HoHum:
How many of us enjoy a good mystery? The entertainment industry has made a living on “mysteries”. They will make documentaries on unsolved crimes, the building of the pyramids, and every other “mystery” under the sun. In order for it to be a mystery, there needs to be a seemingly unexplainable situation - something that we can’t figure out without help. If it involves murder, hatred, politics, or romance - it’s all the better. When the mystery is revealed by clear and indisputable evidence - it makes it exciting as we go back over the details.
The Bible mentions a mystery. It began on the first Christmas and it wasn’t revealed until after his death, burial and resurrection. It all involved Jesus Christ.
WBTU:
A little girl, dressed as an angel in a Christmas pageant, was told to come down the center aisle. The child asked, “Do you want me to walk or fly?” She felt as if she could fly because she was an angel. May we never lose the wonder and mystery of Christmas.
Peter Marshall said: “When Christmas doesn’t make your heart swell up until it nearly bursts and fill your eyes with tears and make you all soft and warm inside, then you will know that something inside of you is dead” (James T. Garrett, God's Gift).
Thesis: Let’s talk about the mystery from Romans 16:25-27
For instances:
The revelation of the mystery (Vs. 25)
In the Bible a “mystery” is a truth hidden in the mind of God and undiscoverable by humans. It is only known through God given revelation.
This can apply to many things, but for these verses it is mainly God’s plan to include Jews and Gentiles together in the church. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6, NIV. The unity of Gentile and Jew comes “through the gospel,” the good news that the Son of God has died for the sins of men. Jews must come to God through the gospel just the same as Gentiles.
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25, NIV. In Ephesians 3 the emphasis is on the fact that God is bringing the Gentiles into the church; here in Romans 11 the emphasis is on the fact that unbelieving Jews may still be brought into the church. More specifically, in Romans 11:25, not only are the Jews and Gentiles united together in one church, but in accordance with God’s plan each group in part owes its salvation to the other.
Hidden for long ages past (Vs. 25)
Hidden means that it was kept secret. For a long time God kept this a secret. The word mystery here does not mean something that is and forever will be mysterious and beyond understanding. This refers to a truth once hidden, but now made known by revelation and open to human understanding. For at least 17 centuries the Jews had taken special pride in being God’s chosen people. Now all barriers between the human family have been removed
The long ages past is referring to Old Covenant which started to end with the first coming of Christ and really did end with the Day of Pentecost. This mystery was there in the OT but no one was able to put it all together until the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How could this mystery have been a mystery in OT times if it was made known through the OT prophetic writings? Explained in next points
Now revealed (Vs. 26)
“Now” refers to the NT era.
The decisive revelation of the mystery was accomplished through the incarnation (what we celebrate through Christmas “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called ... Mighty God, Everlasting Father,” Isaiah 9:6, NIV.), ministry, and saving work of Jesus Christ. “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8, NIV.
Following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the full meaning of mystery was revealed. “which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” Ephesians 3:5, NIV.
Their revealed and inspired message is given to us in the NT writings.
Made known (Vs. 26)
In Ephesians Paul uses this word 5 times in referring to the mystery. The mystery of Christ has now not only be revealed to the prophets and apostles, but is being publicly made known through the preaching of the gospel to all the world. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:14, 17. The gospel needs to be preached in order for salvation to occur. The hearing that leads to salvation comes only through a human messenger. The role of the Word of God should not be understated. Also, this Word must be a message about Jesus Christ. Baptism shows us that we need someone to share the message, cannot baptize ourselves according to the pattern of NT
All Nations (Vs. 26)
“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10, NIV.
“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.” Isaiah 49:22, NIV.
How could they not see this? Even though we can now look back on these OT texts and clearly see the gospel, it wasn’t always so clear to the people then. They knew that God promised to send a Savior, but even the disciples who believed in Jesus as the Savior did not understand
Sometimes they did not want to see this. This aspect of the gospel was often a stumbling block to the racially proud Jews. But it’s radically good news for us Gentiles.
through the prophetic writings (Vs. 26)
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” 1 Peter 1:10-12, NIV.
Now that Christ has come, the full meaning of these prophecies has been made clear. Until Jesus came, the prophecies were there, but their meaning was hidden.
Now they are being properly interpreted and clarified in relation to Jesus Christ and his saving work. “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” Romans 3:21, NIV.
Early Christian preaching was heavily dependent upon the OT. “He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27, NIV.
by the command of the eternal God (Vs. 26-27)
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” Matthew 28:18-20, NIV.
“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:44-47, NIV.
God is glorified when people from every tongue, tribe, and nation believe in and obey Jesus Christ. We all need to labor to that end. Seth and Adam Campbell talked about this last week
