The Mystery of Iniquity !

[savedbygrace57]

2 thess 2:

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Have you wondered what this mystery of iniquity is ? Why does paul call it a Mystery.

The greek word mystērion:

hidden thing, secret, mystery

a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals

b) a hidden or secret thing,

not obvious to the understanding

c) a hidden purpose or counsel

This Mystery of Iniquity is something that is not obvious to the Natural Understanding ! It cannot be known unless it is revealed.

The word iniquity is the word anomia:

the condition of without law

a) because ignorant of it

b) because of violating it

2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

Some call it lawlessness !

So this is a lawlessness, a iniquity that we as natural men do not know or understand without it being revealed to us by God..

Its a spirit of enmity against Christ and His People or His Church Gen 3:

15 And I will put enmity [hatred or hostile mind] between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

[childeye]

2 thess 2:

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Have you wondered what this mystery of iniquity is ? Why does paul call it a Mystery.

The greek word mystērion:

hidden thing, secret, mystery

a) generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals

b) a hidden or secret thing,

not obvious to the understanding

c) a hidden purpose or counsel

This Mystery of Iniquity is something that is not obvious to the Natural Understanding ! It cannot be known unless it is revealed.

The word iniquity is the word anomia:

the condition of without law

a) because ignorant of it

b) because of violating it

2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness

Some call it lawlessness !

So this is a lawlessness, a iniquity that we as natural men do not know or understand without it being revealed to us by God..

Its a spirit of enmity against Christ and His People or His Church Gen 3:

15 And I will put enmity [hatred or hostile mind] between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

I think iniquity means to be hypocritical in judgment, without fairness. Uneven handed. But I could be wrong.

 

[savedbygrace57]

I think iniquity means to be hypocritical in judgment, without fairness. Uneven handed. But I could be wrong.

I am going to explain what it is !

 

[savedbygrace57]

The Mystery of Iniquity ! cont



Now what is this Mystery of Iniquity ? Remember, this is something you and I cannot know by nature, but it must be revealed to us, that is why paul calls it a Mystery of Iniquity. I had taken us back to Gen 3 15 and stated that there was an enmity, a hatred given Sovereignly by God between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent, now thats important in understanding this Mystery of Iniquity.

Cain was perhaps the first in history to manifest this mystery of Iniquity, Gen 4:

1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Cain's offering, from the ground which had just been cursed btw gen 3:

17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

This offering from Cain, though no doubt, was of the best quality of produce from the ground, was not offered from Faith. see rom 14 for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Abel's offering was by Faith heb 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous,

Now, How did Abel offer by Faith ? Well rom 10:


17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Abel made His offering based upon the hearing of the word of God.

I believe the word of God was that which God Himself first proclaimed or preached to the hearing of His parents, regarding the seed of the woman Gen 3 15. I believe at this point, the way of salvation, blessing, and acceptance with God had been announced, through the seed of the woman, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, slain from the foundation of the world rev 13:8; foreordained 1 pet 1:20; rom 3:25.

I believe that it had been revealed that this seed of the woman would come and put away the sin of the world Jn 1:


29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God[seed of the woman], which taketh away the sin of the world.

This knowledge was conveyed by Adam and Eve to their children, I believe Adam was a Prophet from this verse lk 1:


70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Both Cain, the Firstborn and Abel would have been told of the coming of this sacred seed of the woman that had been revealed. When this particular time for sacrifice came, we believe Abel's sacrifice reflected Faith in the blood of the Lamb that was to come and take away the sin of the world, the seed of the woman, but cain's sacrifice reflected a confidence in his own best works, though perhaps sincere, but yet ignoring God's revealed way of salvation and acceptance , and hence he was not accepted of God, and this is what later John writes as his deeds being evil 1 jn 3:

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

The word evil here is the greek word ponēros:

in a physical sense: diseased or blind

b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad

The works here that were evil of cains, was not his murdering of his brother, that had not yet occurred, but his offering from the ground, the best that he had to offer, probably his best picked tomatoes, and cabbages, and had them carefully assorted, and brought them before the Lord, and the Lord rejected him and his offering. This made him wroth [hot, furious] the scripture says see gen 4:5

This is the Mystery of iniquity, that we as men cannot know by nature, that are best efforts, are most sincere efforts, at being religious, and moral before God, apart from the particular redemption that is solely in Christ Jesus, these things are evil, they are works of iniquity, they are wicked.

Notice what Jesus will tell many at his return, who had been very religious, and did many wonderful things in his name, preaching, casting out devils and etc, and just notice what Jesus calls them Matt 7:

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You see that, Jesus calls them workers of iniquity. We by nature can see the Lord calling murderers, drunkards, dope heads and thieves workers of iniquity, but not those who are very sincere and honest in their religions...

This is a sin, a iniquity, a great evil before the Lord, that we just cannot know by nature..only by revelation..

 

[childeye]

The Mystery of Iniquity ! cont



Now what is this Mystery of Iniquity ? Remember, this is something you and I cannot know by nature, but it must be revealed to us, that is why paul calls it a Mystery of Iniquity. I had taken us back to Gen 3 15 and stated that there was an enmity, a hatred given Sovereignly by God between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent, now thats important in understanding this Mystery of Iniquity.

Cain was perhaps the first in history to manifest this mystery of Iniquity, Gen 4:

1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Cain's offering, from the ground which had just been cursed btw gen 3:

17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

This offering from Cain, though no doubt, was of the best quality of produce from the ground, was not offered from Faith. see rom 14 for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Abel's offering was by Faith heb 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous,

Now, How did Abel offer by Faith ? Well rom 10:


17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Abel made His offering based upon the hearing of the word of God.

I believe the word of God was that which God Himself first proclaimed or preached to the hearing of His parents, regarding the seed of the woman Gen 3 15. I believe at this point, the way of salvation, blessing, and acceptance with God had been announced, through the seed of the woman, who is the Lord Jesus Christ, slain from the foundation of the world rev 13:8; foreordained 1 pet 1:20; rom 3:25.

I believe that it had been revealed that this seed of the woman would come and put away the sin of the world Jn 1:


29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God[seed of the woman], which taketh away the sin of the world.

This knowledge was conveyed by Adam and Eve to their children, I believe Adam was a Prophet from this verse lk 1:


70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Both Cain, the Firstborn and Abel would have been told of the coming of this sacred seed of the woman that had been revealed. When this particular time for sacrifice came, we believe Abel's sacrifice reflected Faith in the blood of the Lamb that was to come and take away the sin of the world, the seed of the woman, but cain's sacrifice reflected a confidence in his own best works, though perhaps sincere, but yet ignoring God's revealed way of salvation and acceptance , and hence he was not accepted of God, and this is what later John writes as his deeds being evil 1 jn 3:

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

The word evil here is the greek word ponēros:

in a physical sense: diseased or blind

b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad

The works here that were evil of cains, was not his murdering of his brother, that had not yet occurred, but his offering from the ground, the best that he had to offer, probably his best picked tomatoes, and cabbages, and had them carefully assorted, and brought them before the Lord, and the Lord rejected him and his offering. This made him wroth [hot, furious] the scripture says see gen 4:5

This is the Mystery of iniquity, that we as men cannot know by nature, that are best efforts, are most sincere efforts, at being religious, and moral before God, apart from the particular redemption that is solely in Christ Jesus, these things are evil, they are works of iniquity, they are wicked.

Notice what Jesus will tell many at his return, who had been very religious, and did many wonderful things in his name, preaching, casting out devils and etc, and just notice what Jesus calls them Matt 7:

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You see that, Jesus calls them workers of iniquity. We by nature can see the Lord calling murderers, drunkards, dope heads and thieves workers of iniquity, but not those who are very sincere and honest in their religions...

This is a sin, a iniquity, a great evil before the Lord, that we just cannot know by nature..only by revelation..

Your description is of God according to my conviction. Anyone can see, or should see, that Cain took his rejection personally. Had He only been able to ask him self "Was this offering for my sake or God's sake?" This line of reasoning would have led to him seeing his error. For if it were for God's sake he would have sought some other offering intent on pleasing God. But if it was for his own sake to look good to God, no wonder it is regarded as insincere.

And here I see a hypocrisy where I use the word uneven handed, unfair. For I do not think Cain would like to be treated this way if the shoe was on the other foot.

This reminds me of the teaching of the theology of freewill wherein a man thinks he can choose between being good and evil and thereby regards God as a prerogative according to man's discretion. However I do embrace the freewill described in John 8:32. For if a man thinks he is good, for choosing good, he does not acknowledge the word of God in his heart that allows him to even see the good. But one who is thankful for God's word in his heart takes no credit for doing good but gives glory to God for being able to choose good. All of this must come by revelation therefore, so that to even see it is God who allows a man to see it is God, must come from God. What have you to say to that? Please reply.

 

[savedbygrace57]

The Mystery of Iniquity ! cont



To make it simple, if you have not already understood, the mystery of iniquity are those religions, that are in opposition to the True and Narrow way to God, in and through Jesus Christ. It is only what God did through Him in saving a chosen People through His blood. So its man rejecting this way, and going about to establish his own righteousness through their sincere religious efforts like the jews did rom 10:

1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Its men refusing the straight and narrow way and traveling on that broad way [ their own religious understanding] that leads to destruction Matt 7:


13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

All the various religions and denominations have their own understanding of how to be accepted of God, and some are very close to the Truth, that if possible, could deceive the very elect. They are as rom 10 vs 2 states, zealous, they have a zeal of God, and they are sincere and serious. Its something they cherish as their own personal right and privilege and should not be challenged, but what this is, its nothing but pride and self righteousness. Only the blood of Christ, the Power of God,can deliver us from this mystery of iniquity [self righteousness] and false , vain religion as a manner of life, and give us to understand that all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags Isa 64:


6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The word righteousnesses here is the hebrew word tsĕdaqah and means in this context :

righteous acts


righteousness (as ethically right)

The Amplified bible says:

6For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God's favor, hurrying us toward destruction].(A)

Isn't that something ? Who would have thought that ? Thats entirely against human reasoning and understanding, that God would consider our sense of rightness and Justice in our dealings and in our religion,as filthy polluted rags [of a womans menstrual] ! This is His thoughts of us apart from the The Lord Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness, thats for His Chosen..

 

[Sinthesis]

Actually the 'Mystery of Inequity' is quite simple to understand from the outside, yet hidden if you happen to be caught up in it. We all have personal knowledge of this phenomenon of the fallen human nature, but we can usually only see it in someone else. It is the ability for a written law to be interpreted perversely to the point that following the law actually results in injustice. Thus the law applied in the wrong spirit becomes lawlessness.

Mystery solved!

 

[childeye]

Actually the 'Mystery of Inequity' is quite simple to understand from the outside, yet hidden if you happen to be caught up in it. We all have personal knowledge of this phenomenon of the fallen human nature, but we can usually only see it in someone else. It is the ability for a written law to be interpreted perversely to the point that following the law actually results in injustice. Thus the law applied in the wrong spirit becomes lawlessness.

Mystery solved!

Still, I see the Word of God referring to the Spirit of God's communication in the heart, as making the difference in whether one judges righteously or hypocriticaly.

 

[Sinthesis]

Still, I see the Word of God referring to the Spirit of God's communication in the heart, as making the difference in whether one judges righteously or hypocriticaly.

I agree.