Mystery of Christ
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Title - “Mystery of Christ”
Title - “Mystery of Christ”
Scripture Intro:
Last week in the Colossians Series.
First week of Advent.
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
---
Pray...
Sermon Intro:
Sermon Intro:
How many occurences of the letter “F” do you see?
Raise your hand if you see at least 1.
Raise you hand if you see at least 2.
What about 3?
4? (If you just let out an audible gasp, you are not alone.)
5? (Some faces are starting to scrunch up.)
Who got 6? (Now disbelief…)
Anybody get 7? Ok. That’s incorrect,
but the others are all there.
There are 6 F’s.
Here are the 3 that most people find.
Here are all 6.
They were there the entire time,
but you couldn’t “see” them.
You looked right past them.
They were hidden.
They had to be “revealed” to you.
“made known” to you.
Two words in Colossians which are somewhat surprising.
Mystery
Hidden
Used a few ways in the book (“mystery”):
“to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.” (1:25-26)
“this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (1:28)
“God’s mystery, which is Christ.” (2:2)
“to declare the mystery of Christ” (4:3)
“Hidden” used in the book:
“the mystery hidden for ages and generations” (1:26)
“Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (2:3)
“your life is hidden with Christ in God” (3:3)
He was hidden for ages and generations,
and now, our life is hidden with Christ in God.
In order to rightly understand this idea of “mystery”,
we must not feel what one commentator calls,
“any compulsion to come up with a single specific referent for Paul’s “mystery.” He… applies it to a number of different… aspects of God’s climactic work in Christ.
Colossians and Philemon (C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5))
And in speaking about “mystery”,
Paul is NOT talking about some secret knowledge that only a select few possess.
He is writing about the plan of God that God has unfolded...
Unknown to mankind.
Yet, very much in the mind of God.
About Jesus Christ...
Substance belongs to Christ
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Christ is all, and in all
Head of all rule and authority
Mystery - How is God going to save the world?
How is God going to deal with the effects of the Fall of man?
How is God gong to deal with the reality of human sin and rebellion?
The Answer: In Christ.
The Mystery of God’s Unfolding Plan
The Mystery of God’s Unfolding Plan
Colossians 1:25–26 (ESV)
… to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
We gain some perspective of what Paul is referring to in Ephesians 3 (parallel passage).
When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
“not made known to other generations”
“now been revealed”
During the life of this generation...
Jesus was born as a baby (God in Flesh).
Jesus lived in perfect obedience to his Father.
Jesus was betrayed and crucified for the sins of his people
Jesus rose from the dead and conquered the grave.
*** And yet, God’s people still missed it.
It had to be revealed to them!
Ex. The men on the road to Emmaus (after the resurrection).
Jesus joins them on the walk,
and asks what they are talking about.
Stunned, they tell Jesus (who they don’t recognize)...
about Jesus being crucified.
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
They told him that some have said he is alive.
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus made himself known.
Jesus revealed the Unfolding Plan of God.
*** Jesus declares the “Mystery of Christ”.
---
This is the eternal plan of God...
hidden for thousands of years...
Unfolding over time...
but fulfilled in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus...
And promises us a future in glory with Christ.
So, at Christmas,
we celebrate the first stage of the revealing of what God had kept hidden for ages.
Incarnation (“carne” - flesh)
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Now, that’s a “mystery”.
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
“Mystery” - It is the unfolding of God’s sovereign plan.
---
ILL. The Movie, “King Richard”
About Venus and Serena Williams (tennis players)...
and the drive of their father to have them achieve what they have.
SPOILER ALERT: Venus and Serena ended up being really good at tennis.
The movie depicts how Richard Williams mapped out a plan for the girls...
to be pro tennis players.
Not only professionals, but the best in the world.
Conventional wisdom (coaches, trainers, writers, etc)...
They were undone by Richard Williams and his “plan”
They would plead with him to do different things for the girls.
Unshaken - “It’s right here in the plan.”
To everyone around them,
the plan was unknown, misunderstood, and hidden.
It forced the coaches into an unfamiliar posture...
A posture of waiting, not knowing, and not in control.
*** They weren’t the ones holding the plan,
and it drove them crazy.
Well, the Apostle Paul points to a “mystery”...
and unfolding plan that we don’t hold either.
Yet, someone much more faithful and wise that Richard Williams is holding it.
And even with that certainty,
we still don’t like the posture of...
App. “waiting”
“not knowing” (“hidden”)
“expectant”
long-awaited
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
“O Come O Come Emmanuel”
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Rowan Williams, A Ray of Darkness,
speaks of “The Advent tension...”
The feeling of angst and longing that we feel during this season.
Longing for things to be set right again.
Longing for Jesus to return.
It is precisely at these points that we feel the longing of God’s unfolding plan.
“hidden for ages and generations”
This embraces the reality of the Christmas season.
The Mystery of God Made Fully Known
The Mystery of God Made Fully Known
Not Secret Knowledge
“make the word of God FULLY known”
of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
“To THEM God chose to make known...”
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians and Philemon: A New Covenant Commentary Messianic Woes and the Mystery of the Messiah (1:24–27)
In Paul’s unique reckoning this mystery is revealed not in the future, but in the recent past, a secret now manifested and broadcast in the preached word of Jesus.
By pointing people to know Jesus.
Colossians 2:2–3 (ESV)
… God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
This verse is the christological high point of the letter...
It expresses beautifully and compactly... Paul’s driving concern:
Christ is the one in whom is to be found all that one needs in order to understand spiritual reality and to lead a life pleasing to God.
Colossians and Philemon (C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5))
Full Assurance
Full Assurance
Assurance - confidence today of what will come tomorrow
Confidence in what God has already done...
which secures our future.
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Encouraged to Reach All the Riches of Full Assurance of...
Knowing and Understanding God’s Mystery
Remember the context of this letter...
He writing to a church where “experts” have come in and insisted on a secret knowledge...
(2:18-19) “insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head,”
When you remember that...
Paul is hammering the fact that the Colossians (and any believer)...
already has everything they need in Christ.
Colossians and Philemon: A New Covenant Commentary Missionary Struggles and the Mystery of the Messiah (1:28–2:3)
Paradoxically, this knowledge is hidden and yet also unraveled in the Messiah, as he embodies the wisdom and secret things of God.
Colossians and Philemon (C. The Mystery of Christ in Paul’s Ministry and Christian Experience (1:24–2:5))
High concentration of “knowledge” language: “make known” (v. 27); “wisdom” (v. 28); “complete understanding” (2:2); “know” (2:2); “wisdom” (2:3); “knowledge” (2:3).
For Us and For the World
For Us and For the World
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Gentiles
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
“Mystery of a World-Wide Impact”
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
The Mystery of Christ in Us
The Mystery of Christ in Us
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
“the indwelling of Christ”
Colossians and Philemon: A New Covenant Commentary (Messianic Woes and the Mystery of the Messiah (1:24–27))
In contrast to the teachers, the mystery of heaven is not found in visionary ascents to the heavenly throne, but it consists in the life of heaven coming down and falling upon Jews and Gentiles through the indwelling of the Messiah.
Received by faith...
Only known through faith
Only power to you by faith.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
He is us.
And we in him.
“Christ in you” (in us)
“your life is hidden with Christ in God” (in him)
“the hope of glory”
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
---
ILL. John Chrysostom (A preacher around 400AD)
When he was Archbishop of Constantinople,
he was brought before the Byzantine Empress Eudoxia.
She was frustrated by his independence and resistance to her authority.
So, like a good ruler,
she threatened him.
First, she threatened to banish him.
He replied, “You cannot banish me, for this world is my Father’s house.”
Empress - “Then, I will kill you.”
John - “No, you cannot, for my life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Empress - “I will take away your treasures.”
John - “No, you cannot, for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.”
Empress - “But I will drive you away from your friends and you will have no one left.”
John - “No, you cannot, for I have a Friend in heaven from whom you cannot separate me. I defy you, for there is nothing you can do to harm me.”
---
Pray
Closing Song:
“Revelation Song”
The glory of creation leads us to awe.
Yet, the one who made all things was slain for our sins...
so that we can be accepted.
“Such a marvelous mystery”
Benediction:
Extra:
Extra:
Christoph Starke (1700’s German theologian) - “Preachers are not lords of the faith. but servants of the church, who have to direct all their service to the edification of the church.”
A friend of mine wrote about where we do pastoral ministry...
“Birth and death, baptism and burial, youth and aging,
conflict and resolution, work and play, faith and unbelief. Our lives in ministry are “ … right in the middle of this tension.
He goes to say,
“The lonely will be lonelier.
The anxious will be more nervous.
The fearful more terrified.
While many celebrate,
many will live in sadness.”