Tag: foreknown

27.f. “But was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you”

 

Ephesians 3:7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

 Romans 16:26   but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

 Revelation 14:6  Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

 Matthew 13:35    This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

 2 Timothy 1:9   who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

 1 Peter 1:20    He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Paul marveled at the grace given to him, by which he was called to preach the gospel that makes the mystery a reality. When we consider Paul’s personal history, we see that his calling really was all of grace. Paul tried to figure out the greatness of God’s grace and started tracking it out as one might track out the shore of a lake. He soon discovered that it wasn’t a lake at all, but an ocean, an immeasurable sea. God’s riches are unsearchable; we will never know them completely. “I am bold to tell you that my Master’s riches of grace are so unsearchable, that he delights to forgive and forget enormous sin; the bigger the sin the more glory to his grace. If you are at the very gates of hell, he is able to pluck you from the jaws of destruction.” (Spurgeon)

The mystery of Jesus Christ was revealed.  Prophets of old and millions of people longed for what the prophets spoke, at least they thought they did.  When He came into the world, according to the plans and purposes of God, He was rejected by most and held dearly by some.  There is not much different today. He is rejected, the mystery is rejected, God is rejected, and His plan of redemption and salvation is cast aside like a worthless piece of waste.  How terrifying will it be on the day of judgment for those who rejected Jesus Christ?  How ashamed will they be when they come and bow before Him in all of His glory?  

As Spurgeon said; “the vilest sinner on a headlong course to Hell will be saved if they would just turn to Jesus Christ and believe”  God is able but are you willing?  God has promised eternal life to all who would believe and humbly follow, obey, trust, and rely on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There is no soul so far lost that the grace, love, and mercy of Jesus can’t save.  He is standing at the door to your heart, knocking, and seeking you to soften your hardened heart and let Him in.  

21.n. “The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.”

 

 

Romans 16:25  Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.  

 Amos 3:7   “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

 Matthew 13:17    For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

 1 Peter 1:20    He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

 Luke 10:23-24   Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!  For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

 Ephesians 3:9    and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

 Colossians 1:26  the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

Once the mystery has been revealed, people will look at it in a host of different ways.  Some will see it clearly and welcome the revelation with open arms.  They see their sin, redemption through Christ, and firmly take hold of it by faith.  Some take hold of it by faith because of what was written in the past about a coming messiah, the coming of Jesus Christ fulfilling these past prophecies, and assurance of eternity.  The mystery was revealed and they believed.  They believed in the grace, mercy, and love of God through Jesus Christ our redeemer. 

There are those who have seen the mystery revealed and reject it.  They mock, deny, and reject it as not a mystery but a fairy tale told by weak-minded people and believed by the simple-minded followers.  They not only deny the revealed mystery but they deny God.  Paul makes it very clear that God has revealed himself to everyone and that no man is without excuse.  (Romans 1:18 “because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them, For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools”)

Think about how gentiles were grafted into the redemption plan of God.  This is truly a mystery.  Prior to the rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews, gentiles were, as it were, separated and without hope.  They knew nothing about the prophetic writings from old but surely some of them heard of the God of the Jews.  I wonder if this is the reason they came up with their own gods.  The fact that God, in His wisdom, grace, mercy, and love, chose to reveal the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to gentiles, and continues to open their hearts and minds up to their sin and the need of redemption, and be able to clearly see not only Jesus Christ but the need for Him.  This is truly the revealed mystery of grace, mercy, and love of God.

18.w. “Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

John 17:1  When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

 John 1:1-3    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 1 Peter 1:20   He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

The life of Jesus was a manifestation of God’s glory, and the disciples beheld this glory (John 1:14).

The life of Jesus was a manifestation of God’s glory, and the disciples beheld this glory (John 1:14).

Jesus only ever sought the glory of His Father (John 7:18, 8:50).

God the Son seeks to glorify God the Father (John 12:28).

God the Father glorifies God the Son (John 13:31-32).

Jesus could not truthfully or sanely pray this if He were not Yahweh Himself, equal with God the Father. In Isaiah 42:8 and 48:11, Yahweh proclaimed that He shares His glory with no one. If God the Father and God the Son share their glory, they must both be Yahweh.

“He had one main petition: that the Father would receive him back to the glory he had relinquished to accomplish his task. This petition for a return to his pristine glory implies unmistakably his preexistence and equality with the Father. It confirms his claim that he and the Father are one (John 10:30).” (Tenney)

6.p Stricken for the transgression of my people?

Revelation 5:6  And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Isaiah 53:7-8   He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

John 1:29     The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:36    and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

1 Peter 1:19-20     but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

The Lamb of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Lamb without spot or blemish, the Lamb led to the slaughter, the Lamb cut off fro the land of the living, the Lamb stricken for the transgression of My people.  Jesus was the Lamb of God sent to redeem those who, aware of their sin, aware of their need for redemption, and aware of their need for forgiveness, believe (trust in, cling too, and rely on) in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sin.

We see Jesus as the Lamb stand and as though it had been slain, and ever a reminder of the price that was paid and that He lives.  The church in Ephesus was scolded for the loss of their first love.  That first love would be the purest grateful, thankful, and relieved heart realizing their sins had been forgiven.  We will do well to remember the Lamb of God that was slain for our sin with this first love forever remembered in our daily lives.