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The Great Mystery: ‘Confided to the initiated’
By Steve Nelson
People believe many different things in the Bible. For example, some Christians believe that upon death, they immediately go to heaven to be with Jesus. Others believe that a saved person is asleep, unconscious, awaiting the return of Jesus, and along with others will only be made alive at that time in the future.
And another example, some Christians believe that a word not used in the Bible, the “Trinity,” defines our God as a three in one being. Others believe that Jesus is exclusively the Son of God, a man seated at God’s right hand, a human who is subordinate to the Creator, God the Father.
The only way to sort through these doctrines is to see what the scripture says, not merely what we think it says or have been told it says. Wouldn’t you like to know these things with confidence for yourself, instead of relying on tradition and what the “majority” assumes is true?
For our topic in this article, we will be looking at an important subject in the New Testament, “mystery” (Greek = musterion) and specifically the greatest of all mysteries, the one called “great” in 1 Timothy 3:16. This mystery does not refer to the Trinity, nor does it refer to entering heaven. Our only way to know is to look at what the Bible says!
As used in the Bible, what does the word “mys-
tery” really mean? Modern English defines this word as “something that is not fully understood, something that baffles us.” This is NOT the meaning of the word in the Bible. One definition of the Greek word musterion: “something hidden from the ungodly and wicked and ordinary mortals, but plain to the godly, something confided to the initiated ones, and no longer hidden once it is unveiled.”
A person without spirit, not saved, who only has a body and soul, is referred to as a “natural man” in the Bible. They cannot understand this topic, as it says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, that such things as the mystery are “foolishness” unto such a person.
Who specifically was this mystery hidden from
and why? At first it was hidden from everyone. Even though prophets searched diligently in the Old Testament Scripture, they could not see it, because God alone knew of it. 1 Peter 1:10 reveals that believers certainly knew of the sufferings of Christ (already happened) and the glory of Christ to follow (we are still waiting for this), but they didn’t know what happens in the middle of these two key events.
God did not want the Devil or any evil spirits, figuratively referred to as “the princes of this world,” to know about the mystery, otherwise they wouldn’t have killed Jesus. Lovingly, God had provided a way for us to receive salvation, to be redeemed, and He gave that responsibility to Jesus Christ, who accepted it and accomplished it in full by laying down His sinless life for us. 1 Corinthians 2:1, “...declaring unto you the MYSTERY” [should be Greek word musterion, some versions translate it “testimony” or “God’s secret plan” or “the secret of God”] and 2:7, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a
MYSTERY...”; and 2:8, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
When was the mystery revealed and
how? It was revealed AFTER Jesus saved us, once it was too late for Satan to stop it from happening. Although the mystery was in application starting on the day of Pentecost in 28 AD, it was not fully known until Paul received the detailed content of the seven church epistles from God, from 52 AD – 63 AD. It was revealed to us via these writings, inspired of God, verbatim. Steve Nelson Romans 16:25-26, “...according to the revelation of the MYSTERY, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets...” This is the final thought of the entire book of Romans, the foundation epistle addressed to our Age of Grace. It must be important! Ephesians 1:9, “Having made known unto us the MYSTERY of his will...” God made known the mystery to “us,” those people to whom the letter of Ephesians is addressed to, “the faithful in Christ Jesus.”
Exactly what is the mystery and how does it ap-
ply to us? Colossians 1:26-27, “...the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” What’s more powerful than one Jesus Christ on earth, walking with the power of God? How about millions of people on earth with the same power of God! Jesus had to leave for this to become available for us. Getting “Christ in you” is a figure of speech referencing the power of Christ, the anointed one, which literally comes to each of us as a gift of spirit from God. Ephesians 3:3, “...by revelation he made known unto me the MYSTERY...” and 3:4, ”...when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY...” and 3:6, “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body...” and 3:9, “And to make all see... the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God...” That is the mystery, that each person, no matter who they are, if Judean or Gentile, can get this wonderful thing, “Christ in you,” also known as the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s why it was hidden. That’s why Satan is freaking out about it. That’s why it’s so awesome. It is the pinnacle of information revealed to the born again believer. We can all be part of the one body of Christ. What now? Ephesians 6:19, “... that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the MYSTERY.” Like Paul, we want to speak the truth and let others know about the mystery. We want to live it, by making full use of this wonderful gift. God bless you! . . . n Steve Nelson has been a Bible teacher for over 25 years. This article comes from “The Great Mystery” Segments 21-25 of “CORE,” a course for families on how to read and understand the Bible. See T4FAMILYCENTER. COM or reach Steve at T4FamilyCenter@gmail.com.
HISTORY, Culture & Faith How one black woman inspired America
By Dr. Rick Chromey
The Smithsonian Magazine named her among America’s “Most Significant” individuals.”1 She’s been commemorated on towers, highways, stamps, ships, monuments, and currency. A space rover and asteroid were named for her. Gloria Steinem initially considered branding Ms. Magazine in her honor. She was inducted into the Woman’s Hall of Fame (1981).
She might be America’s greatest Black American. Her influence inspired everyone from Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and George Washington Carver to Martin Luther King, Jr., Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. She was the first black woman to receive a statue in the U.S. Capitol.
And yet her name and legacy are largely unknown.
Her real name was Isabella Baumfree or “Belle.” She was born a slave sometime in 1797. At age nine, she was sold to another master for $100 and some sheep. Her new master proved cruel. Belle was beaten daily with rods. Two years later she was sold again. And then again. Her third master raped her repeatedly and fathered a child. Belle spent her adolescent years in shame, guilt, anxiety and fear.
In 1815, Belle fell in love with another slave, but the relationship was doomed. His master forbade the love affair. One day he caught them together and savagely beat her boyfriend nearly to death (thankfully, Belle’s master intervened). Nevertheless, she never saw him again and he died shortly thereafter. It was a tragedy that haunted Belle her entire life.
Eventually she married another slave and bore him four children, but Belle remained unfulfilled and increasingly angry. Even though New York State initially abolished slavery in 1799, it took decades for the practice to end on July 4, 1827. But Belle had had enough.
In 1826 she escaped with her daughter Sophia. “I did not run off,” Belle recounted, “for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right.” In her escape, she met a devout Christian couple named Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen who boarded Belle and Sophia. In their care, Belle had a transformative religious experience. It’s also when she learned her son was illegally sold into Southern slavery.
With the Van Wagenens’ assistance, she won the court case to get him back. It was the first time a black woman won a legal battle against a white man. Belle’s transformative faith experience anointed her to preach. So she hit the road, speaking to anyone who’d listen. Her skill as an orator soon caught the attention of evangelists Elijah Pierson and Robert Matthews. Belle worked for both preachers, improving her communication skills. Then Pierson suddenly died. And Matthews and Belle were accused of poisoning him. It wasn’t true. Belle was eventually acquitted of murder, but she was now in her thirties. And all she knew was the road and poverty. Eventually she migrated to New York City and spent most of her forties exhausting options. By 1843, Belle was broke. She owned nothing. And then, on Pentecost Sunday no less, everything suddenly again changed for her. That’s when, in another fiery spiritual moment, Belle rediscovered her Calling to Sojourner Truth,1870 (wikipedia) preach the Word no matter what. This Calling drove her to wander with her belongings in a pillowcase, living off the kindness of New England strangers. And then she met abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass. Garrison published the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator and he liked Belle’s story. In 1850, Garrison released her autobiography, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave.2 The book was an instant success. Belle was 53 years old. And suddenly she was “rock star” famous. But her name was no longer Isabella. As her book announced, her new name was “Sojourner Truth.” It was the moniker a Divine Voice told her to use seven years earlier on that Pentecost Sunday. That’s the day Sojourner forever left her bondage and shed her past...to wander and preach the Truth of Jesus. Sojourner was “born again” into a new mission that included audacious new messages. She particularly spoke against slavery and for women’s suffrage. Her speeches sparked a flame that exploded into a five alarm blaze. In 1851 Sojourner Truth was invited to speak for a convention in Ohio. That’s when she delivered her famous
women’s rights speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” As she drew on her story as a woman slave, the audience reportedly “[beamed] with joyous gladness.” It’s still considered one of America’s most famous speeches.
In her elder years, Sojourner Truth tirelessly gave thousands of messages on abolition, women’s suffrage, prison reform, alcohol temperance, and property rights. She was as popular as Frederick Douglass on the speaking circuit, with both black and white audiences. During the Civil War, Sojourner recruited black Union soldiers, consulted for President Lincoln and assisted newly freed slaves. She fought for former slaves to be awarded land in the West. She wrote war songs. As a Republican she campaigned for Ulysses S. Grant.
Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883.
She had done more for her people, and for her country, in her final three decades than most people do in a lifetime. Frederick Douglass eulogized: “Venerable for age, distinguished for insight into human nature, remarkable for independence and courageous self-assertion, devoted to the welfare of her
race, she has been for the last forty years an object of respect and admiration to social reformers everywhere.” 3 Sojourner Truth accomplished much but what’s often missed by contemporary historians is how she never lost the fire for Jesus. Her devout Christian faith guided her life and mission. And she always preached the gospel to anyone who’d listen. Dr. Rick Chromey No matter the topic or audience, Sojourner began every message with ten words: “Children, I talk to God and God talks to me.” Indeed, Sojourner Truth still talks today...for those with ears to hear. n Dr. Rick Chromey is an author, historian and theologian who speaks and writes on matters of religion, culture, history, technology and leadership. He’s the founder and president of MANNA! Educational Services International. Rick and his wife Linda live in Star, ID. www.mannasolutions.org.
Sources:
(1)“Meet the 100 Most Significant Americans of All Time” by T.A. Frail; Smithsonian Magazine (November 17, 2014) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/meet-100-most-significant-americans-all-time-180953341/ (2)The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave (Boston: 1850). Available for download: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Narrative_of_Sojourner_Truth/UW_hAAAA MAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=The+Narrative+of+Sojourner+Truth:+A+Northern+Slave&printsec=frontcover (3)Dunn, John F. (January 19, 1986). “Stamps; Human Rights Activist Honored.” The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
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