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Bible Study God's Mystery

Chopper

Chopper

Member
God has not been silent in the fact that His ways and His thoughts are not our ways and thoughts. He even says that they are past finding out. Hmm, lets see how close we can come to some terrific knowledge.

I have noticed lately, in the sphere of my influence, that people have more spiritual questions than ever before. Have you experienced that? I wonder why? There are those who, for what ever the reason, want more faith. Others are craving the fullness of the Holy Spirit. A man said, "I want more of the Holy Spirit", I could have said to him, "the Holy Spirit wants more of you!"

I have noticed in our Forum that there are folk who wonder about being sure of their Salvation. Hey Gang, lets have some fun with this thread and compile what we do know about this mystery that the Apostle Paul wrote about in Colossians 2:2 "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."

What exactly is this mystery, and is this why there are so many questions today? I am using Colossians Chapter 2 as my Text.
 
IMO, our mission as a believer in Christ Jesus is to reach or obtain all the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of God's mystery. What is this mystery? Paul says it's Christ Jesus, Col. 2:2. To me, it's a mystery of why God created man....Why exactly do you think that God did create man?

Perhaps if we knew that mystery, more will come to the light.
 
Is the mystery the gospel as it alludes to in the previous chapter in Colossians?

Maybe people are asking about it because when presented 1). it's too watered down 2). or it's not preached at all. :shrugIt's my experience anyway, for the most part, people's views and dissatisfaction regarding Christianity are over the behavior of people who call themselves such, not the message itself.
 
Mathew Henry... Colossians 2:1-3

We may observe here the great concern which Paul had for these Colossians and the other churches which he had not any personal knowledge of. The apostle had never been at Colosse, and the church planted there was not of his planting; and yet he had as tender a care of it as if it had been the only people of his charge (Col_2:1): For I would that you knew what great conflict I have for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. Observe, 1. Paul's care of the church was such as amounted to a conflict. He was in a sort of agony, and had a constant fear respecting what would become of them. Herein he was a follower of his Master, who was in an agony for us, and was heard in that he feared. (2.) We may keep up a communion by faith, hope, and holy love, even with those churches and fellow-christians of whom we have no personal knowledge, and with whom we have no conversation. We can think, and pray, and be concerned for one another, at the greatest distance; and those we never saw in the flesh we may hope to meet in heaven. But,
I. What was it that the apostle desired for them? That their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, etc., Col_2:2. It was their spiritual welfare about which he was solicitous. He does not say that they may be healthy, and merry, and rich, and great, and prosperous; but that their hearts may be comforted. Note, The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity, and what we should be most solicitous about for ourselves and others. We have here a description of soul-prosperity.
1. When our knowledge grows to an understanding of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, - when we come to have a more clear, distinct, methodical knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, then the soul prospers: To understand the mystery, either what was before concealed, but is now made known concerning the Father and Christ, or the mystery before mentioned, of calling the Gentiles into the Christian church, as the Father and Christ have revealed it in the gospel; and not barely to speak of it by rote, or as we have been taught it by our catechisms, but to be led into it, and enter into the meaning and design of it. This is what we should labour after, and then the soul prospers.
2. When our faith grows to a full assurance and bold acknowledgment of this mystery. (1.) To a full assurance, or a well-settled judgment, upon their proper evidence, of the great truths of the gospel, without doubting, or calling them in question, but embracing them with the highest satisfaction, as faithful sayings and worthy of all acceptation. (2.) When it comes to a free acknowledgment, and we not only believe with the heart, but are ready, when called to it, to make confession with our mouth, and are not ashamed of our Master and our holy religion, under the frowns and violence of their enemies. This is called the riches of the full assurance of understanding. Great knowledge and strong faith make a soul rich. This is being rich towards God, and rich in faith, and having the true riches, Luk_12:21; Luk_16:11; Jam_2:5.
 
Chopper said:
Why exactly do you think that God did create man?

.
Click to expand...

God wants to be known to us as FATHER......or as Jesus said...."Abba".
And the reason God created "man" is the same reason we create our children.
Its because we all want a family.
This is instinctual in us, as it came from God, and as we are made in His "image",.. then that is why.
 
Rev_4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
 
Chopper said:
What exactly is this mystery, and is this why there are so many questions today? I am using Colossians Chapter 2 as my Text.
Click to expand...

I think key words are " be encouraged in heart and united in love".

1 John 4:11-14 This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

We can disagree, but hate is not allowed in our club. Love can have arguments, but love never fails. I hate that I have to know the pain of what the spirit of Cain looks like. My heart breaks. My own family except myself has this spirit. My mother hates my father, my mother hates my sister and my father hates my sister, my sister hates my mother and my sister hates my father.
 
Kidron said:
God wants to be known to us as FATHER......or as Jesus said...."Abba".
And the reason God created "man" is the same reason we create our children.
Its because we all want a family.
This is instinctual in us, as it came from God, and as we are made in His "image",.. then that is why.
Click to expand...
I hate to be seen as going base but your answer is all wrong. I know why my first child and second were born but it had not a single thing to do with starting or with wanting a family. She had what I wanted and she gave it to me. I was raised to understand that I should never go there with anyone I would not marry and when she was pregnant, I married her.

Having been eight years in the service and on and off the stage for twenty-five years I know the majority of men are just like the young Bill Taylor and none of this has anything to do with he mystery God holds and we should seek after. Like Chopper and others here I wish I knew everything but if any of us did, pride would kick in and it would be a mystery no longer. And the moment there is no mystery to seek after, life becomes pointless.

These past twenty-five years of Bible study have netted answers I never expected to find, resulting in great joy. And still, I am seeking the answer.
 
th1b.taylor said:
I hate to be seen as going base but your answer is all wrong. I know why my first child and second were born but it had not a single thing to do with starting or with wanting a family. .
Click to expand...

Well, i appreciate your opinion.
And, that your sad story is not one of love, regarding your children, does not mean that God's story is the same as yours.
Did you ever consider that, (no offense intended).?

Let me show you something interesting.
Jesus is a seed.
He's a seed that God planted to harvest more children., for over 2000 years in a row now.
Thats a lot of family from one seed, isnt it.
God is so excited about this huge family that not only did He offer His Son on a cross to create them as HIS, but He's built them a city that has streets of gold.
Only the best for His family will do.
 
Kidron said:
Well, i appreciate your opinion.
And, that your sad story is not one of love, regarding your children, does not mean that God's story is the same as yours.
Did you ever consider that, (no offense intended).?

Let me show you something interesting.
Jesus is a seed.
He's a seed that God planted to harvest more children., for over 2000 years in a row now.
Thats a lot of family from one seed, isnt it.
God is so excited about this huge family that not only did He offer His Son on a cross to create them as HIS, but He's built them a city that has streets of gold.
Only the best for His family will do.
Click to expand...
And I love honesty but the truth is that you are passing out a ncie fairy tale based on fact and has nothing to do with the truth nor the mystery. You seem to think I do not love my offspring and nothing can be further from the truth. But your right about God and I being different. God is not like any of us and we should all be proud of that.

Jesus is the first seed of the Christian Faith but from Adam until Jesus, Paradise was being filled with believers who were waiting on Christ for their release and passage into Heaven. It put a dark shade on your idea.
 
Chopper said:
IMO, our mission as a believer in Christ Jesus is to reach or obtain all the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of God's mystery. What is this mystery? Paul says it's Christ Jesus, Col. 2:2. To me, it's a mystery of why God created man....Why exactly do you think that God did create man?

Perhaps if we knew that mystery, more will come to the light.
Click to expand...
I've always thought the mystery was Christ, too, however the statement didn't make sense when Jesus replaced mystery in that sentence. Wisdom could even be the mystery...

Ultimately God created man for His Glory:
Isaiah 43:1–7 But now, thus says the Lord, your creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed even whom I have made." (NASB)
 
Great LORD's Day Chopper. In the Creation Narrative, the first three chapters of Genesis we find the reason man was created, as well as what it is Jesus died on the cross to restore. God walked, in the cool of the day, with Adam, Fellowship! God loves us deeper than I love my wife or my children and without my wife, my reason to live this life will be over, giving me one great reason to be more and more Home sick.

God created and saved me, you, Abigail for Fellowship!
 
Back to Bible Study... drop the personal attacks... this is not the place..

I fully understand a quick slip of not following the TOS we agree to follow.. to carry it beyond the quick slip ? how about honoring our word ?
 
th1b.taylor said:
Like Chopper and others here I wish I knew everything but if any of us did, pride would kick in and it would be a mystery no longer.
Click to expand...

The mystery of God does not serve with pride. Pride is something that comes with knowledge of the law and knowledge of the prophets. Pride manifests itself in self righteousness, but that is not of the mystery of God. The mystery of God is not some piece of knowledge found in a book that anyone can lord over another. The mystery of God is something that must be revealed within the individual, and with that revelation comes no hint of pride, but rather an overwhelming sense of humility. With that being said, that does not mean that we are not yet susceptible to exhibiting the pride and self righteousness that comes with the knowledge found in the law and prophets; but as to the mystery of God in and of itself, there is no room for pride to manifest itself.

Pride is of the flesh; but the mystery of God pertains to the Spirit, hidden away as a precious treasure, concealed by a veil.
 
I Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Colossians 2:14
having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.

Through suffering. What a mystery.

eddif
 
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