The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a simple Gospel and yet it is a mystery, hidden from many hearts. It is a truth that will evade many wise men, for the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men.
1 Corinthians 1 : 22-25 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
There are several scriptures that describe the Gospel as a mystery. This is because it is a truth that can only be revealed and understood by the help of the Holy Spirit. With God's enablement, as man's natural mind cannot perceive its truth. The following scriptures talk about the message of the cross as a mystery:
Romans 16: 25-27
Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory. which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Having once understood this mystery, we ought to live its simplicity. However, there is another danger in wanting more mysteries that can lead to error. Our Gospel is the Gospel of Christ - that Jesus died to save us, and we have eternal life through him. There are foundational doctrines we ought to know in order to grow in the Lord.
Hebrews 6: 1-2 outlines these foundational doctrines - So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
There are also gifts of the Holy Spirit that are operational in God's body that we must be aware of . Some of these are given in 1 Corinthians 12 : 7- 11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,a and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
Today, in God's body, we have some that started on a right footing, but have entered into error , calling upon the spirits of the dead and all. Kindly let us return to God's truth, lest the devil leads us into error, and into his territory. Like the Bereans, let us study God's Word, for there is an anointing in us that will teach us all truths.
Acts 17: 11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
In seeking more wisdom, let us be careful not to embrace any mystery different from the Gospel, as ours is a simple truth - Jesus died to save you and reconcile you to God, and because of this you can lead a victorious life on earth, and have eternal life. Amen!
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