002.B 00. Heart-Revelation of "the Mystery"

A Way of Growth by T. Austin-Sparks Chapter 2 - Heart-Revelation of "the Mystery"

"...making known unto us the mystery of his will..." (Ephesians 1:9).

"...how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery... my understanding in the mystery of Christ... to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God" (Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:9).

"This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church" (Ephesians 5:32).

"...that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).

We have traced through the letter to the Ephesians this characteristic word - "mystery." What is its meaning?

It has two sides. First of all, "mystery" means something that has been kept hidden, that could not be recognised, clearly seen or understood. It was a hidden matter - what we call a secret; and we are told that God kept this secret, this mystery, hidden from all ages and generations, but now He has made it known. Something which was hidden, a mystery, has now been declared. But then there is the other side of this, which is perfectly clear also - that even after the secret has been declared people cannot see it unless God gives them illumination about it. Although this is the age in which it is declared, it is still a mystery until God opens eyes and gives illumination. Paul said "by revelation was made known unto me the mystery"; "ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery"; so that it is a matter of the mystery being explained or illumined to our hearts, and it is in our coming to see it that we come to spiritual enlargement. We move towards fulness by way of seeing "the mystery."