What is Meant by Mystery?
Our faith, Paul says, does not stand on human wisdom, but this does not mean it is not wise, for – ‘we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory’ (verse 7).
The Gospel is a mystery, not in the sense that it is hard to understand, but because it is undiscoverable by human reason. Earthly thinking is too proud to see that salvation must be by grace alone.
Pride will not accept the depravity of man, and the impossibility of earning the favour of a holy God. Human pride resents and rejects the idea of humble repentance, and dependence on a salvation wholly secured by an atoning Saviour.
To confirm the inability of mankind to grasp that salvation must come freely through the work of a Saviour, Paul quotes the magnificent words of Isaiah 64 –
‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’
It may sound as though the prophet was speaking about Heaven, but he was actually speaking about how God was preparing the coming of Christ, and the work of redemption.
Isaiah says that unsaved people living before Christ would not look ahead to the Christ described in Isaiah 53. Today, when we preach the Gospel, people will not see the point unless God moves in their heart. Humans are too stubborn, too proud, to see grace. ‘What is this preacher talking about?’ they think.
The ear does not hear convicting words, urging them to repent and be saved by grace alone.
Writing 700 years before Christ, Isaiah could say that God had prepared for the Saviour to come, and that God’s true people waited for him.
Isaiah’s words (adapted by Paul for his hearers) read:
‘For since the beginning of the world men have
not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath
the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath
prepared for him that waiteth for him.’
Our faith, Paul says, does not stand on human wisdom, but this does not mean it is not wise, for – ‘we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory’ (verse 7).
The Gospel is a mystery, not in the sense that it is hard to understand, but because it is undiscoverable by human reason. Earthly thinking is too proud to see that salvation must be by grace alone.
Pride will not accept the depravity of man, and the impossibility of earning the favour of a holy God. Human pride resents and rejects the idea of humble repentance, and dependence on a salvation wholly secured by an atoning Saviour.
To confirm the inability of mankind to grasp that salvation must come freely through the work of a Saviour, Paul quotes the magnificent words of Isaiah 64 –
‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’
It may sound as though the prophet was speaking about Heaven, but he was actually speaking about how God was preparing the coming of Christ, and the work of redemption.
Isaiah says that unsaved people living before Christ would not look ahead to the Christ described in Isaiah 53. Today, when we preach the Gospel, people will not see the point unless God moves in their heart. Humans are too stubborn, too proud, to see grace. ‘What is this preacher talking about?’ they think.
The ear does not hear convicting words, urging them to repent and be saved by grace alone.
Writing 700 years before Christ, Isaiah could say that God had prepared for the Saviour to come, and that God’s true people waited for him.
Isaiah’s words (adapted by Paul for his hearers) read:
‘For since the beginning of the world men have
not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath
the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath
prepared for him that waiteth for him.’
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