Christ the Mystery of God
2007-07-28 22:44
Christ is the mystery of God. It is written, "I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ" (Colossians 2:1-2).
No one knows the mystery of God except the Spirit of God because the mystery of God is the thoughts of God. It is written, "For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:11).
Interpreting the Bible not by the Bible leads to heresies. The word, "Christ," in the Bible is a mystery in itself. The Bible testifies of it.
Let's compare the prophet's testimony with the apostle's. It is written in the prophet's testimony, "The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One." (Psalms 2:2). And then, it is written in the apostle's testimony, "The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ." (Acts 4:26). It shows that "his Anointed One" means "Christ."
Why is it written that his Anointed One is Christ the mystery of God? It is because there is a mystery that God chose Christ and anointed him with oil and set him above his companions.
The Bible says about Christ the Son of God, "But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." (Hebrews 1:8-9).
"Setting him above his companions" means that God chose him among his companions and established him by anointing with oil. God Himself said about it from heaven, "A voice came from the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.'" (Luke 9:35).
Christ the mystery of God means that the testimony of being His Son and the testimony of being chosen coexist. If the testimony of being His Son exists alone, there is no reason that the kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Christ.
The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Christ because there is the mystery that Christ the Anointed One is not only His Son but also he was chosen by God and set above his companions.
The Bible shows that before the world began there had been gathering against Christ in heaven as the kings and the rulers of this world did. It is written, "And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day." (Jude 1:6). And also, "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment." (2 Peter 2:4). In Christ, there is the mystery that he was chosen among his companions and was anointed with oil, and also God Himself begot him.
The Bible says about Christ who was before the creation of the world, "So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father'? Or again, 'I will be his Father, and he will be my Son'?" (Hebrews 1:4-5).
In heaven angels were Christ's companions, and on earth men were his companions. In heaven there was angels' rebellion against Christ, and on earth there was men's rebellion against him.
They knew about Christ who was chosen and anointed with oil, but they did not know about the Son whom God Himself begot. So the Bible says about His choice and His Son, "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.' Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." (Psalms 2:7-12).
Therefore, we all, who know the truth, say together, "...You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16).
The mystery that His Christ and His Son are united is Christ the mystery of God. After his resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17).
Therefore, for begetting, he said "my Father," and for choosing, he said "my God." In God our Father and Christ Jesus, I thank the Spirit of truth who is still working in us to make us know this mystery.
"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well." (1 John 5:1). Amen. Thank you, Lord.