Download The Mysteries of God (No. 131)

Christian Churches of God
No. 131
The Mysteries of God
(Edition 1.1 19950819-19981214)
The revelation of God is examined in the terms of the Mysteries and their stewardship in the
elect. The parables of the talents and the wise and foolish virgins are also examined. The stages
of the revelation of the Mysteries of God are examined and placed in sequence.
Christian Churches of God
PO Box 369,
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ACT 2606,
AUSTRALIA
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(Copyright  1995, 1998 Wade Cox)
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The Mysteries of God
The Mysteries of God
The Mysteries of God are divided into what
shall be termed phases of revelation. The first
phase is comprised of basic doctrines
concerning the Godhead, the relationships of
Christian living, and the elements of prophecy
that affect our understanding of the Plan of
Salvation.
The Holy Spirit gives understanding of the
mysteries to the elect and makes them
stewards of the Mysteries of God.
1Corinthians 4:1-5 This is how one should regard
us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required of
stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 But with
me it is a very small thing that I should be judged
by you or by any human court. I do not even judge
myself. 4 I am not aware of anything against myself,
but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who
judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment
before the time, before the Lord comes, who will
bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and
will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every
man will receive his commendation from God.
(RSV)
Titus 1:7 shows the elders (the presbuterous
or the episkopon) are stewards of God.
Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the
steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not
given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
(KJV)
The injunction against being self-pleasing
(authade) and not being passionate (orgilon)
or given to wine, striking or greedy of base
gain (aischrokerde) shows an attitude in the
people to whom and through whom the
mysteries are revealed. The translation of the
term huperatas meaning attendant, or servant,
as minister of Christ in the KJV has obscured,
or unnecessarily restricted, the application of
the stewardship of the Mysteries of God to a
priesthood, which is not the meaning. The
elect are all given access to the understanding
of the mysteries dependent upon their
relationship to God in the Holy Spirit. It is
however, quite inappropriate to be
indiscriminate in the explanation of those
mysteries.
The mysteries are given to those who are
dedicated to God in Jesus Christ. None is
blameless before baptism. That is not the
meaning of Titus 1:7. The attitude for the
revelation of the Mysteries of God is one of
selfless devotion to duty.
The Holy Spirit works with us before baptism
and in us from baptism (see paper Repentance
and Baptism (No. 52)). It is quite
impermissible to be baptised and then not be
committed to the work of God in Jesus Christ.
The sequence is established as being
introduced to the mysteries, trained in the
word, and then being prepared to teach the
word. That is what Paul meant when he spoke
of milk and meat.
1Corinthians 3:1-23 But I, brethren, could not
address you as spiritual men, but as men of the
flesh, as babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not
solid food; for you were not ready for it; and even
yet you are not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh.
For while there is jealousy and strife among you,
are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary
men? 4 For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and
another, "I belong to Apol'los," are you not merely
men? 5 What then is Apol'los? What is Paul?
Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord
assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apol'los watered, but
God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants
nor he who waters is anything, but only God who
gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who
waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages
according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow
workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10
According to the grace of God given to me, like a
skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and
another man is building upon it. Let each man take
care how he builds upon it. 11 For no other
foundation can any one lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any one builds on
the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw -- 13 each man's work will become
manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it
will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what
sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work
which any man has built on the foundation
survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's
work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he
himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16
Do you not know that you are God's temple and
that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If any one
destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For
God's temple is holy, and that temple you are. 18
Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you
thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a
The Mysteries of God
fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of
this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He
catches the wise in their craftiness," 20 and again,
"The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are
futile." 21 So let no one boast of men. For all things
are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apol'los or Cephas or
the world or life or death or the present or the
future, all are yours; 23 and you are Christ's; and
Christ is God's. (RSV)
This text in 1Corinthians 3 was the prelude to
the sentiments expressed in chapter 4. The
work of the twentieth century Church of God
is exactly what Paul spoke against; each
claiming to be followers of men. That is why
the works were exposed to the fire of false
testimony and destroyed in their own
weakness. The trials that we endure are to test
our faith and our foundation for we are the
temple of God.
1Peter 2:1-5 So put away all malice and all guile
and insincerity and envy and all slander. 2 Like
newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk,
that by it you may grow up to salvation; 3 for you
have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 Come to
him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in
God's sight chosen and precious; 5 and like living
stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to
be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (RSV)
The attitude that is required puts away all
malice, guile, envy and slander. We are
required to work together. We are to be as
newborn babes taking of the pure spiritual
milk so that we may grow up to salvation.
Christ was the first living stone chosen by
God and to which we are added one by one to
build the house of God.
Upon each living stone that we are, others are
added. Thus we must be true and firm for the
edifice to stand intact. The living stones are
also given a living oracle (Acts 7:38) which is
the Scriptures, and a living hope (1Pet. 1:3)
which is the faith (see paper The Oracles of
God (No. 184)).
We are not to remain babes in Christ. We are
to progress from milk to meat.
Hebrews 5:5-14 So also Christ did not exalt
himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed
by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I
have begotten thee"; 6 as he says also in another
place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of
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Melchiz'edek." 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus
offered up prayers and supplications, with loud
cries and tears, to him who was able to save him
from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. 8
Although he was a Son, he learned obedience
through what he suffered; 9 and being made perfect
he became the source of eternal salvation to all who
obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest
after the order of Melchiz'edek. 11 About this we
have much to say which is hard to explain, since
you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by
this time you ought to be teachers, you need some
one to teach you again the first principles of God's
word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for every
one who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is
for the mature, for those who have their faculties
trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.
(RSV)
We see that Christ did not exalt himself to
become a high priest. He was appointed by
God who was his God (Heb. 1:8-9). As Christ
was appointed a priest so too are we appointed
to follow him in that priesthood. He was made
perfect as we are to be made perfect. We are
required to work in the faith. We have an
obligation to work towards the salvation of
mankind through teaching the word of God.
Yet there are those of us who should be able
to work, but are still unskilled and living on
milk. This weakness in the faith comes
through indolence or perceived grievances or
in malice and envy. 1Corinthians 13 shows
what love should achieve in the elect. It is
simply not permissible to be baptised and then
withdraw from service in the army of the
Lord. No one who puts his or her hand to the
plough and then draws back is fit for the
Kingdom of God (Lk. 9:62).
It is no accident that the Parable of the Wise
and Foolish Virgins is followed immediately
by the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25.
Matthew 25:1-30 "Then the kingdom of heaven
shall be compared to ten maidens who took their
lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of
them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when
the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with
them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their
lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all
slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a
cry, `Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet
him.' 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed
their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise,
`Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going
out.' 9 But the wise replied, `Perhaps there will not
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be enough for us and for you; go rather to the
dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they
went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who
were ready went in with him to the marriage feast;
and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other
maidens came also, saying, `Lord, lord, open to us.'
12
But he replied, `Truly, I say to you, I do not
know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know
neither the day nor the hour.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
explains in one way what is explained in the
Parable of the Talents but from another
perspective. The first aspect with the virgins
dealt with the personal responsibility of the
individual towards God as a bride of Christ to
prepare oneself in the Holy Spirit. Only the
individual can do that preparation. The second
aspect, which is related in the Parable of the
Talents concerns productive work in the Holy
Spirit within the Kingdom of God. One aspect
cannot exist without the other. Individual
spiritual development without collective
interaction and works in the faith is useless.
14
"For it will be as when a man going on a journey
called his servants and entrusted to them his
property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another
two, to another one, to each according to his
ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received
the five talents went at once and traded with them;
and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who
had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But
he who had received the one talent went and dug in
the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after
a long time the master of those servants came and
settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had
received the five talents came forward, bringing
five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to
me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21
His master said to him, `Well done, good and
faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little,
I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your
master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents
came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me
two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23
His master said to him, `Well done, good and
faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little,
I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your
master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent
came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a
hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and
gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was
afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.
Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master
answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant!
You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and
gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you
ought to have invested my money with the bankers,
The Mysteries of God
and at my coming I should have received what was
my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from
him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29
For to every one who has will more be given, and
he will have abundance; but from him who has not,
even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast
the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there
men will weep and gnash their teeth.' (RSV)
The talents in this parable do not simply mean
human talents or abilities. They mean the gifts
of the Holy Spirit and the wherewithal given
to the elect by God with which to serve Him
and accomplish His work. Each was given a
measure of the wealth of the Kingdom of God.
Each placed upon himself the task of
replicating a measure in return according to
the wealth he was given. Where the individual
was given only a small amount it was
expected that the amount should have been
combined with the powers and wealth of those
entrusted with the custody of the wealth to
maximise returns on those sums. Thus
individuals
who
themselves
cannot
accomplish works must place their talents in
the combined pool so that maximum utility is
gained from each of the members of the body
of Christ. Failure to act within the individual’s
responsibility so that the work is undertaken
collectively places each individual under
judgment and rejection into the second
resurrection.
The responsibilities of the elect are both
physical and spiritual. The physical aspects
are also financial. Thus the collective action of
the Church is dedicated to proper stewardship.
No individual can thus stand alone and not
support the work. The work is identified
solely from sound doctrine in the Mysteries of
God and His worship.
From the identification of the doctrines and
our responsibilities we progress from milk to
meat. The meat of the elect, which follows on
from the milk given to them as babes, is the
same meat that Christ hungered after in John
4:34-38.
John 4:34-38 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do
the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his
work. 35 Do you not say, `There are yet four
months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up
your eyes, and see how the fields are already white
for harvest. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and
The Mysteries of God
gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and
reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying
holds true, `One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent
you to reap that for which you did not labor; others
have labored, and you have entered into their
labor." (RSV)
Christ’s food or meat here was the work of
God. This work was the harvest in which we
participate. Sower and reaper rejoice together.
Thus Christ reaps where he did not sow. God
through the Holy Spirit acting through the
elect sows the seeds through the work. What
one sows another reaps. God sows through the
work of others and we reap. We also sow so
that others may reap. Thus we all share in the
joy that is given to Christ. None of us is of
Paul or Apollos. Like Paul, we are all slaves
(doulos) of God (Titus 1:1).
We should do our best to speed the work of
God on its way. We must learn to be fruitful.
Titus 3:13-14 Do your best to speed Zenas the
lawyer and Apol'los on their way; see that they lack
nothing. 14 And let our people learn to apply
themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of
urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. (RSV)
Here we see that the Church is being shown
that those who would have made divisions in
the work by following men are being rebuked
by being told to aid one of the elect by Paul
who was being held to be of another division.
The work of God is not of any man so that no
flesh should glory (1Cor. 1:29). Let no man
glory in the works of men. Let each man take
care how he builds upon the work of God
(1Cor. 3:10).
1Corinthians 3:5-9 What then is Apol'los? What is
Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the
Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apol'los
watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he
who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only
God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he
who waters are equal, and each shall receive his
wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's
fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
(RSV)
Each person must take care how he builds, but
build he must. There is no discretion as to
whether we work, only as to how we work.
Certainly there is no following of men. The
following is of God in sound doctrine.
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The Mysteries of God are revealed in stages.
The primary stage deals with the
understanding of God; who and what He is.
The understanding of the existence of evil and
the nature and consequence of sin leads then
to a desire for repentance and then the
understanding of baptism and God’s saving
grace. This process is deepened on an ongoing
basis over the life of the individual. The
understanding of the relationships between the
law and sin, and salvation and grace is a
continuing and deepening process. The failure
to understand the issue of grace is a primary
cause of self-righteousness.
The Plan of Salvation is a primary
understanding through the Holy Day periods.
The progression from the weekly Sabbaths to
the New Moons completes the sequence of the
understanding. This is in the secondary phase
of understanding. The understanding of the
nations involved in prophecy is also part of
the primary phase, which develops from the
understanding of spiritual Israel. The primary
understanding is given in the development of
what is known as the Times of the Gentiles
(see paper Outline Timetable of the Age (No.
272)). The secondary phase commences with
the outline of what is known as the Coming of
the Messiah and the establishment of the
Millennium.
The sequence of the last days and the
establishment of the millennial system are
understood from the annual Holy Days. The
sequence of activities is a different matter.
We might refer to the process by use of a
chart.
Phase 1
Milk
1. Called to the primary understanding of the
Bible:
a) Primary notions of the Godhead. The
Father is God.
b) Christ as Messiah in the Incarnation
died to save sinners.
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c) The Holy Spirit is the power of God,
through which we become one with
God.
2. Understanding of the history of the Bible
and Israel:
a) The patriarchs.
b) The physical salvation from Egypt.
c) The spiritual salvation in Messiah.
3. The nature and role of prophecy both Old
and New Testament:
a) Patriarchs and Moses to the Judges.
b) Kings to the minor prophets.
c) The New Testament prophecy from
Christ to Revelation.
4. Christian Living:
a) Individual.
b) Family.
c) Societal.
5. The aspects of development in the Faith:
a) Responsibility to God in personal
relationships.
b) Support of the Church in its work.
These basics have to be mastered before true
progress can be made.
The secondary phase develops the first phase
to higher levels and introduces deeper
understanding of the significance of the
oracles in prophecy and the Plan of Salvation.
The primary phase led to an understanding of
the historical sequence. The secondary phase
leads in to an understanding of the spiritual
parallels and the role of prophecy in the
Church and its implementation. From the
correct understanding of the prophets in this
phase, the times of the gentiles can be
explained and the transference of power can
be traced in prophecy and the roles and
responsibilities of people and nation can be
explained.
The last days can be delineated with precision
and the processes of the end delineated. Some
of these things can be explained to the
uninformed; others cannot be explained as yet.
The Mysteries of God
Thus the work must be logically divided into
phases and the elect alone must proceed to the
second phase. Thus the primary phase is
delineated and forms the basis of the message
to non-members. There are elements which
must be added to that body of literature. There
are, however, some aspects which are quite
inappropriate to give to others.
Christ expressed this concept in two ways. The
first was in explaining the Mysteries of God in
parables. The withholding of information from
other than the body was done on a deliberate
basis.
Matthew 13:10-17 Then the disciples came and
said to him, "Why do you speak to them in
parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has
been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of
heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to
him who has will more be given, and he will have
abundance; but from him who has not, even what
he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to
them in parables, because seeing they do not see,
and hearing they do not hear, nor do they
understand. 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the
prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed
hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see
but never perceive. 15 For this people's heart has
grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and
their eyes they have closed, lest they should
perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart, and turn for me to
heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they
see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to
you, many prophets and righteous men longed to
see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear
what you hear, and did not hear it. (RSV)
Thus the understanding is dependent also
upon use. Those who do not see and hear will
lose what they did have. They shall hear but
never understand. The secrets of the Kingdom
of Heaven here are the same word musterion
or mystery/ies of God. The message of the
parables is repeated also in Mark 4:10-20.
Mark 4:10-20 And when he was alone, those who
were about him with the twelve asked him
concerning the parables. 11 And he said to them,
"To you has been given the secret of the kingdom
of God, but for those outside everything is in
parables; 12 so that they may indeed see but not
perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand;
lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." 13
And he said to them, "Do you not understand this
parable? How then will you understand all the
parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these
are the ones along the path, where the word is
The Mysteries of God
sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes
and takes away the word which is sown in them. 16
And these in like manner are the ones sown upon
rocky ground, who, when they hear the word,
immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no
root in themselves, but endure for a while; then,
when tribulation or persecution arises on account of
the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others
are the ones sown among thorns; they are those
who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world,
and the delight in riches, and the desire for other
things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves
unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown upon the
good soil are the ones who hear the word and
accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and
a hundredfold." (RSV)
Christ explained the purpose to them whilst
alone. The understanding of the parables is
dependent one upon the other. Everything in
the Bible is there for a purpose. Everything
has meaning; every number, every aspect,
every sequence.
Christ withheld information so that people
would not be called before time and hence
come into judgment. The word of God is holy
and is thus withheld from those who would
misuse it.
Matthew 7:6 "Do not give dogs what is holy; and
do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they
trample them under foot and turn to attack you.
(RSV)
The time is coming soon when plain speaking
will be the order of the day so that this evil
and adulterous generation will be called to
repentance. The measurement of the elect
follows also from the calling of the last of the
sequence of the 144,000. The great multitude
is taken up also in the final process. The
responsibility is listed here as being fruitful.
The cares of the world are seen as interfering
with the capacity of those who hear the word
and do not act and do not work with the other
members of the body. If you as an individual
are not participating in weekly fellowship with
others when you can and working to support
the work then you will not inherit the
Kingdom of God. Do not be deceived into
excusing your own failure to act. If you do not
support the work you are not part of it and
hence not part of the Kingdom. If you do not
financially support the work as you are able
then you are robbing God (Mal. 3:7-12).
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Malachi 3:7-12 From the days of your fathers you
have turned aside from my statutes and have not
kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,
says the LORD of hosts. But you say, `How shall
we return?' 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are
robbing me. But you say, `How are we robbing
thee?' In your tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed
with a curse, for you are robbing me; the whole
nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be food in my house;
and thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of
hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for
you and pour down for you an overflowing
blessing. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so
that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and
your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the
LORD of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you
blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the
LORD of hosts. (RSV)
There is nothing discretionary in this matter.
The work of God is the responsibility of all.
The question of tithing is a separate issue
which has been addressed in the paper Tithing
(No. 161)). However, it is not simply a
question of degree. There is no argument as to
the fact of the matter, regarding the support of
the work. That is a responsibility of all. Each
of the elect has the responsibility to find that
body which preaches the word of God – all of
it. Once that work is identified then it is to be
supported.
Christ has not ceased to work in any stage
over the previous twenty centuries. He works
now. If you are not actively working and
supporting that body you are in the second
resurrection. That is the reason why there will
be a weeping and a gnashing of teeth. Many
will realise too late that they missed the boat
through not using the talents given to them by
God. Do not let it be you. Go! Sell what you
have and follow Christ.
Matthew 19:16-21 And behold, one came up to
him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do,
to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why
do you ask me about what is good? One there is
who is good. If you would enter life, keep the
commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which?" And
Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not
commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not
bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother,
and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20
The young man said to him, "All these I have
observed; what do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him,
"If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess
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and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow me." (RSV)
God will pour out the Holy Spirit and, in these
last days, the mysteries will be expounded so
that all of the Host of heaven understands the
manifold wisdom of God.
1Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were
serving not themselves but you, in the things which
have now been announced to you by those who
preached the good news to you through the Holy
Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels
long to look. (RSV)
These angels long to look into the wisdom of
God as we understand the Plan of Salvation.
1Corinthians 2:1-7 When I came to you, brethren,
I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of
God in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to
know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and
him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness
The Mysteries of God
and in much fear and trembling; 4 and my speech
and my message were not in plausible words of
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the
wisdom of men but in the power of God. 6 Yet
among the mature we do impart wisdom, although
it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this
age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart
a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God
decreed before the ages for our glorification. (RSV)
Thus we are glorified having been chosen,
called, justified and thence glorified (Rom.
8:29-30).
The extent of the mysteries to be revealed in
the last days will demonstrate the wisdom of
God to both the heavenly and human Hosts.
q