul's statements, it's worded intricately

2.  Don't miss the point:  he wants us all to be exactly what God desires, and he knows

    that the way to accomplish that is to reveal the wisdom of God to us

3.  This is all about having a firm, unwavering faith in Jesus, and solid, unyielding

     obedience to God's will

C.  Paul knew that believers needed encouragement, unity and the full assurance of

     understanding

1.  It's a tough world we live in, one that entices us with all sorts of things that promise

    to fulfill our needs, bless our lives, make us happy, and give us a sense of purpose

2.  Even Christians are tempted to listen to some of these things, especially those things

    that are presented as secret, something special just for the in-crowd or the unique

    group

3.  Christianity is exactly the opposite - the mystery is no longer a secret and it's for

     everybody

4.  When you get that, when you really understand what God has revealed to us, you

     will find courage, you'll understand your bond with fellow believers, and you will

     possess an understanding about things that removes all doubts and fears

D.  This is especially good news to those who have been made to feel left out

1.  In Christ you're not left out of anything - you're part of all that God has been planning

     since before the creation itself

2.  In Christ, you've been given the grandest knowledge there is, Christ is in you - hope of glory

3.  Nobody has anything on you, not any secret society, not those initiated into a

    closely guarded, select few, not something beyond your ability to understand, but

     you are part of God's eternal scheme to redeem lost sinners in Christ

Conclusion

A.  I wonder if we today aren't in just as much need of this information as the Colossians were

1.  The world scoffs at Christ and his disciples

2.  We're accused of being ignorant, short-sighed, deluded, and wacky

3.  Other religions and philosophies are presented as more intellectual, more fair and

     tolerant, more in-line with worldly thinking and understanding

4.  We are subject to ridicule, persecution, and more

5.  It's easy to think that life would be better, more enjoyable, more rewarding without

     Jesus

6..  Those things might sound appealing until you know what God has revealed

B.  Don't short-change yourselves, brothers and sisters - God has revealed what neither you

     nor anybody else could possibly known had he not revealed it to us - but he has!

C.  If you're not a Christian, these are things you must consider, weighing carefully the

     man Jesus, the gospel centered in him, and all that God has done for you

D.  Invitation