The Majesty of the Mystery

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” (Psalm 40:3, Msg) Of course, the obvious answer is no! But, not so fast! In Christ we are compelled to discover the Majestic Mysteries that for ages were hidden from man’s view. The infinite has now revealed itself to the finite through the Mystery of the Gospel.

“God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message.” (Colossians 1:22, Msg) And what is even more boggling to our comprehension is that in discovering and by faith embracing His Mysteries we bring Glory to God!

“May God receive glory. He is able to strengthen your faith because of the good news I preach. It is the message about Jesus Christ. It is in keeping with the mystery that was hidden for a very long time.” (Romans 16:25, NIRV) Our faith awakening...”declares God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.” (1 Corinthians 2:7, NIRV)

“(Further) The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, and same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.” (Ephesians 3:6, Msg)

The revelation of this mystery is not a ‘Plan B’; put in place because ‘Plan A’ failed. “God never compromised His original thought. What further evidence is needed? The word became flesh and has taken up residence (tabernacled) in us, and we gazed with wonder and amazement upon the mystery of our inclusion in Him; (theaomai to gaze upon, to perceive) We saw His glory (Greek, doxa, the display of His opinion), the glory as of the original, authentic begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John 1: 14 adapted from The Mirror)

“And of His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace…grace undeserved. For the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. He who is in the bosom of the Father, the only original, authentic begotten of the Father; he is our guide (into the depths of the Mystery of Grace and His Kingdom) who accurately declares and interprets the invisible God within us.” (Francois du Toit, The Mirror notes, pg. 18)

The original mind, or opinion of God, was preserved and is now revealed in the Resurrected and Glorified Lord Jesus Christ.

He is both the ‘only begotten, (monogenes,) as in the authentic original mould, he only has one Father, not the father of flesh, as well as the first born from the dead. (John 1-3, Col.1:18, 1Pet.1:3) He is the revelation and reference of our completeness. Col.2:9, 10. Jesus is the Way! There is no other way to be complete, whole and fully matured.

“After the world’s (and religions so-called) wisdom had failed to gain the knowledge of God, God was pleased, by the apparent foolishness of the Message which we preach, to save those who accepted it.” (1 Corinthians 1:21, WNT) Has your heart been awakened to the Majesty of the Mystery of the Gospel of Grace?

Jesus came/comes to our awakened heart and mindset as the Revelation of Abba’s intimate echo. And as we listen to His still small voice within, He declares our true innocence before His Father! “He did not come to upgrade the cage of Judaism or any other religion by starting a new one called Christianity; but to be the incarnate voice of the likeness and image of God in human form! He came to reveal and redeem the image of God in us!” (Francois du Toit, The Mirror, pg. 19)

"No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it--What God has arranged for those who love Him...God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that He is giving us. We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions. We didn't learn this by reading books or going to school, we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way." (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10, 12-13 The Message)

In the revelation of The Mystery of the Gospel of Grace Paul declared, “My mandate and message is to announce the goodness of God to mankind. This message is what the Scriptures are all about.” (Romans 1:1, 2 (The Mirror) Scripture could never again be interpreted in any other way! The Majesty of the Mystery of the gospel of the success of the Cross gives content and context to scripture.

“Calvary was/is Christ's platform and the Cross His pulpit. From it, stained with His life's blood, Jesus proclaims salvation, freedom from sin's chains, healing from sickness and eternal life to all who believe. Nobody in this whole world shall be deprived of this unmatched Gospel.

The revealed and finished work of the Cross of Jesus is the MESSAGE. Never minimize or trivialize THE MESSAGE by not passionately and whole heartedly embracing THE MESSAGE. Be 'nurtured' by THE MESSAGE! Believe THE MESSAGE for yourself today and every day. Give THE MESSAGE away with every breath you are given.” (Adapted from Reinhardt Bonnke)

“The violence of the cross is not what God required, but what He endured because we required it; it reveals something totally new to mankind, something hidden from the foundation of this world.

Jesus, identified by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God, reveals that it is not our sacrifices that changes the mind of God, but God’s lamb that changes the mind of man. God is not the one who needs to be converted!

In the event of the cross, where God allows us to sink to our deepest alienation from Him, at the point where we are at our worst, He forgives … it is in this moment that we are confronted with the reality that God is not our problem – never has been, and will never be! If when we are at our worst, He remains forgiving, it means that we need to seek a different party to blame for our suffering.” (Andre’ Rabe) “In that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us…” (Romans 5)

History has only one main event.

"Mankind's timeline is dotted with important moments.

The first spark from the first flint. The rolling in the first wheel.

The treating of the first wound.

Who dares minimize these events?

But who dares compare them with the Cross?

History has only one main event.

Others matter, but only one is essential.

The story of Jericho might stir you, but falling walls can’t redeem you.

Moses will give you directions for the wilderness but no solution for your sin.

David’s defeat of Goliath might reduce your timidity but only the Cross prepares you for eternity.

Scripture has only one main event.

Even in the life of Jesus there is only one main event. For if there is no Cross of Christ then there is no Truth to Christ. And when it comes to your life the same is true. To remove the Cross is to remove the hinch-pin from the door of hope. The door to your hope.

For if there is no Cross then there is no sacrifice for sin. If there is no sacrifice for sin then how will you face a sinless God? Will you cleanse your own sin?

And if there is no Cross of Christ then there is no resurrection of Christ. And if there is no resurrection of Christ how will you live again? Will you push back your own grave?

Forgiveness of sin. Deliverance from death. These are the claims of the Cross.

The Cross is not an event in history.

It is THE event of history".  (Max Lucado) Ron Ross