ETERNAL LIFE WAS MANIFESTED IN CHRIST AT THE ORDAINED TIME

All of the following verses are included in the mystery of God hidden and then revealed to Paul for the Church. All of the following scriptures are a synopsis of God revealing His hidden secret to humanity according to His timetable.

EPHESIANS 1:4ff before the foundation of the world . . . . 9: . . . he hath purposed in himself. . . . 10: That in the dispensation of the fullness 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.

GALATIANS 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

1 PETER 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

JESUS SAID IT WAS THE FATHER WHO REVEALS THE HIDDEN THINGS OF GOD

LUKE 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

JESUS UTTERED GOD'S SECRET KEPT FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

MATTHEW 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

JESUS SAID WE ARE TO KNOW THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

MARK 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.

GOSPEL IS CONTAINED IN MYSTERY HIDDEN AND NOW REVEALED

ROMANS 16:25ff 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.

MYSTERY NOW MADE KNOWN BY REVELATION TO PAUL BY GRACE

EPHESIANS 3:1ff For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 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).

EPHESIANS 3:7ff Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ [contained in God's mystery now revealed to Paul]

MYSTERY NOW MADE KNOWN TO THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

EPHESIANS 3:4ff . . . 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;

GOD SAVED US AND CALLED US TO FURTHER HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE

EPHESIANS 1:4ff Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10: But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

AMPLIFIED version: "according to and to further His own purpose and grace."

GOD CHOSE US TO BE ADOPTED SONS AND MADE US ACCEPTABLE TO HIM

EPHESIANS 1:4ff According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

THE REVELATION OF GOD'S MYSTERY GAVE PAUL UTTERANCE

EPHESIANS 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.

COLOSSIANS 4:3 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.

THE MYSTERY OF GOD WAS GIVE TO PAUL FOR THE CHURCH
SO THAT THE MYSTERY OF GOD COULD BE FULFILLED IN THE CHURCH

COLOSSIANS 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.

These are no new revelations, no restoration of apostles and prophets. The revelation of God was complete in Christ. There are no new truths or revelations never taught before. God has spoken by His Son to this age according to that which He determined before the creation of the world:

HEBREWS 1:1ff God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2: Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Christ sat down. His work was finished. We, too, are to rest in it. The revelation of Christ is complete to the Church, except for seeing Him as He is in person. The revelation of Christ to the world is not complete because it rejected the first revelation. Therefore, He will be revealed to it at the end of the age as a God of judgement.

THIS GOSPEL HIDDEN WITHIN THE MYSTERY ESTABLISHES US IN CHRIST

ROMANS 16:25: 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.

PAUL PREACHED THE GOSPEL CONTAINED IN GOD'S MYSTERY
IN ORDER TO PRESENT EVERY PERFECT IN CHRIST

COLOSSIANS 1:28: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

GOD WORKS ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL

EPHESIANS 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

As we look at Romans 8:26-29, remember the words from the last verse, "worketh all things" in reference to God's will because these verses are discussing the will of God in relation to what he had determined before creation. The verses in Romans tie that will to the work of God in the individual Christian today as he had determined it before the creation of the world.

ROMANS 8:26ff Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27: And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY:
PAUL WAS TO MAKE THE CHURCH SEE WHAT THAT FELLOWSHIP WAS

EPHESIANS 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.

1 JOHN 1:1ff That which was from the beginning, . . . 3: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

GOD CALLED US BY THE GOSPEL TO OBTAINING THE GLORY OF THE LORD

2 THESSALONIANS 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL WAS MADE KNOW TO US, THE CHURCH

EPHESIANS 1:9ff Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: . . . 11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will

Verse 11 says God works everything after the counsel of His will, and verse 9 says God made known to us the mystery of His will. There is no reason for us not to know God's will if we are bent on cooperating with Him to bring about that which He purposed in Himself.

PAUL DID NOT WANT THE CHURCH TO BE IGNORANT
OF THE MYSTERY CONCERNING ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH

ROMANS11:25 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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

THE CHURCH IS TO HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S MYSTERY AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT ALONE SO THAT THEY ARE NOT DECEIVED

COLOSSIANS 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. 4: And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

WE ARE TO BE STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERY OF GOD

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

WE ARE TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS

JUDE 3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

THE RICHES OF THE MYSTERY - CHRIST IN YOU - THE HOPE OF GLORY WAS TO BE MADE KNOWN TO THE GENTILES

COLOSSIANS 1:26ff 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.

MYSTERY REVEALED: GENTILES FELLOWHEIRS, OF THE SAME BODY PARTAKERS WITH THE JEWS OF THE PROMISES OF CHRIST

EPHESIANS 3:5ff 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.

1 PETER 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

GOD'S HIDDEN SECRET WISDOM OUTSMARTED THE DEVIL

1JOHN 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

EPHESIANS 3:9ff 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: 10: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11: According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:6ff 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.

THERE WILL BE THE WORST TRIBULATION EVER SINCE CREATION

MARK 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

SOME WILL DOUBT HIS COMING AS PROMISED SINCE CREATION

2 PT:3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

THE MYSTERY AS DECLARED BY THE PROPHETS
WILL BE FINISHED AT THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

REVELATION 10:5ff And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6: And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 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.

THE SHEEP WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM
PREPARED BY THE FATHER BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

MATTHEW 25:33ff And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

REPEATING THE SUMMARY FROM PART 1

Before the world began, God hid within Himself a mystery. This mystery contained His purpose for Christ and the part of humanity that would accept Christ, the Church. That which He purposed in Himself, He would bring about after the counsel of His own will according to His own good pleasure. This purpose would be extended to the Church by grace alone in a way that was consistent with His purpose.

A SUMMARY OF PART 2:

A. SYNOPSIS: GOD'S PLAN BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

1. God hid a mystery within Himself before the creation of the world.

2. God would work all things according to His own pleasure.

3. God would work all things according to His own purpose.

4. God would work all things according to the counsel of His own will.

1. The holy, chosen Lamb was with the Father.

2. The Lamb was to be exalted over all things in heaven and on earth.

3. The Lamb would gather all things together in Himself.

1. God would have a family of adopted sons created after the image of the first-born which would stand before the Father without blemish, holy and in love.

2. Once created, if man fell, God would restore him by grace because man would be unable to bring about his own restoration into the purpose of God. God would restore man "because of and to further His own purpose and grace" through the work of the Lamb of God.

3. God promised to give man, at his appointed season, a faith and a knowledge that would rest on the hope of eternal life. That knowledge would be of the Son of God, and it would be called the gospel.

4. All who accepted that knowledge by faith would be destined for glory.

5. God purposed to sanctify us by the Spirit and His word so he could glorify us as sons.

6. By creating one new man through the cross, from Jews and Gentiles, God would manifest His wisdom "through the church . . . to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to his eternal purpose which [he would] accomplish in Christ Jesus our Lord." [This does not negate God's future fulfilling of His promises to OT Israel].

7. The Church was to be established by the gospel, know and be stewards of the mystery, contending for it as given to the saints. Then it would proclaim that gospel to the nations (individual people) so they could accept God's offer to adopt them as His sons.

8. The mystery, once revealed, was to be shared in its fullness, from before creation to Revelation, so man could cooperate with God in bringing about His ultimate intention through the preaching of the gospel.

9. The Church would be commissioned to proclaim the full revelation of Christ, "that which was from the beginning."

10. All who believe would inherit a kingdom that the Father has already prepared for them.

TWO PRAYERS OF PAUL FOR THE CHURCH

EPHESIANS 1

15: Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16: Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23: Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

COLOSSIANS 1

9: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11: Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins

I close this paper with a Scripture to think about every day as the darkness continues to envelope us:

ISAIAH 53:10

10: Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.