The Mystery

 Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

There is a mystery which was hid from ages and generations, and the riches of this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We learn throughout the New Covenant that there was a mystery, it was hidden, kept secret, it was ordained to our glory; all shall share in the fellowship and be gathered together in one in Christ Jesus.

These mysteries were not known before and Jesus spoke in parables to keep them hidden from those who were not of his followers: Matt 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10 to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to the rest I speak in parables.

See below gathered scripture references on this mystery. This is augmented when you begin to look as well at scriptures relating to he oneness in Christ Jesus that we have in this new covenant. (John 17:20-23 and many more)

1 Cor 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Cor 13:2; 14:2

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 14:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

1 Tim 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

1 Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The result of this mystery is stated here:

1 Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality...

In the end we shall all be changed and joined together in the kingdom of God.

There are a few other mysteries mentioned in Revelation 

Rev 1:20

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Rev 17:7

Lowliness of Mind

 The contrast to vanity of the mind is lowliness of mind

Acts 20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

This attitude of lowliness of mind brings one to: look to the things of others, Forbear and forgive one another, and essentially to love one another. This is the context in which this attitude of heart operates. It is an attitude which makes us receivers of the grace of God. Jesus said, if you do not forgive, neither will you be forgiven, this is a transactional fact, but the relationship of humility is what brings true forgiveness.

Vanity of the Mind

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

This verse follows after a long declaration of the wonders of what God has done for those who will receive His salvation. He declares that through the blood of Jesus we have redemption (1:7) and that through hearing the word of God we trust in Him, believe and receive the Holy ghost (1:13). He follows with an exposition of who Christ has made us, how we were called out of the filth we lived in to be made alive with the very Son of God. He tells us that there is no boasting for it is the gift of God, given freely and resulting in our involvement as the workmanship of the building the He is building. (2:1-22).

In Chapter 3 Paul gives an important interlude as to his credentials as a witness

Which brings us back to chapter 4. Paul, calls us to follow after that for which we have been redeemed.

"(I) beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.:

The rest of chapter 4 hearkens back to the three previous chapters to show that what Jesus did for us has brought us to this place where we can walk pleasing to the one who first loved us.

Eph 4:17 is a declaration of how NOT to walk. As Gentiles the Ephesians had previously walked as most men do, in the vanity of their mind. This reminds us of the cry of the preacher in Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

We can see a similar call from Peter, talking about the results of these who walk in this vanity.

2Pet 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

We are talking about those who have heard and at least have professed their belief in the salvation which is in Jesus. This is why Paul warns us NOT to walk this way. The ways of the flesh are the ways of sin, and the end of them is death.

In Romans Paul also discusses vanity and the hardness (blindness) of the heart of those who turn away from God.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Therefore, let us not be as these, turning back to the elements of this world and the ways of death, but let us put on the ways and the mind of Christ Jesus, a topic for another day...

Science and the Bible

Science is based on observation, hypothesis, testing and conclusions leading to more hypothesis. Everything science can observe is limited to the 5 senses and extensions of those senses. An example of this is a telescope, it takes a lens and improves our ability to see into places too far away for us to go. Another example would be a spectroscope, an instrument which allows us to bring non visible spectra into a realm we can see or detect with further instruments. We can improve our vision, our hearing, even our smell, taste and touch by using instruments refined over time using the methods of applied science of engineering.

The improvements which have been worked by these twins, scientific method and engineering have been astounding, the ability to improve the ease with which we carry out daily tasks has exploded exponentially over the last 300 years particularly. Because of this clearly manifest success, science has taken on an almost mystical power to demand worship at the altar of "scientific truth". An appeal to science is often used in an attempt to end many disagreements on everything from politics to religion, the claim "I follow the science" is heard many times on both sides of the same argument.

But has science done anything to solve the greatest problem of man? Has it discovered a way for man to be free from his sin? Science is just a tool, and it is limited to the realm of the senses and the noted extensions of those senses. There is a knowledge which far exceeds the wisdom of men, a knowledge not limited to a sensual realm. We see in Paul's letter to Timothy a warning not to let false knowledge oppose the faith:

1 Tim 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The greek word translated in the KJV as "science" is actually translated as "knowledge" in every other instance. A good example is the following:

2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The tension is not knowledge versus lack of knowledge as much as it is which knowledge you possess. 

Paul instructs Timothy to avoid false knowledge, manifested by profane vanity, an earthly, sensual, devilish knowledge as James expresses it in Jas 3:15. This wisdom is manifested by bitter envying and strife, but the wisdom from above manifests the fruits of the Spirit of God. (James 3:13-18)

So, is the puffed up knowledge which opposes faith and true wisdom the same as the science of today?

The answer is, it can be, and often is the same. One of the hallmarks of false knowledge is the removal of the knowledge of God.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

There is something far superior to knowledge, however derived, the love of God. There is something worth knowing which passes other knowledge, the love of Christ.

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1Cor 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Charity here is Agape, the love which God sets above all others, the love which He expresses through Jesus Christ and has given to us so that we might live in that same love.

So we see that in a manner of speaking, knowledge can be good or evil, depending on whether or not one retains God in their knowledge and whether or not the love of God is manifest in the life of the one possessing that knowledge. The sad thing about "science" today is that so many actively exclude God and his word from any of their thinking. The ways of God, particularly His holiness, they want to exclude. His statutes and judgements must be put away and He must be written out of history. This has certainly not been the way of every scientist, as many examples of men and women who studied the observable world, yet retained the awe of God's creation, are found throughout the history of scientific inquiry. But today in the scientific community these seem fewer and fewer.

In Isaiah we see the declaration that God's ways are far superior to the ways of men.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So let's leave with this final thought. God's ways are higher, and his realm functions in that which is unobservable by the senses of man, no matter how much we extend them. True science understands its limitations, and is not arrogant nor puffed up, it does not declare its findings to be absolute truth. Many a great theory has been dashed by new levels of observation, and many facts "known for certain" have ended up contradicted by a new wave of inquiry, but the ways and the love of God last forever and will never change. So set aside arrogance, do not be afraid of the tool, but treat it as that, a tool wielded by men, and best wielded by men who know the love of God and who retain the knowledge of a God who is far greater than any "observable fact".

No other name

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

1Jn 4:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The whole world needs to hear that it is only by the name of Jesus men can be saved. Good works will not save you, levels of education nor work ethic will earn God's favor, great philosophical understanding will not deliver you from wrath. Only by accepting the love of God expressed by and through his son Jesus can can salvation come. Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again, you must be born of water and of the spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

God is still God

Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:

he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom unto the wise,

and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things:

he knoweth what is in the darkness,

and the light dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Contrary to what many seem to believe, God, Jehoah, Yahweh, The Father of our Lord Jesus, still reigns in heaven and earth, and all His authority has been given to Jesus.

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

While Satan may be called the prince and power of the air, it is God who reigns over all, and even though there is a space of time given, the defeat of every power of darkness is fulfilled in Jesus.

Fear not, God is still God and He reigns in the kingdom of men

The extent of David's Kingdom

 David ruled a kingdom which was quite extensive and included a number of tributaries. it is good to understand the extent of this kingdom and to let it help inform our understanding of why certain nations acted as they did and how Israel's dominance faded so quickly with Solomon.

There are issues with chronology and the placement of the kingdom of David in the Iron age, rather than its actual context which is the Bronze Age. That is not the purpose of this page, but to establish the extent of the kingdom which David handed over to Solomon.

Abraham's promised land

Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

The Kingdom of David.

2Sam 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

What we see here is that in all the area of the land between the rivers, David put all the peoples to tribute such that all could be blessed by the kingdom which God established. David executed judgment and justice to ALL his people, I believe that includes the tributaries. The key here is the kings of Zobah and Damascus Syria. That gets the extent of David's kingdon to the River Euphrates. Saul had smitten the Amalakites, they would have been down to the Delta region of Egypt. This realtionship and the relationship of David to Egypt will be looked into at a later date as it is very complex.

Therefore he had a kingdom which stretched as was told to Abraham from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River. All the peoples were tributaries including the related Edom, Moab and Ammon, The Syrians, The Amalakites and even the Philistines/Phoenicians. As well as the Canaanites who were left in the land since the time of Joshua and the Judges.

1Chr 22:17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

As Solomon ultimately fails in his responsibility to continue the kingdom of David, we see subsequently a divided kingdom which loses thru rebellion all the tributaries and eventually the entire kingdom. Each of these mentioned tributaries has a story in actual rebellion, fighting with Israel/Judah and being mentioned in prophecy as to their final outcome. But there was peace during the reign of Solomon, and the extent of that peace is noted here:

Now Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River (Euphrates) to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Ki. 4:21 cf. 2 Chron. 9:26) For he had dominion over everything west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings west of the River; and he had peace on all sides round about him. So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. (1 Ki. 4:24,25) You know that David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the wars which surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. (1 Ki. 5: 3,4)

If the kingdom had continued as it was intended and each of those nations continued with Israel under the leadership of God there would have been blessings all around, but we will never know what that looks like because of the failures which followed so shortly after David.