knowing god (vi) the mystery of god 1 tim 3:16 by common confession, great is the mystery of...

Knowing God (VI)Knowing God (VI)

The Mystery of GodThe Mystery of God

1 Tim 3:16By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:He who was revealed in the flesh,Was vindicated in the Spirit,Seen by angels,Proclaimed among the nations,Believed on in the world,Taken up in glory.

A Mystery Revealed A Mystery Revealed

Biblical “mystery” = what Biblical “mystery” = what waswas hidden, hidden, but is now revealed:but is now revealed:

Rom 16:25-26“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”



Eph 1:9“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.”



Eph 3:3-4“that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”



Eph 3:9“and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things”



Col 1:25-29“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”


Biblical “mystery” = what Biblical “mystery” = what waswas hidden, hidden, but is now revealed:but is now revealed:– Knowledge accessible only by divine Knowledge accessible only by divine

revelation – 1 Cor 2:6-13revelation – 1 Cor 2:6-13– But not all mystery is removedBut not all mystery is removed

Things Unrevealed Remain a Things Unrevealed Remain a MysteryMystery

Deut 29:29“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.”


1 Cor 2:11“For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”


E.g., Regarding the reason for E.g., Regarding the reason for particular suffering – Jobparticular suffering – Job– Though have patterns and principles:Though have patterns and principles:

E.g., God punishes nations for their sin, but he E.g., God punishes nations for their sin, but he relents when they repent – Jer 18:7-8relents when they repent – Jer 18:7-8

E.g., Reap what we sow – Gal 6:7E.g., Reap what we sow – Gal 6:7

– But general principles do not a rule make But general principles do not a rule make (Ps 37; 73).(Ps 37; 73).

Some Mystery Even In What Some Mystery Even In What Is RevealedIs Revealed

Truth is knowable -- Dt 29:29; Jn 8:31-Truth is knowable -- Dt 29:29; Jn 8:31-3232– ReasonReason-able – Isa 1:18-able – Isa 1:18


Truth is knowableTruth is knowable

But, elevating reason too highly, But, elevating reason too highly, results in three mistakes:results in three mistakes:1. Failure to rely on the Holy Spirit.1. Failure to rely on the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 2:14-15“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.”




2. Exaggerated intolerance and divisiveness.2. Exaggerated intolerance and divisiveness.Not everyone is of the same intellectual Not everyone is of the same intellectual capabilitycapability




2. Exaggerated intolerance and divisiveness.2. Exaggerated intolerance and divisiveness.

Psalms 147:5“Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;His understanding is infinite.”




2. Exaggerated intolerance and divisiveness.2. Exaggerated intolerance and divisiveness.

3. Removing God from the process.3. Removing God from the process.

Some Mysteries of GodSome Mysteries of God

God’s Many Paradoxes:God’s Many Paradoxes:– A paradox is an A paradox is an apparentapparent, but not , but not realreal, ,

contradiction.contradiction.– Yet some paradoxes seem do defy our Yet some paradoxes seem do defy our

human reasoning:human reasoning:E.g., the incarnation of GodE.g., the incarnation of God

– Jesus, fully man and fully God.Jesus, fully man and fully God.– God cannot be tempted, yet Jesus was tempted.God cannot be tempted, yet Jesus was tempted.


God’s Many Paradoxes:God’s Many Paradoxes:– A paradox is an A paradox is an apparentapparent, but not , but not realreal, ,

contradiction.contradiction.– Yet some paradoxes seem do defy our Yet some paradoxes seem do defy our

human reasoning:human reasoning:E.g., divine foreknowledge and human free will.E.g., divine foreknowledge and human free will.


God’s Mysterious SpiritGod’s Mysterious Spirit

John 3:8“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."


God’s Mysterious SpiritGod’s Mysterious Spirit– Cannot detect him, but given as a pledge Cannot detect him, but given as a pledge

(promise) of our inheritance.(promise) of our inheritance.


God’s Unreasonable GraceGod’s Unreasonable Grace

Rom 5:20“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”


God’s Strange LoveGod’s Strange Love

1 Jn 3:1“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”


God’s Strange LoveGod’s Strange Love– ““Great” (“manner”) (Great” (“manner”) (potapospotapos) = Lit. “from ) = Lit. “from

what country, race, or tribe?” (Thayer)what country, race, or tribe?” (Thayer)E.g., Mt 8:27 – “What kind of man is this?”E.g., Mt 8:27 – “What kind of man is this?”

E.g., Lk 1:29 – “What kind of greeting is this?”E.g., Lk 1:29 – “What kind of greeting is this?”


God’s Strange LoveGod’s Strange Love– Surpasses knowledgeSurpasses knowledge

Eph 3:18-19“may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.


God’s Many ParadoxesGod’s Many Paradoxes

God’s Mysterious SpiritGod’s Mysterious Spirit

God’s Unreasonable GraceGod’s Unreasonable Grace

God’s Strange LoveGod’s Strange Love

“Great is the mystery of godliness!”

knowing god (vi) the mystery of god 1 tim 3:16 by common confession, great is the mystery of...

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