The Mystery of Christ - Part 1

Romans 16:25-26
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Yahshua Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith...

For the first 4,000 years of man’s existence the mystery of Christ was veiled to the eyes of all creation. This mystery, although testified to by means of signs and shadows found in the creation and in the holy Law delivered to Moses, was covered in darkness. Some holy men of past ages glimpsed parts of this mystery after the pattern of Moses who was able to look upon the land of promise from a distance, but not permitted to enter in to take possession of it.

2,000 years ago the fulness of time arrived and the mystery of Christ was unveiled to the eyes of the holy apostles and the church. This mystery is great, and in it is contained all the substance of victorious, overcoming life. Yet men, even those in the church, have loved darkness because their deeds are evil. Therefore, the light once cast upon this glorious mystery through the words of the apostles, has become dim. Rare is the minister today who has more than the faintest comprehension of the mystery of Christ.

Colossians 1:26-27
The mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

This great mystery, that which was hidden for the first four thousand years of the history of man, is that Christ was to take up residence IN man. Little did man even perceive the necessity of this revelation of the life of the Son of God in them. Mankind was not persuaded of the total depravity of his fallen nature. Multitudes thought that they just needed to know what God required, and if they were fully aware of His will they would be able to keep it.

In answer, Yahweh gave mankind His Law. Mankind in his pride and self-delusion even then believed he could be accepted as righteous before the eyes of God based upon his zealous efforts to keep the Law of God. An honest appraisal would have revealed that none were able to keep the Law. Law’s were reinterpreted, negating their actual meaning. The spirit of the Law was neglected, and a divine love was not found in the heart of man.

When Yahshua appeared 2,000 years ago He declared to the Jews that they had violated the Law. It was not acceptable in God’s eyes to abstain from the act of adultery if a man were lusting after a woman in his heart. God’s righteous character was not found in man’s heart if the man refrained from murdering another, but he hated him in his heart. A few were able to receive the witness of Christ as the Spirit of God opened their eyes to see their deficiency.

Romans 7:5-8
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death... What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

The Law was given that man might know sin, and that he would recognize sin’s presence in his being. Sin is a constant companion to all those born of the first Adam. Sin is stirred up whenever it is faced with a prohibition to not sin. In this way it is made known. Those who are honest will recognize their powerlessness to rule over sin.

Romans 7:14-21
For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.

The Law was given as a schoolmaster to lead men to Christ. It was intended to reveal to mankind the absence of spiritual life in them. Mankind, apart from the presence of the indwelling Christ, is spiritually dead. He is incapable of walking in a manner wholly acceptable unto God. The best of men fail. David committed adultery and murder. Abraham stumbled badly in faith, allowing his wife Sarah to be taken into another man’s house on two separate occasions, and beginning to doubt the promise of God would be fulfilled through Sarah, he went into Hagar and raised up Ishmael. Moses struck the rock a second time, contrary to the commandment of Yahweh.

Romans 3:10-12
"There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one."

When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a virgin. Yahshua was the first of a new type of man, born of holy seed, not of the corruptible seed of Adam. Divine life was present within Him. He was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. He ever lived to do the will of His Father. Of Christ the Father testified, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The earth finally witnessed a man who was acceptable before its Creator. Yahshua was called “the second Adam.” This second Adam was altogether different from the first Adam, and He would become the Head of a new race of spiritual men.

I Corinthians 15:45-48
So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

God made a way for fallen man to become acceptable in His sight. They would receive the Spirit of His Son into the temple of their bodies. This divine Spirit would bring life where there was death. It would motivate and empower men to live lives pleasing to their Father in heaven.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Yahshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

God sent forth the Spirit of His Son, the Son who was well pleasing in His sight, to reside in the heart of man. This Spirit causes life to appear where there was only death. Righteousness appears where there was only sin.

You may ask, “Why then do so many Christians live sinful, defeated lives?” Mankind is still surrounded by sinful flesh. The soul of man is yet influenced by selfish and carnal desires and passions. The spirit wages war against the flesh, and the flesh against the spirit, for the two are contrary to one another. Those who have received the Spirit of Christ are called to manifest faith in their new identity as spiritual men. They are to recognize that Christ dwells in them, and they are to act accordingly, by faith.

Multitudes of Christians fail to reckon upon who they are IN Christ. They know only that Christ died for the forgiveness of sin, shedding His own righteous blood as an atoning sacrifice. They little comprehend that this is only the beginning of what Christ has done for them. He has sent forth His Spirit to dwell in them that they should no longer be slaves to sin, but that they might lead lives wholly pleasing to God their Father.

The Christian who has received the indwelling Spirit of Christ must “reckon” himself to be a new creation. He must by faith accept those things God declares concerning him. He was once a slave of sin, but now he has been set free. He was once dead spiritually, but now he is alive. Christ dwells IN his being. He has become as Christ is in this world.

I John 4:17
As He is, so also are we in this world.

By renewing the mind, and by communion with the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the child of God is to grow up into the fulness of the stature that belongs to Christ. Yet there is great spiritual immaturity among the body of Christ today. Few are reckoning according to their new identity as new creatures in Christ. Like the Israelites who spent 400 years as slaves in Egypt, they have been released from bondage, but they still see themselves as slaves. They do not know that they are free men. They continue to confess that they are slaves to sin, when the Son has set them free.

This book will examine the mystery of Christ in you. It is my hope and prayer that many might have their eyes opened to discern the mystery of their union with Christ, and having seen, they will begin to walk according to the knowledge of who they truly are.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding as you read these words.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
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Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063