MYSTERIES REVEALED 1
Inseparable Union with God
2 Peter 3:16 NIV
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
The Apostle Peter, conducting a study on the books written by the Apostle Paul, shares some insights on the Apostle Paul's writings. Peter says, “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand”. Peter was by no means insinuating Paul's writing were impossible to understand, but rather he only acknowledged that some writings of the Apostle Paul were not so easy to understand. Question is, which writings are these that are not so easy to understand and why is it important for us [the church] to identify, know and understand these difficult things the Apostle Paul wrote? Scripture declares that children of the most-high [the men in Christ] are gods (Psalm 82:6). However, they err, die like mere men (Psalm 82:6), because they do not know or understand the scriptures (Psalm 82:7). Thus the reason we ought to know and understand some of the difficult writings of the Apostle Paul is because true Christianity is embedded upon some of these writings. Recall that the word of God contains the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and as you study them, you'll discover that they are based on the birth, the earthly ministry, death, burial and resurrection of the master, Jesus. However, if we want to understand what the resurrection of Jesus accomplished for the church it is imperative that we study the epistles, the books that were written after the four Gospels and we'll have greater insight of what the resurrection has ushered us into.
Gods desire is for you to increase in the knowledge of His word. When you increase in the knowledge of God’s word there’s something you’ll begin to know and understand and thus experience growth living up to your calling as a Christian. This is also the same with the church once we know and understand the epistles, especially the Pauline revelation, we will make progress in our walk with God. If not, the church will remain under age (Galatians 4:1). This then explains why God has blessed the Body of Christ with the five-fold ministry. (Ephesians 4:11). "...and he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” they all have the same task: to teach, to train, to equip and perfect God's people to do the work of the ministry and this will be done accordingly when we know and understand these truths that the Apostle Paul wrote about in his letters.
Paul acknowledged that God indeed revealed his secret plan and made it known to him. He continued to say… (I have written briefly about this, and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ.)" (Ephesians 3:3-4 GNT). Furthermore, Paul says there are full grown Christians (Spiritually mature and ripe in understanding) and we do impart a wisdom the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden (1 Corinthians 2:6). These are the Christians that are mature enough to handle these writings of the Apostle Paul and thus preach them to the world equipping the body of Christ with the accurate and precise knowledge of God.
Additionally, Paul explicates that God has revealed these mysteries by his Spirit. That means nothing has been hidden from us , what no eye has seen what no ear has heard what no mind has conceived has been revealed to us by the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 2:9-10).The fundamentals of true Christianity are founded in his writings and the church should seek to major in these writings because that is where the church is headed- towards unity of faith and knowledge through these writings.
As you study the Apostle Paul's writings it’s important to underline the following words, namely: mystery, secret, In Christ and in him because this is what the resurrection of Jesus Christ has made possible and after all, these might be some of the not so easy things to understand the Apostle Peter was referring too. There are three things I would like to bring to your attention which even the Apostle Paul proclaimed that he doesn't pretend to understand them all, namely:
1. Our oneness with the Lord,
2. Christ living in a human being and
3. Life and Immortality.
In the book of (Ephesians 5:30-32 GNT) the Apostle Paul introduces us to one of the mysteries that have been revealed to him by the Spirit to communicate to the church, that being our Oneness with the Lord. Paul states “for we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones.” This simply means Jesus is the head and the church is the body, furthermore this illustrates to us that the head and the body have the same life together forming a unit called “Christ”, therefore the head without the body is incomplete and in like manner the body without the head is also incomplete.
With this divine knowledge of our oneness with the Lord this connotes that if you want to know the state of the body (the church) all you need to make reference of is the head (Jesus). Jesus is perfect and complete, without spot, wrinkle or blemish thus the church itself is perfect and complete with zero defects. This is why we don’t seek deliverance, a breakthrough or healing because our oneness with the Lord has made the above mentioned impossible for us.
Confession
Dear Father I thank you for calling me unto oneness and union with you. I’m a member of your body, of your flesh and of your bones therefore I’m perfect and complete. I’m a new creature that has no spots, wrinkles or blemishes thus I live and walk in the consciousness of this reality daily in Jesus Name.
FURTHER STUDY
2 Peter 3:16 NIV
Galatians 4:1 KJV
Ephesians 4:11 KJV
Ephesians 3:3-4 GNT
1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV
2 Corinthians 2:10 KJV
Ephesians 5:30-32 GNT