heir
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Danoh puts up an article (http://www.graceandthetruth.com/articles/the_mystery.htm#8) that states it is error to believe that the why of the cross was a mystery and that it is also error that it was made known first to and through Paul.
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
That takes care of the foolish notion that John preached it first!
It's also not too hard to show that Paul's gospel was a mystery hidden in the scriptures until given by the revelation of Jesus Christ!
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
It was a mystery: for had the princes of this world known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
It is the mystery of Christ.
Also, the fact that Paul was given a dispensation of the grace of God with that gospel to us-ward (Gentiles such as we Ephesians 2:11-12), was a mystery, not hidden in the scriptures ("according to the scriptures") as the gospel of Christ, but hid in God! It was unsearchable! It is the manifold wisdom of God! This is the mystery of the gospel!
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
It is clear from the above, that Danoh (who I can only assume is in agreement with what he shared having not said otherwise) and the writer(s) of the article have problems believing scripture concerning who preached the gospel that Paul preached first, the mystery of Christ and of the gospel. They are wrongly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).
Let's look at the facts concerning who preached it first. It's not too hard to see that the gospel that is preached of Paul is not after man, neither was he taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.Error #1 --- The Mystery is Christ's substitutionary death on the
cross.
There are some who teach that the substitutionary work of Christ was unknown until Paul and that this is the Mystery of which he speaks. However, the substitutionary death of Christ was revealed prior to Paul.
It was John the Baptist who declared:
"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" And who can forget Isaiah's testimony concerning our Lord's death? (Isaiah 53:5-6,11).
Some who teach that the work of Christ is the Mystery claim that Isaiah 53 is somber in tone and that it presents us with One who was unjustly punished for the iniquities of others. However, verse 10 tells us plainly that "the Lord was pleased to crush Him" and verse 11 clearly tells us that "My
Servant, will justify the many, As he will bear their iniquities. " This does not speak to us of One who was unjustly punished, but of One who willingly took the place of sinners whom He thereby intended to justify.
Some who teach that the work of Christ is the Mystery also claim that we can now see that Isaiah was talking about the work of Christ, but that men in his day could not have understood it. owever, Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:8 that the Mystery is "untraceable". Any teaching that can be found
in the Old Testament cannot be the Mystery.
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
That takes care of the foolish notion that John preached it first!
It's also not too hard to show that Paul's gospel was a mystery hidden in the scriptures until given by the revelation of Jesus Christ!
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
It was a mystery: for had the princes of this world known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
It is the mystery of Christ.
Also, the fact that Paul was given a dispensation of the grace of God with that gospel to us-ward (Gentiles such as we Ephesians 2:11-12), was a mystery, not hidden in the scriptures ("according to the scriptures") as the gospel of Christ, but hid in God! It was unsearchable! It is the manifold wisdom of God! This is the mystery of the gospel!
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
It is clear from the above, that Danoh (who I can only assume is in agreement with what he shared having not said otherwise) and the writer(s) of the article have problems believing scripture concerning who preached the gospel that Paul preached first, the mystery of Christ and of the gospel. They are wrongly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).