Knowledge of God’s Mystery

Here we are again where we find ourselves in a maze of worldly confusion where it not that we have the Holy Spirit (ie. the Spirit of Christ) to guide us through. All things spiritual start with an understanding of the first three chapters of Genesis because it is there that we learn just what it is that was lost to mankind. Genesis is the foundation upon which Christ in all wisdom and knowledge is first seen and known.

For it is there that the first law of “ONE” and the first is revealed which holds the key to all else in the Bible for us. Genesis through Acts chapter 8 and a portion at the end of 9 we find God’s working with the earthy man (This is also seen in Romans chapters one through five verse five) and then those men who have been accounted as righteous or spiritual, that meet God’s requirement of faith. Then in Acts chapter 9 He focuses on one man again just as He did with Moses this man has his name changed by God from Saul to Paul indicating the change of direction and God’s acceptance of him as His voice (from here on into Romans through Philemon, with special attention to Galatians and Hebrews as they reveal the Gospel of God's Grace in the New Covenant of Grace).

Those who do not understand the word do not see or hear this change taking place because the god of this evil world has their minds blinded or veiled to it. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) Men of the intellectual institutions do not have a clue as to what the Lord is doing; they reveal this in their mixing of the scriptures and the blending of them together, then saying something that is not there. (Many by applying passages in correctly or by quoting only a portion of scripture out of context or applying the principles and scriptures wrongly have erred in some cases grievously.) Some stick to the Old Testament as being for us in this dispensation (Not knowing that the past is dead and death to all that are stuck in it) without regard for the changing of direction God has taken and only found in the scriptures as revealed by Paul and by inspiration by the Spirit of Christ.

The people that are hungry and thirsty for the truth, they do not know where to turn to because they have been lead astray and deceived into believing a lie as contained in a feel good gospel, a gospel in many cases that was meant for Israel only. Paul in Romans 16 verse 25 tells us that we are to be strengthened or established by His power that is at work within us, this is to have the meaning and knowledge as contained in scriptures revealed to us. As a steward of the mysteries revealed to Paul and no others of the first disciples, (those who were with Christ during His ministry to Israel) we are under necessity to share what has been disclosed or revealed in this last of times. From here then let us move on.

Romans 16:25-27
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--- to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Colossians 2:1-7
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(the parable of the pearl of great price) I say this in order that no one may delude* you with plausible arguments.** For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order (discipline) and the firmness of your faith in Christ. As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and established in your faith, even as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

* Delude: is to deceive, beguile to turn away from as a wife turns her back on her husband to pursue another; as Israel and the church have done by turning toward the spirit of the world.
** Arguments: persuasive words

Colossians 4:2-6
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-- that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders,* making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

* Outsiders: unbelievers and the enemies of the cross of Christ, (a sinner, wicked, lawless) seeing your manner of living (conversation).

Knowledge of the Mystery
Colossians 2.1-5 & 4.2-6

Matthew 13:31-33, 34-35 He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened."
All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."

Matthew 13:36-37, 43-46 He left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.” (John 12:24)

Matthew 13:38-42 “The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place (the fiery furnace) there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 13:43-46 “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He, who has ears, let him hear. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.” Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

Jesus is the word that was sown and the pearl of great value (Gods Spiritual wisdom and understanding) and those who will, will to do the Fathers good pleasure, have revealed to them His will and will have revealed to them the hidden truths that are laid in the open to all but are not understood but by a few. The seed that turns into a great tree as a mustard seed grows, this is the word that when planted into good ground grows we know not how and turns into a great tree that provides shade for all and rest for all. The pearl is God’s wisdom that in Christ Jesus is revealed to those who are in Christ and have partaken of His bread and blood, they are sharers of the same body and blood with Christ that is in union with Him. This is a true mystery and power of God which no man has in and of himself.

In Christ are all riches of understanding
Colossians 2:9-17 In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead corporeally as the foundation or federal head of the Body. You are filled with Him (John 1:16), who is the head of all principality and power. In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand in despoiling (stripping away or destroying by the circumcision) of the body of the flesh: but in the circumcision of Christ. Buried with Him in baptism (this is an action of the Holy Spirit and not with water): in whom also you are raised again by the faith of the operation of God who has raised (you in Him) Him up from the dead. And you, when you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has quickened (made alive in regeneration of the spirit or your inner man) together with Him, forgiving your all offenses: blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us (that which was lost in Adam). He has taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross. Despoiling the principalities and powers (the spirit of the world in the flesh of man), he has exposed them confidently in open show, triumphing over them in Himself (when He was put to the tree and was raised from the dead). Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of a festival day or of the new moon or of the Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come: but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 1:9-29 So, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through (IN) Him and for Him. He is before all things, and IN Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For IN Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through (IN) Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled IN His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ IN you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature IN Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.

Ephesians 1:7-14 In Him we have redemption (present possession) through (IN, enjoined to, in union with) His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace (the seed that is opened by the Gospel of Grace in Light), which He lavished upon us (this is found in Genesis chapters 2 and 3), in all wisdom and insight (the full knowledge of) making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him again, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your redemption, and believed in Him, were sealed (baptized) with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it (our salvation and the home of our hope as promised), to the praise of His glory.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ (in His incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection), seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, (been crucified in Christ) and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working whereby He is able even to subject all things to Himself. (All of creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God; this will take place just before the tribulation period starts because in another place it says “that the children, ”sons” of God are not subject to see the wrath that is to come upon the world and all flesh.” Romans 5:9, 12:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9)

Now for the warning:
Many do not take head to the woes of Matthew 23 which also reveal many things of interest for us today.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Colossians 2:18-23 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism (rigid self denial) and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations---"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things that all perish as they are used)---according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism (which is spiritual pride under the mock guise of humility) and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh and the wrath to come. (Ephesians 4:31; Romans 1:18, 2:5, 8; Ephesians 2:3, 5:6)

Christ Himself warns in Matthew 23:27-28 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. [Study the “woe’s” of Matthew 23 and Satan’s counterfeiting of Jesus’ light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15]

1Timothy 4:3-5 Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Philippians 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Colossians 3:5-15 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. Be thankful.

Now for the comments by Matthew Henry as found in his commentary on the whole Bible and we quote:

Philippians 3:17-21
He, Paul, closes the chapter with warnings and exhortations.

I. He warns them against following the examples of seducers and evil teachers (Philippians 3:18-19): Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Observe,

1. There are many called by Christ's name who are enemies to Christ's cross, and the design and intention of it. Their walk is surer evidence what they are than their profession. By their fruits you shall know them, Matthew 7:20. The apostle warns people against such, (1.) Very frequently: I have told you often. We so little heed the warnings given us that we have needed to have them repeated. To write the same things is safe, Philippians 3:1. (2.) Feelingly and affectionately: I now tell you weeping. Paul was upon proper occasions a weeping preacher, as Jeremiah was a weeping prophet. Observe, an old sermon may be preached with new affections; what we say often we may say again, if we say it affectionately, and are ourselves under the power of it.

2. He gives us the characters of those who were the enemies of the cross of Christ. (1.) Whose God is their belly. They minded nothing but their sensual appetites. A wretched idol it is and a scandal for any, but especially for Christians, to sacrifice the favors of God, the peace of their conscience, and their eternal happiness to it. Gluttons and drunkards make a god of their belly, and all their care is to please it and make provision for it. The same observance which good people give to God epicures gives to their appetites. Of such he says, They serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, Rom 16:18. (2.) They glory in their shame. They not only sinned, but boasted of it and gloried in that of which they ought to have been ashamed. Sin is the sinner's shame, especially when it is gloried in. “They value themselves for what is their blemish and reproach.” (3.) They mind earthly things. Christ came by his cross to crucify the world to us and us to the world; and those who mind earthly things act directly contrary to the cross of Christ, and this great design of it. They relish earthly things, and have no relish of the things which are spiritual and heavenly. They set their hearts and affections on earthly things; they love them, and even dote upon them, and have a confidence and complacency in them. He gives them this character, to show how absurd it would be for Christians to follow the example of such or be led away by them; and, to deter us all from so doing, he reads their doom. (4.) Whose end is destruction. Their way seems pleasant, but death and hell are at the end of it. What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death, Rom 6:21. It is dangerous following them, though it is going down the stream; for, if we choose their way, we have reason to fear their end. Perhaps he alludes to the total destruction of the Jewish nation (and those trapped in the broad way of the world).

II. He proposes himself and his brethren for an example, in opposition to these evil examples: Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark those who walk as you have us for an example, Philippians 3:17. Mark them out for your pattern. He explains himself (Philippians 3:20) by their regard to Christ and heaven: For our conversation is in heaven. Observe, Good Christians, even while they are here on earth, have their conversation in heaven. (They mind the things of God revealed to them of greater value than the things in this world.)Their citizenship is there, politeuma. As if he had said, “We stand related to the world, but are citizens of the New Jerusalem.” This world is not our home, but that is. There our greatest privileges and concerns lie. And, because our citizenship is there, our conversation is there; being related to that world, we keep up a correspondence with it. The life of a Christian is in heaven, where his head is, and his home is, and where he hopes to be shortly; he sets his affections upon things above; and where his heart is there will his conversation be. The apostle had pressed them to follow him and other ministers of Christ: “Why,” might they say, “you are a company of poor, despised, persecuted people, who make no figure, and pretend to no advantages in the world; who will follow you?” “Nay,” says he, “but our conversation is in heaven. We have a near relation and a great pretension to the other world, and are not so mean and despicable as we are represented.” It is good having fellowship with those who have fellowship with Christ, and conversation with those whose conversation is in heaven. (However they are few in number while here.)

1. Because we look for the Saviour from heaven (Philippians 3:20): Whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is not here, he has ascended, he has entered within the veil for us; and we expect his second coming thence, to gather in all the citizens of that New Jerusalem to himself. (This is to be prior to the tribulation period yet to be fully birthed upon the earth and mankind.)

2. Because at the second coming of Christ we expect to be happy and glorified there. There is good reason to have our conversation in heaven, not only because Christ is now there, but because we hope to be there shortly: Who shall change our vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, Philippians 3:21. There is a glory reserved for the bodies of the saints, which they will be instated in at the resurrection. The body is now at the best a vile body, to sōma tēs tapeinōseōs hēmōn - the body of our humiliation: it has its rise and origin from the earth; it is supported out of the earth, and is subject to many diseases and to death at last. Besides, it is often the occasion and instrument of much sin, which is called the body of this death, Romans 7:24. Or it may be understood of its vileness when it lies in the grave; at the resurrection it will be found a vile body, resolved into rottenness and dust; the dust will return to the earth as it was, Ecclesiastes 12:7. But it will be made a glorious body; and not only raised again to life, but raised to great advantage. Observe:
(1.) The sample of this change, and that is, the glorious body of Christ; when he was transfigured upon the mount, his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light, Matthew 17:2. He went to heaven clothed with a body, that he might take possession of the inheritance in our nature, and be not only the first-born from the dead, but the first-born of the children of the resurrection. We shall be conformed to the image of his Son, that he may be the first-born among many brethren, Romans 8:29.
(2.) The power by which this change will be wrought: According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. There is an efficacy of power, an exceeding greatness of power, and the working of mighty power, Ephesians 1:19. It is matter of comfort to us that he can subdue all things to himself, and sooner or later will bring over all into his interest. And the resurrection will be wrought by this power. I will raise him up at the last day, John 6:44. Let this confirm our faith of the resurrection, that we not only have the scriptures, which assure us it shall be, but we know the power of God, which can effect it, Matthew 22:29. At Christ's resurrection was a glorious instance of the divine power, and therefore he is declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4), so will our resurrection be: and his resurrection is a standing evidence, as well as pattern, of ours. And then all the enemies of the Redeemer's kingdom will be completely conquered. Not only he who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14), but the last enemy, shall be destroyed, that is, death, 1Corinthians 15:26, shall be swallowed up in victory, 1Corinthians 15:54.

Col. 1:29 mature as taken from
Thayer's Definition: mature or perfect
1) end
1a) termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be (always of the end of some act or state, but not of the end of a period of time)
1b) the end
1b1) the last in any succession or series
1b2) eternal
1c) that by which a thing is finished, its close, issue
1d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose
2) toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)
Part of Speech: noun neuter

Thayer's Definition: mature or perfect, the end goal
1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
4b) of men
4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a primary tello (to set out for a definite point or goal)

Matt. 23:27
Thayer's Definition: hypocrite
1) one who answers, an interpreter
2) an actor, stage player
3) a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite
Part of Speech: noun masculine

Thayer's Definition: hypocrite
1) to take up another’s statements in reference to what one has decided for one’s self
1a) to reply, answer
2) to make answer (speak) on the stage
2a) to impersonate anyone, play a part
3) to simulate, feign, pretend
Part of Speech: verb

So Sunday or Saturday, Wednesday, Easter, Christmas, or any other man made holidays of worship is defilement to the Family of God and the Christian Jewish community of believers. Many billions of believers have gone to the death without knowing the mysteries of the Gospel of God’s Grace in truth because of mans own ignorance from which there is NO escape. That is why the LORD through Paul and the others warns us time and time again to study the scriptures for ourselves. We are accountable to no one else but to Him for our own selves and our ignorance bears on no one else. Though the blood of all that sit under such false prophets and teachers is on their hands for they carry the heaver load or weight. Now we’ll move on into the stewardship of the mysteries our next course of study.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 16:25-27 Now to him that 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 in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known to all the nations to obedience of faith: to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen.

Romans 2:14-16 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

John 5:21-27 Jesus said: “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted (given) the Son also to have life in himself. He has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

John 3:31-36 John is here speaking: He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Acts 17:26-31 He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Here we find that Christ Jesus is the finial Judge who will sit on the white throne judgment seat. He will judge all according to His revealed Gospel of God’s Grace and by no other. Paul plainly warns time and time again to take heed to this gospel and its message of redemption and salvation for all. Now we’ve hinted to the stewardship that has been entrusted to Paul and to those God has called to spread or broadcast His message a seed. Christ Jesus is that seed and is also the light that causes that seed to grow, how, we know not it is still a mystery.

From here we'll move on to the rest of the secrets that have been hidden in God. In the wisdom and knowledge of Godliness.