Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
What it means to be initiated into the secret of the mystery. Part 2. The beginning of the secret. .
Thursday, January 6, 2005
ACT 7:56 “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
The mystery doctrine of Church-age which all believers should be initiated into, and the divine assets that God has given to each Church-age believer and His directions for using those assets.
God has magnificently provided everything for us and has thoroughly instructed us so that we can -
EPH 4:1 “Walk in a manner worthy of our calling.”
There were numerous mystery cults which flourished throughout the ancient world, and although the secrets of these groups were closely guarded, everyone knew that these secretive organizations existed.
Ignorance and arrogance become the two worst enemies of the believer, and cause him to make a wrong assessment of life, and to establish wrong priorities.
Today the English word mystery denotes something incomprehensible or puzzling, but in the ancient world a mystery was well-known, although only to the initiated.
In the upper room discourse, on the night before His crucifixion, TLJC prophesied the coming of the Church-age, Joh 14-17.
JOH 14:14 - the intimate union with TLJC, “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do {it.}”
JOH 14:16-17 - the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, “He abides with you, and will be “IN” you.”
a. The Church exists to glorify TLJC to the maximum.
EPH 1:22-23 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.
b. Israel was to be given every opportunity to accept TLJC as Messiah.
The Jewish kingdom of God on earth had been postponed until the Millennium and a new set of options for believers on earth now became manifest.
c. Soon after prophesying about the coming church, TLJC would win the victory on the cross, and it was only fitting that the VICTOR be the one to announce the dramatic change.
His victory on the cross followed by the fulfillment of the Church-age was one of the most stunning moments in the entire angelic conflict.
d. Mystery doctrine is based upon the life of Christ.
Throughout His incarnation, our Lord utilized the system and the divine assets that God the Father made available to support His humanity.
Church-age doctrine was concealed until the Christian way of life went into effect, first through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the night before the Passover, or Tuesday evening, 13 April, 30 AD.
When we call it the upper room discourse, only Joh 13-14 was given in the upper room.
Then they are going to sing a hymn and go out, and then we will have Joh 15-17, which takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Joh 17 is the prayer that the Lord Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Jesus knowing” = the humanity of Christ knowing.
Doctrine orients you to the circumstances of life, the situations that exist in life.
His hour = the cross and really His hour of victory in the angelic conflict, JOH 12:23; JOH 17:1,
MAR 14:41.
Depart - metabaino = to go from one place to another.
1. His body went into the grave, LUK 23:53.
2. His soul went to paradise, LUK 23:43.
3. His spirit went into the presence of the Father, LUK 23:46.
“Out of this world” = the departure of Christ includes His resurrection and ascension.
Once Jesus departs from the world, the angelic conflict is going to intensify.
These disciples who are left behind are going to become Satanic targets.
“Out of the world” - prepositional phrase “ek tou kosmou” = His body went into the grave, LUK 23:53, His soul went to Paradise in Hades,
ACT 2:27, His spirit went to the Father, LUK 23:46.
Out of the trichotomus separation of Christ at His physical death, it is the soul and the spirit which are emphasized and definitely not the body.
ISA 53:10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; he has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin.”
Unto the Father = “face to face with the Father” - pros + the accusative noun patera [Father], which has to do definitely with His ascension.
“He loved them to the end” = the Lord Jesus Christ was perfect and in His impeccability, He was always stable even while under pressure.
MAT 26:67 - they would spit upon the face of the Son of God.
MAT 26:67 They beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him,
ISA 52:14 His appearance was disfigured more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men.
ISA 50:6 He gave His back to those who would strike Him And His cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; He did not cover His face from humiliation and spitting.
MAT 26:68 “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Religion and self-righteousness make people vicious, evil, cruel, corrupt, divisive, spiteful, malicious, and violent.
MAT 26:53 “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”
His restraint was very significant, for if He had lost His temper, there would be NO SALVATION!
MAT 26:68 “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
MAT 26:56 - the same ones He loved to the end, His disciples, left Him and fled from Him.
“He loved” - aor-act-part - agapesas = His impersonal unconditional love.
“His own” - His disciples - accusative masculine plural - idios = describes His disciples.