The Mystery of Christ

In order for us to proceed in our quest to regain our ability to manifest oneness with the Father and the Son, we must first make certain we understand the mystery of our salvation.

1 Timothy 3:16

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.

We understand that the mystery of godliness, the mystery of God, the mystery of Christ, the mystery and the mystery of the Father are all the same. And this mystery relates to the Church. However, many have concluded that this scripture speaks of God and Him alone; but I contend that it speaks of the Church manifesting God. In other words, this passage is describing the method by which the Church will manifest God. Therefore, the mystery of godliness is the Church.

Ephesians 3:2-3

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,...)

The Church is also referred to as the mystery that was hid in God.

Ephesians 3:4-5

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;

This mystery could not be revealed to the sons of men in past ages. Other ages are those times before the Church. It is very important that we differentiate the ages of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was written to and about a natural race of people (sons of men). However, the New Covenant was written to and about a spiritual race (sons of God). This mystery can only be understood by those who walk in the Spirit. You cannot walk in the flesh and think you can understand the mystery of the Church. This mystery is written to a race of people who are citizens of another country (the Kingdom of God); they are not of the earth. They may be in the world; but they are seated in a heavenly place with their God. They are able to stand in this earth and have an audience with their God at the same time. Those who are of this world will never comprehend the mystery of Christ. It is written to and about the New Creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We are The Mystery. The world cannot comprehend who or what we are. They cannot understand the things we do and say; even how we think. They cannot fathom our existence because they cannot see the Kingdom in which we operate.

Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Remember, Jesus came to the Jews first. On the Day of Pentecost about three thousand souls were saved, as Peter preached his first message. However, during this dispensation, permission was given to break a rule. Permission was given by the Holy Ghost to go to the Gentiles with the same Word; thus bringing the Gentiles into fellowship with the Father and the Son, in the same Body with the Jews. The preaching of the gospel to both would make of two one NEW MAN. The middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile is destroyed, that there might be one Body. This new dispensation is called Grace and Truth. This was the mystery God hid within Himself until the time of the Church.

Ephesians 3:7-8

7 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;

TO SEE AS GOD SEES

1 Timothy 3:16

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.”

To many saints, this scripture is too glorious to be speaking of the Church. However, we must come to the place where we see the Church as it is seen by God; which means we have to see ourselves the way God sees us. Without Controversy – without discussion, question or deliberation. God was manifested in the flesh – He is the treasure in our earthen vessels.

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Justified in The Spirit – We were justified by the Spirit. We now live in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:11

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Seen of angels – He has made the angels our ministering spirits. They minister to the heirs of salvation.

Hebrews 1:14

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Believed on in the world – It is the Church that can cause a sinner to believe God.

Acts 13:43

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 19:26

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

Acts 28:23

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Received up into glory – Jesus was not the only one received up into glory. The old patriarchs went back with Him; so too will the Church be received up when Christ returns for us. You are a great mystery.

The scripture declares that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are the workmanship of His hands. I have never known God to create anything that was not great. Would not His own Sons be partakers of His greatness? This is the good news. God has made us one with Him. And there is not one natural man who will be able to comprehend this great mystery. It is beyond the comprehension of the natural mind.

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:

LATTER DAY APOSTLES

It is the responsibility of the apostles to make us see (understand) our fellowship in this great mystery. But some say there are no more apostles. Many clergymen believe the time of the apostles ended with the death of John on the Isle of Patmos. However, I beg to differ. The scriptures are straight forward as to whether there were apostles set in the church after Paul.

Romans 16:7

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul mentions Andronicus and Junia who were noted among the apostles. They were not noted among the deacons, pastors or elders. They were noted among the apostles. And to make things even better, Junia was a woman. She is the only female apostle made mention of in the script. But thank God, she is there.

After three years on the field, Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter. He stayed with him two weeks and a day. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother (Galatians 1:19). Here Paul names James, Jesus’ brother as an apostle. At Lystra, Paul and Barnabas encounter a cripple who had the faith to be healed. After the miracle, the people of the city began to call them gods. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, (Acts 14:14). The scriptures clearly imply that both Paul and Barnabas were apostles. Yes, there are apostles in the church today. We are ordained by God with a special anointing to set and contend for the boundaries of the faith. We are stewards of the mystery of Christ.

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 understand that the Body of Christ must be blameless, holy and righteous before God and man. There is no room for compromise. We are receiving a word from the Father that will unite the church, in that the true sons will come forth from the chaos we see now as Christendom. This word is turning the hearts of the sons back to their Father. The Church is His greatest creation because it is fashioned in His express image. It is the greatest thing that exists in any universe. There is nothing likened unto the Church. You cannot mistake the Church because it is just like God. The Church is a manifestation of Christ. It is a presentation of God the Father. It is here to declare the will of the Father and to manifest the glory of God in the earth. Who is able to manifest God today in this world? Who can make a sinner believe that there is a God? Who has the power of God in their vessel? Who can speak that which is not as though it be? Who can lay hands on the sick and they recover? Who can lay hands on a sinner and impart life? Who can lead a man out of darkness into light? Who is it that was given the power to remit or retain sins? Who is it that can walk as Jesus walked? WITHOUT CONTROVERSY, GREAT ARE THE SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.