Paradox of God's Mystery

Articles on the Mystery of God click Bible Study Series By Rev. Charles King, D.Min.

There are twenty plus verses in the New Testament that contains the word mystery focused upon the specific person and work of Jesus Christ. The verse that caught my attention and motivated me to write these series of lessons was 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 that states, "No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, (a mystery) which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord.

In Romans Paul references to the mystery as he praises (God) the one who has the power to establish us according to the mystery that was kept secret before the world was created. Paul continues that thought in Colossians when he prays that we the followers of Christ might be comforted, knit together in love, and have a full assurance of understanding the mystery of God.

As we move through this study, I want us to have the same focus as Paul when he states I desire to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. This is the heart of the mystery of God, however as we seek to understand this mystery it will shed new light on many, if not all, of the key Christian doctrines.

Right up front we get exposed to some key theological issues such as the paradox of sovereignty of God and the freedom of man. For example Paul says he speaks the wisdom of God in a mystery, foreordained before the world was created and then kept secret for thousands of years until the cross (Jesus and Him crucified). Paul goes on to say that if God had not done this the rulers (and Satan) would have tried to spoil God’s plan by exercising their God given freedom of choice not to crucify Jesus.

These two verses about God foreordination (His plan) and the need to keep it secret from Satan and man because of their ability (their freedom) to try to defeat His plan magnify our need to wrestle with the understanding of how God’s sovereignty, foreknowledge, foreordination, and man’s freedom mesh.

I would like to emphasize the point that God’s sovereignty is absolute. He has the power to do anything at any moment He chooses. Yet He has chosen to limit the use of this absolute power by delegating certain freedom to man. This freedom is sometimes referred too as the "freewill" of man. A proper understanding of this term does not negate God’s authority, but comes from the authority granted man when God says let them have dominion over all the earth. God’s Word through His Covenant relationship explains the limits to man’s dominion (freedom).

Some of the verses we have already referenced mention that God established this plan (mystery) before the world was created. Elsewhere in scripture we see that God foreknew of the rebellion of Satan and man before he created Adam and Eve. Just with these few references we start to see the "apparent conflict" of God’s foreknowledge, foreordination, and God’s delegated freedom to man.

Different views on these concepts have driven not only the separation of the protestant from the Catholic, but splits within the protestant movement. This is why we have a number of Protestant Denominations. Even today these issues even divide local churches when taken to the extreme.

It is not God’s Word that drives these fractions, but man’s interpretation of God’s Word. Theology is the study of God and is critical for gaining an understanding of God and to be established with full assurance in our faith. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. In other words the study of God’s Word is critical in the development of our faith.

In the history of the church there have been a number of great theologians that shared with man their insights into God and His Word. However we must remember they are just men and what they say about the Bible is man’s opinion and not always absolutely correct. For example shortly after the protestant movement started we have two men who published thoughts about the Bible taken from two different viewpoints. John Calvin (1509-1564) viewed the Bible with a strong focus upon God’s sovereignty and Jacob Hermann (1560-1609), best known by the Latin form of his last name; Arminius viewed the Bible with a strong focus upon man’s freedom and accountability.

Each of these views taken to extremes seems to warp the overall Biblical themes of God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom (free will). Two major schools of thought have emerged from the teaching of these two men. One called Arminianism is the belief that men by their own free will could accept or reject salvation. The other called Calvinism teaches that God's chooses (foreordains) certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world, and God’s choice rest solely in His own sovereign will and that a person has no freedom in this selection.

In the early days of the Protestant movement Calvinism was affirmed rather than Arminianism by the Synod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salvation contained in the Holy Scriptures. However today the view of John Calvin is in the minority and more lean toward Arminianism. These two views are addressed more fully as we proceed with this series of lessons.

In the midst of the heated argument of Arminianism versus Calvinism many neglect the plain statements of the Bible. The underlying concepts of both are taught in the Bible and therefore should co-exist. God is sovereign and nothing is impossible for Him, yet He has delegated certain freedom to Satan, fallen angels, and man and holds them accountable.

The goal of this study is that the understanding of God’s Word be established with full assurance of our faith and by this process many will be presented complete in Christ. To accomplish this end, our study of the mystery of God is a Christ centered study using the hermeneutic of the Emmaus road in Luke where Jesus starts with Moses and the prophets and explains scripture in relationship to Himself.

In this study of the mystery of God, we will discuss other theological concepts that effect the way one views God and His Word. Our understanding of the Bible is regularly being influenced by theologians, therefore it is important that we understand the fundamental differences between the theological views of Biblical, Covenant, Dispensational, and Systematic Theology. Like Calvinism and Arminianism these theological concepts are men’s

opinion of what God has said in His Word. Therefore it is important that we verify everything we read and hear with the Word of God. Let us meditate upon the Word of God allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us to the proper understanding.

At all times we should continue to remind ourselves Who God is. We should always remember His divine attributes and character. God’s traits of faithfulness, holiness, righteousness, justice, love, and mercy are unchanging and impartial. When we combine these traits with His divine attributes of His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, we get a glimpse of God almighty.

These characteristics of God define Who He is and what He expects of man. Therefore as we wrestle with our understanding of His written Word let us never forget His Word will not contradict His Character. Let us use our knowledge of God to direct our understanding and behavior.

Articles on the Mystery of God click Bible Study Series

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