The Mystery Unlocked

The Mystery Unlocked One of the great mysteries Look from afar at the 18th-century Shepherd's Monument in Sta ordshire, England, and you might take it as nothing more than a sculpted re-creation of Nicolas Poussin's famous painting, "Arcadian Shepherds." Look closer, though, and you'll notice a curious sequence of letters: DOUOSVAVVM — a code that eluded solutions for over 250 years. Though the identity of the code carver remains a mystery, some have speculated that the code could be a clue left behind by the Knights Templar about the whereabouts of the Holy Grail. Many of the world's greatest minds have tried to crack the code and failed, including Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin. fl fl fl ff Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His esh through death, 22 to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— You once (formerly) were: Deserving of Judgement alienated: Estranged from God - those outside of the sphere of God’s blessing. Adversaries toward God Genesis 6:5 - The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Such was the reason God brought the global ood. This is no just occasional wrong doing, but a lifestyle of rejecting God (Romans 1:18-32) — Verse may be dealing mainly with the Gentile audience (Ephesians 2:11-12). Undeserving of Jesus - “Yet now He has reconciled in the body of His esh through death” Reconciliation given (apokatallassō = thorough reconciliation) Raising us up: (“to present you…”) Free from contamination (of the world)- Holy (II Corinthians 6:17-7:1) Free from complaint (in behavior) - blameless/faultless (HCSB) Free from charges (free from accusation) - above reproach This saying is attributed to elders (Titus 1:6-7). 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Continue in: Faith - stable (laid foundation, steadfast (not subject to change; esp.behavior), and not shifting away The one implies greater respect to the foundation by which believers are supported; but settled suggests inward strength which believers themselves possess.”(Vincent) Hope - of the gospel Love - to preach the gospel to every creature (Matthew 7:12 - The Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.) The Greek construction of the if is not an expression of doubt but an expression of con dence and is better translated as since. He is con dent that because they have understood what it means to be reconciled they will remain faithful to the gospel that reconciled them Max Anders, Gala ans-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 284. 24 I now rejoice in my su erings for you, and ll up in my esh what is lacking in the a ictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, Personal example of continuing in the faith: Courage to su er - rejoice in my su erings for you (currently imprisoned) Carry out the su ering Fill up (Greek - I am lling up) - shows a current process. He isn’t saying that Jesus’ su ering on the cross was insu cient. Paul was enduring su ering on behalf of Christ. The world hated Jesus Christ; and now that he is not around to persecute, they persecute his followers. Paul’s attitude is Jesus took the blows meant for me; I’ll take the blows meant for him. (John 15:18-21) Max Anders, Gala ans-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 285. ffi fi fi fi fl fi ff ff fi ff fl ff ff fi ff ti ti fi ffl 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to ful ll the word of God, Present-day stewards are most inclined to keep the restaurants clean and sanitary or work in the union as a middle-man between the union and the boss/supervisor. Steward of the commission - “given to me for you, to ful ll the word of God” Steward = Oikonomia (compound word; oikia - house; economia - in order) = house-steward, which is a con dential upper-servant, frequently a slave, who controlled the general arrangements of a large establishment, and was responsible solely to the master. 4 Principles of stewardship: 1. The principle of ownership - God own’s everything (Psa.24:1) 2. The principle of responsibility - He is responsible for making sure things ow smoothly among the household. 3. The principle of accountability - The parable of the talents teaches us that we are called to give an account for how we administered everything we have. - It is a role of trust. Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service, you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already. (C.S. Lewis) 4. The principle of reward - Colossians 3:23-24 (…you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward…) This commission was to preach the gospel (Romans 1:14-16). To the Jew and the Gentile. Steward of compassion - “grace” is shown in this ful llment of duties. Ephesians 3:2 - assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you. This stewardship is the gospel of Christ (I Corinthians 9:17-18). “ful lling the word of God” is a link back to vs.24 - it means that He is going to “fully proclaim the Word of God” (Rom. 15:19). 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. Buried - mysterion - The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed while the NT is the OT revealed - Romans 16:25-26 Brought to light - “Revealed to His saints” 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The glory of God: “Make known” - proclaim the mystery (Ephesians 6:19) Normally “make known” in the NT is synonymous with God’s glory (Romans 9:22-23) Riches of the glory Revealed to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11 - I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.) So long as the law stood, Gentiles as such could not have covenant relationship with God. The law stood as a barrier, a wall, between Jews and Gentiles; but that wall was taken out of the way that God might make of Jews and Gentiles one new man, one new church (Eph.2:13-18). The Jews broke the covenant, and it was abolished (Heb.8:7-9). It was always in the purpose of God to bring in the Gentiles. God said to Abraham: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen.22:16). (Whiteside, Commentary on Romans 11:11) Christ in you, the hope of glory fi fi 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Preach - Preaching with the wisdom of the judgement and the necessity for Jesus Christ. Present - Put at someone’s disposal - The gospel was going to be preached to bring everyone into the arsenal of God. Perfect - telios - mature - James 1:25 says that this Word of God makes us mature. ff 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Striving - contending in an arena (struggling ESV) Strength - “His works which works in me mightily” - All of Paul’s strength comes from Christ to go through the problems and su erings he underwent.