“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.” 1Timothy 3:16
“Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” 1 Timothy 3:9
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” Colossians 1:26 – 27
Many are the mysteries. The gospel, the second coming of Christ, the rapture of the Church, partial blindness to Israel are some of these. Also there is the mystery of iniquity, which does already work in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Though many mysteries abound, many also are revealed to the saints.
In Mark 4:11 Jesus declares to His disciples, “Unto you it is given (to know) the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.”
So when Jesus spoke in parables, certain had no understanding. Why? They had not received the mystery.
Luke 8:18 teaches, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.”
“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest.” Luke 8:17
Friends, the fellowship of the mystery belongs to the saints. It is kept secure, practically speaking, in a pure conscience.1Timothy 3:9
This conscience keeps itself void of offence before God and Men, Acts 24:16. Titus1:15 goes on to say, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
Fellows, the conscience of a man, birthed at the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, Genesis 2, consists in norms and standards peculiar to an individual. That specialized conscience of one person contains fragments and whole concepts, truths but perhaps lies, past events which were tragic, hurtful, healing or wholesome. Upbringing, education, friends, family, are all included.
The conscience of any having not received the mystery of Christ cannot discern pure truth, so the parables. A story to evoke the imagination, a tale to stimulate thinking (outside the box) , is given of a good news distributer. God intends a hope to win a soul, (a fallen conscience,) to the joy of forgiveness, cleansing, mercy, grace, and salvation.
But what of those who have a seared conscience as spoken of in 1Timothy 4:1-2? What of the reprobate mind, what of those turned over by God ? Can they be won?
Yes, any man can be saved at any stage of soul depravity. It remains not for us to judge. Why?
Because great is the mystery of godliness, of the gospel, of faith, of purity of grace, of mercy. Paul saw the gospel as
“The Power of God.”
Romans1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
In closing, when Jesus spoke to the multitudes, He was not excluding them, but, in fact inviting them. He was, by using parables, not judging them but bending to their small capacities with a hope of a response.
Beloved, who knows what will happen when we simply sow the seed? Way side, stony ground, thorny soil or good — we don’t know. Never discount the free volition of a man or woman. Never discount the power of God.
“Go and preach the gospel to every living creature…”
Love ya
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