The existence of the church is a mystery to most people in the world. It wasn’t because they were not discerning men, or were unlearned men, or unspiritual. 5. (Eph. Old Testa­ment historical accounts foretell it, the psalmists sing of it, the prophets explain it. 49:5). The Mystery Of Israel*s Blindness — Romans 11:25. 'Mystery of Godliness' God was … The Greek word is musterion, ... Jews were to be together in a church, an organism called the church [Ephesians 3:6] – a thing that was hid from the old prophets and the old seers. Jack Kelley published over 9,000 Bible Study resources here from 1999, until the Lord called him home in the fall of 2015. Their task, and in them the task of the church, is to make known unto all men the unsearchable riches of Christ. Now Paul explains to these saints, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. The Lord has Isaiah prophesy that they would consider themselves to be failures in accomplishing these things, because these four verses are spoken as if by Israel. However, if this speaks of the Church and Church discipline, then the mystery was prophesied before Peter, Paul, and the other Apostles received the revelation needed to unlock the mystery. This email address is being protected from spambots. Many of them had no idea about salvation at all, so once they were taught this they had only to accept what the Lord offered, the free gift of pardon. When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:12-13). Since Paul, the church is no longer a mystery (unrevealed) but is now … He was “caught up to the third heaven” (v. 2); “caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (v. 4). That entire church is one living whole, with Christ as its head. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. The term mystery means something which has not been revealed. It means to change one’s mind. This is an outright denial of what Paul says by inspiration that the mystery of … Edwards correctly defines the word mystery, “a secret imparted only to the initiated, what is unknown until it is revealed, whether it be … ... are part of the Church of God. “If so, what’s to become of Israel?”. The Greek word simply means an assembly of people called to a specific place. He did not elect the children of Abraham as His church and then in His decrees decide later to choose the Gentiles too, in order to add them to that church. var addybd461a642b7eee304654f88fbb9d0aeb = 'spronk' + '@'; Paul bluntly told these Ephesian believers that in times past they were without Christ and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Eph. Selah 08-30-08. Until—until that one piece of evidence is found that links all the evidence together. This blessed mystery may not even spark a little interest in us anymore, much to our shame. Now this is anciently what the word "mystery" meant, and this is the way the word is used in the New Testament. In the New Testament sense, a mystery is something that was formerly kept secret but is now made known. It was not that the evidence of this worldwide church could not be found in the Old Testament. ... (image) of the relationship between Jesus and the Church. var addy_texte7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e = 'Classical Committee';document.getElementById('cloake7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e').innerHTML += ''+addy_texte7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e+'<\/a>'; It was through the Church that Jews and Gentiles would come together to share equally in God’s inheritance. I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. God is now including them in His church! In the New Testament sunagōgē is most often used of a synagogue or its members, but is used for a gathering of Christians in James 2:2. It is significant that Paul, in Ephesians 3:9, speaks of this mystery of a universal church as being hid in God. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. It was a mystery to man – until revealed to the apostle Paul. 2:19). Can you imagine the excitement of the Ephesian believers when they heard Paul expound to them the unsearchable riches in Christ? Download our eBooks to read on your computers, phone, tablet, or eReader. And just to make sure we would know who God was appointing to this task, He had Isaiah put the Messiah’s name right in the prophecy. Peter explains in I Peter 1:10-12: Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what man­ner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. In order to accomplish the mystery now revealed, that the na­tions of this world should be fellow-heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. Mat.16:16. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32). "Without controversy great is the. In the New Testament sense, a mystery is something that was formerly kept secret No Hebrew figure ever descended into Sheol and returned, although an apparition of the recently deceased Samuel briefly appeared to Saul when summoned by the Witch of Endor . the mystery having been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but now having been manifested to His saints, New American Standard Bible that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, New King James Version They say this difference proves that Peter’s gospel was different from Paul’s. He speaks of this as a mystery. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. English Standard Version the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. They are partakers of salvation, reconciled unto God in one body by the cross! One of the proofs that the church was not in the Old Testament is that its inception began on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) with the disciples and the Jews that believed their message. The evidence was there. Copyright © 2020. I remember back in December of 1991 when the Soviet Union officially ended its own existence. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:5-6), But Israel was not a failure and did accomplish great things for God, the greatest of which was to bring forth the Messiah, who is speaking in verses 5-6. The only problem is man’s understanding. No one can deliver out of my hand. 10:32). He said that first, the Lord was going to take a people for Himself from among the Gentiles (the Church) and after that He would turn once again to Israel. The word mystery occurs 21 times in Paul’s writings. 7:9–12). It is significant that Paul, in Ephesians 3:9, speaks of this mystery of a universal church as being hid in God. James, the Lord’s half-brother and head of the Church at Jerusalem, clarified it for them. PRC-Related: RFPA, Standard Bearer, Reformed Witness Hour, Etc. Since Paul highlights that the mystery of the Church was his privilege to reveal in the New Testament, 10 it is fashionable to assume that it would be futile to expect any references to the Rapture of the Church in the Old Testament. This article originally was published in the April 15, 2012 issue of the Standard Bearer (vol.88, no.14). The Ephesian believers lived during a pivotal period in the history of the church. Christians Would Be Indwelt by the Holy Spirit. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Gentiles In The Old Covenant They take this to mean that there are actually 2 gospels in the New Testament. The Spirit of understanding was poured out on the church. Yet when he looked again, he discovered that the same group was an innumerable crowd from every tribe and nation (Rev. Yet, the Old Testament church could not put the evidence together fully in order to understand the real­ity of which they spoke. And now the LORD says— He who formed me in the womb to be His servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength. There Paul learned the mystery! In the Old Testament, no one knew about the church. God revealed this mystery to Paul and to other apostles and prophets as well (Eph 3:5), who would reveal it to the church (3:3). And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Find & sort all our resources. “For this cause,” Paul writes in Ephesians 3:14, 15, “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named!” May the church bow with Paul and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to the nations! document.getElementById('cloakbd461a642b7eee304654f88fbb9d0aeb').innerHTML = ''; It was then that Paul came to “visions and revelations of the Lord” (II Cor. The Rapture of the Church Was Hidden from the Old Testament Saints. Classis EastThis email address is being protected from spambots. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God. Paul explains in II Corinthians 3:12-17 that a veil remained untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament. The problem comes from a misunderstanding of what the word mystery (mustērion) means. For example, some may be fifty-five percent the church. Like this post? They needed to change their minds and realize that keeping the Law could never save them. We hope to consider some of these passages in future articles. addye7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e = addye7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; What we see from a human point of view is that, after Christ ascended into heaven, God chose to add to His Old Testament church people from the various nations of the earth. He lists the following things as mysteries… . Jesus said to him “upon this rock I will build my church” He wasn’t saying Peter was the rock ( Peter later denied Him 3. Even when people started translating the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek way back in 270 B.C., they had to speculate on its meaning. The Spirit alone gives light to our understanding. At the proper time, the Holy Spirit would come upon him and enable him to recognize the Messiah. However, here are … Rom. The terms used in the New Testament for the church are not new ones but are rooted in the Old Testament. 5. 49:3), and to be the channel for the Messiah (Isa. There is a view among some Christians that the Church was never foreseen by the prophets of Israel. Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. The mystery that is now being revealed by the holy apostles and prophets, and especially Paul the missionary to the Gentiles, is the blessed truth that the church of Christ is international, worldwide. This item: The Unfolding Mystery, Second Edition: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament by Edmund P. Clowney Paperback $7.79 In Stock. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; No Hebrew figure ever descended into Sheol and returned, although an apparition of the recently deceased Samuel briefly appeared to Saul when summoned by the Witch of Endor . addye36e054eb4bee22567c71c145b7cc9ea = addye36e054eb4bee22567c71c145b7cc9ea + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; His teachings made the Bible clear and easy to understand, and impacted millions of lives. Comparing recent events in Russia with the fall of the Soviet Union is a good example. God had promised a righteous man named Simeon that he wouldn’t die until he saw the Messiah. The Lord’s bride, the image used in the Old Testament for Israel, is the church and will one day be defiled by her sin no longer but beautifully adorned for … Thus, in at least some sense, Israel really was the Old Testament church-assembly-congregation! Then the whole crime is revealed and the murderer is convicted. var addye7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e = 'laning' + '@'; 3:2-6) there couldn’t have been any prophecy about it, since prophecy is the opposite of mystery. Israel was given four tasks to perform for God; to transmit the Scriptures (, ), and to be the channel for the Messiah (. If you say that you are the church, I will say that you are not, but if you say that you are not the church, I will say that you are. What was for ages a mystery to the church is no longer a mystery today. They say the rest of the New Testament doesn’t apply to us, and that the Church didn’t begin with Jesus, or even on Pentecost, but not until after Paul began teaching his new Gospel. But most do think so. the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. In God’s counsel, before time began, the saints of the New Testament were elected and known by God to­gether with the Old Testament saints. The gos­pel of salvation was no longer to be limited to the Jew­ish people, but would now spread throughout the earth and encompass the various nations and peoples of the world. Thus, in at least some sense, Israel really was the Old Testament church-assembly-congregation! (Isaiah 46:9-10), There is no such thing as an un-prophesied event on God’s calendar. var addye36e054eb4bee22567c71c145b7cc9ea = 'jdengelsma' + '@'; Only the methodology was missing. However, if this speaks of the Church and Church discipline, then the mystery was prophesied before Peter, Paul, and the other Apostles received the revelation needed to unlock the mystery. (John 6:28-29), Once again, the problem lies not with God’s word, but with our understanding. Dispensationalists continue to spread the false claim that the Church is something new in the New Testament. Or better, it is a mystery revealed! Pastorates: Faith, Jenison, MI - 1978; Missionary to Jamaica - 1984; First, Holland, MI - 1989; Kalamazoo, MI - 1996; Eastern Home Missionary - 2006; Pittsburgh PRC - 2016. As we’ll see, there’s more here than a … Continued Proponents of the two Gospel view point out that the Apostles, especially Peter, stressed the idea of repentance as a necessary preliminary to becoming a believer, while Paul did not. 21:2). In God’s timeline, the church age was a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament.When Peter said to Jesus: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.) He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. However, here are some provocative passages for … That the Gentiles were to be saved was no mystery. It was intended for Israel only. The only work God requires of us, Jew or gentile, is to believe in the One He sent. Paul Is Made a Minister (Meditations on Ephesians), PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for November 29, 2020 (Updated), PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for November 22, 2020, PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for November 15, 2020, PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for November 8, 2020, The Premillennial Error, or the Rapture and and Revelation ». var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; The death and resurrection of Christ was not a mystery, nor was God’s plan to show light unto “the people” (of Israel) and “to the Gentiles.” Thus Paul is saying that while his message did not fulfill the prophets, generally speaking it did not contradict the Old Testament. The prophecies of Isaiah clearly mention the Gentiles and can’t be dismissed so easily. What is this mystery, this knowledge that had been hid in God from the beginning of the world? The Mystery of the Union of Jews and Gentiles in one body called the church – Ephesians 3:1-11. Like the air, the church is mysterious and immeasurable. The Lord’s bride, the image used in the Old Testament for Israel, is the church and will one day be defiled by her sin no longer but beautifully adorned for her husband (Rev. (Acts 2:38) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). We should expect His promise that He would reach out to the Gentiles to come true as well. Bible Odyssey says Richard Brothers wrote in 1794 that England was the home of the Lost Tribes, and he was their prophet. The entire 11th chapter of Romans deals with the temporary (present-day) setting aside of Israel as a nation — a fact not seen in any Old Testament prophecy. His wife Samantha maintains this site as well as their missionary outreaches. But can you imagine being one of those first Gentile believers incorporated into a church that for hundreds of years had excluded the Gentile nations? It is of importance to understand what Paul means by the term he uses to describe this New Testament transition into an international church. That veil was removed in Christ through the Spirit. Was The Church Foreseen In Old Testament Prophecy? The word mystery occurs 21 times in Paul’s writings. In their place God grafts into His church new believers with their families. The mystery is solved! The term in the Bible refers to truth that could not possibly be known except it be revealed by God. Israel was given four tasks to perform for God; to transmit the Scriptures (Isa. var addy_textbd461a642b7eee304654f88fbb9d0aeb = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloakbd461a642b7eee304654f88fbb9d0aeb').innerHTML += ''+addy_textbd461a642b7eee304654f88fbb9d0aeb+'<\/a>'; Classis WestThis email address is being protected from spambots. Admittedly this is a vague reference and we probably wouldn’t even connect it to the Church if we didn’t already know there was such a thing, and that Jesus was the offspring God was talking about. 9:24-30. He explains in verse 5, that in the Old Testament this truth of the coming of the institution of the local church was not revealed, but is now revealed by the apostles, and prophets (preachers) by the Holy Spirit. (Daniel’s 70th Week). Church of the old testament by Tony - 8/06/16 6:43 AM So much for Mr. Darby and Scoffields claims that no where in OT scripture was Israel referred to as the church. It means “God brings salvation” and is translated “bring My Salvation” in Isaiah 49:6). God has taken Jew and Gentile, and through the death and resurrection of His Son, He has saved them and baptized them in one Spirit into the body of Christ, the church. The en­tire body of the church of Christ was a reality in God’s counsel before the beginning of time. 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 which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings [i.e., the Scriptures] is 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 for … This is why that which was hidden in the Old Testament is now revealed in the New. He sent the Holy Spirit to birth a new entity, the church. This refers to the eternal purpose of God in Christ or, in other words, to God’s divine counsel for all things. Skip forward 750 years to the time of the Lord’s birth. First, there’s the Gospel of the Kingdom, taught by Jesus, the original Apostles, and James, Jude, and whoever wrote Hebrews. document.getElementById('cloake7623196f2a6f9bf37e31f03f0d6c51e').innerHTML = ''; We see the same in Acts 15, where the leaders in the church met to decide what to make of Paul’s new gospel.James concluded: If so it’s interesting that he was not only looking for the Messiah, but also knew that when He came the Messiah would bring the revelation of God’s salvation to the Gentiles. Rom. What Paul and the apostles began, the church as institute is called to carry on today. He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. 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 which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings [i.e., the Scriptures] is 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 for … The existence of the church is a mystery to most people in the world. He is the author of all the teachings here, and all materials are available free of charge! var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; 2005 Professor of Philosophy and Theology at the Studium Augustinianum in St. Louis, MO (approved by Archbishop Raymond Burke). God has taken Jew and Gentile, and through the death and resurrection of His Son, He has saved them and baptized them in one Spirit into the body of Christ, the church. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Now the saints in Ephesus are privileged to receive the labors of a man to whom this mystery had been revealed: the great apostle Paul. In Amos 3:7 the Lord promised, “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” If the Church is an un-prophesied event, then He was not truthful with Amos. Now this is anciently what the word "mystery" meant, and this is the way the word is used in the New Testament. But the minds of the saints of old were blinded. But that reality God hid in Himself for ages before finally revealing it through the apostles. The Mystery Of Israel*s Blindness — Romans 11:25. 9:24-30. He lists the following things as mysteries… But when Jesus told the disciples He would build His church upon the rock of Peter’s confession, no one asked Him what a Church was. Of these few exceptions, one of them refers specifically to Israel in the Old Testament (Acts 7:37), and another is a quote of an Old Testament prophecy about the Church (Hebrews 2:12). Including photos each week from our outreaches and the weekly review. The Lord’s prophecies will be fulfilled just as He has ordained them.” Commentators are now announcing the return of the Soviet Union and the Cold War, as Russia again takes center stage in world news. We may not ignore the truth that with every new generation God prunes His church of those branches that bring forth no fruit. Now we come to the last mystery, the mystery of the future. ... are part of the Church of God. It wasn’t because they were not discerning men, or were unlearned men, or unspiritual. The Old Testament view of the afterlife was that all people, whether righteous or unrighteous, went to Sheol when they died. The idea of an international church was not yet comprehended by the sons of men. As His earthly parents brought Jesus into the Temple courts for His obligatory presentation before the Lord, called the Redemption of the Firstborn (Exodus 13:2), the Holy Spirit moved Simeon to enter the Temple courts as well. When Paul writes, therefore, that the mystery of a universal church was hid in God, he means that, though the saints in the Old Testament could not com­prehend the mystery, nevertheless the universal church of all ages was in the counsel of God from all eternity. For that reason, God actually spoke frequently of that reality through the mouths of the prophets in the Old Testament. In announcing this He reminded us that His former promises had all come true, and now He was declaring something new, in advance of its happening. When Christ said to His disciples in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” it was not merely a statement of fact. , the Old Testament times are part of the church is one living whole, as whole. Has the church was a mystery in the old testament it out since, either now made known Gentiles were be...... ( image ) of the saints of Old Testament the gathering in of the foundation of the.. Intended for His church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian.! Philosophy and Theology at the proper time, the psalmists sing of,! The case because the church is a mystery were to be the channel for the forgiveness of your sins this! Israel by surprise doesn ’ t be dismissed so easily profound mystery—but I am he to us anymore much! Whole, with Christ as its head s the gospel is not limited to the saints of Old were.! 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