Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
November 28, 2010
Luke 8:16-21
“The Mysteries of the Kingdom”

Introduction 

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

 4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
 17 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.
 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

1. God has perfect knowledge of His kingdom  v10a

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God

2. There are many mysteries we don’t know about the Kingdom v1, 9-11, 16

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

3. God communicates His Word, His ways to us  v1, 4, 16-17

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

 4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

 16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.
 17 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

4. What is God’s Word?  The powerful, spoken expression of His will, resulting in the execution of His commands.  His Kingdom comes wherever His will is done. Creation, Jesus, new Heaven and Earth.  He decides, speaks, things happen.

When His Word is spoken to us, the purpose is knowledge of His will, faith, relationship, salvation.  The Word of God has a positive and beneficial result.

5. How does God communicate His Word to us?

a. Preaching

8:1  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.

b. Parables

 4  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:

6. Some understand and receive  v9-10

 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God...
 11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Jesus had chosen the disciples to understand and communicate the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to other tribes, and even to successive generations, so He was going to make sure they understood.

7. Some do not understand and refuse  v10

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

The seed along the path in Matthew - it bounced off because they didn’t understand.

8. What enables a person to understand?  v10

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God

A mystery religion is any religion with an arcanum, or secret wisdom. In a mystery religion, an inner core of beliefs, practices, and the religion's true nature, are revealed only to those who have been initiated into its secrets

What is this gift from God to help us understand these mysteries?

a. Spiritual aptitude from the Holy Spirit  John 16:13

13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth

b. Desire  v9  “What does it mean?”

John 7:17
17 “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine...

c. Having a teacher available to teach, guide, answer questions  v11

Jesus was their teacher,  11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

A Jedi learns the ways of the force.  A disciple sits at the feet of a master.  Paul went into the wilderness for 3 years to be instructed by the Holy Spirit.

Explains how intelligent, rational human beings can see things so differently.  “They don’t ‘get it’”.

2 Corinthians 2
 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’

No desire, no Holy Spirit, not listening to the teacher, no revelation, no understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom.

9. We are responsible for what we hear  v18

 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

10. Receiving the truth opens the door for more truth

 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

11. Refusing the truth causes the loss of even the little bit revealed

 18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

Romans 1
 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

So   18 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

12. There is a fellowship of understanding the truth, the mysteries of the Kingdom  v19-21

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.
 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Conclusion 
Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
December 5, 2010
Luke 8:10, 16-21
“The Mysteries of the Kingdom” Part 2

Introduction  One reason Jesus came to Earth was to establish the Kingdom of God.  In order to to that, He needed to help people understand the principles it operates on - to believe it, receive it and become part of it.  Some were able to get with the program, others floundered, others flatly rejected it, the same as today.  It was all about “the mysteries of the Kingdom.”

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians 2
 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

What are the mysteries of the Kingdom of God?  7 main ones.  This is not a comprehensive treatment, but just to ask some questions to whet your appetite to research these things, let the Holy Spirit enlighten us.

7 Mysteries, things which appeal to most people - relationship, love, nature, forgiveness, new life, help, hope.

1. Relationship - knowing there are other conscious individuals in the world, on different levels and in various capacities.  Deity, angelic/demonic spirits, principalities and powers, humans, animals, all other living things.  How do we relate to each other?  Different aspects of fellowship, communication, respect, trust.  A great mystery.

Exodus
20:1  And God spoke all these words, saying:
 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
 12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
 13 “You shall not murder.
 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
 15 “You shall not steal.
 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Notice all the relationships.  Often a distinction is made between beings with natural and supernatural powers.  Sometimes anything thought to be supernatural is called divine - deities, idols, gods and goddesses, demigods, fairies.  No, angels, demons and people can also have supernatural powers.  But only God is divine, deity.

How do we relate each other?  In various aspects of fellowship. communication, respect, honor, worship, love, faith.  Only God can be worshipped as supreme.

We bring an offering to contribute to the Kingdom of God.  Is that worship?  Someone may bring an offering, a bowl of rice, to an idol of a pagan deity.  Is that worship, ministry?  I put water and fertilizer on young sapling trees, and pull the weeds.  Am I ministering to them?  Am I worshipping them?  What’s in your heart when you minister to another being?  Do trees, rocks, streams, natural features have spirits?  Rocks cry out, heavens declare, trees of the field clap their hands. Is Gaia, Mother Earth real?

How do we trust each other?  I trust God for my salvation.  I trust fire to keep me warm, food to nourish my body.  I even trust the dog to provide companionship and entertainment for the family.  But only Deity, God is worthy of absolute trust.

How do we relate each other?  In various aspects of fellowship. communication, respect, honor, worship, love, faith. 

Applied to Deity, angelic/demonic spirits, principalities and powers, humans, animals, all other living things.

These are some of the mysteries of relationship.

2. Love God and others

Mark 12
30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
 31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

What does it mean to love God?  What thoughts and feelings might you have?  What actions would you be motivated to take?  How would it influence your lifestyle?

What does it mean to love other people?  What thoughts and feelings might you have?  What actions would you be motivated to take?  How would it influence your lifestyle?  How would your love be influenced by the characteristics of the person?

These are some of the mysteries of love.

3. Creation

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This is nature, the environment, our Earth home, with such intricate, fantastic designs, systems and effectiveness.  Science is still discovering the mysteries of Earth and the universe.  Many things we don’t have any idea. 

What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?  An inconceivable smash.

Beyond these things, we were created in the image of God.  What does being made in the image of God mean in your life?

Created in love, and to love God and others.

Continuity of creation - the blessing, support and continual creativity, or lack thereof if God withholds it for some reason.

Mystery - the infinity of time and space.

These are some of the mysteries of creation, nature, the environment.

4. Atonement

Romans 3
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Why do we need atonement?  Created in love and to love God and other people. What if we have failed, missed the mark of love?  The Atonement provides forgiveness for our lack of love, both toward God and other people.

This is the mystery of forgiveness through the sacrifice of God incarnate, the Lord Jesus on the Cross.  The word “amazing” is used over and over, in hymns new and old.  “Amazing Grace”, “Amazing Love, how can it be that Thou my God shouldst die for me?”

We will be lost in wonder, love and praise forever because of the mystery of the atonement.

5. Resurrection

John 11
 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

The mystery of new life, after death, to live in a relationship of love, made possible by the Resurrection of Christ.

How many things are candidates for resurrection?  Ideas, careers, relationships, marriages, dreams, physical bodies, glorified bodies.

6. Enablement

John 14
 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

This is the concept of help.  We all need help from time to time.  “Lean on me...”

The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost to empower us to love God and others in this life, even to perform supernatural miracles - fruit and gifts, all about love.

What kinds of things has God enabled different people to do?  How did He do that?  What was the interaction between human and divine?  Mystery.

7. Consummation

Revelation 21
 21:1  Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

This is hope, that things in the world will not continue on as they are forever, bu there will be a New Heaven and New Earth, the consummation, nothing but love forever.

What will it be like?  Is God putting a longing into the hearts of people today for a new earth?

Conclusion  These are mysterious concepts, mysterious names, hard for the world to understand - creation, atonement, resurrection, pentecost, consummation.

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God

Yet all people long for the basic principles - relationship, love, nature, forgiveness, new life, help, hope.  How can we help them understand?

Application to My Life

Where are you on your journey to become aware and to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom? 

Are in agreement with Jesus and His Kingdom, in principle?

Are there things you don’t understand, but would like to?

Are you determined to press on, press in? 

Are you asking the Holy Spirit for aptitude and guidance? 

Are you studying God’s Word and being taught God’s Word? 

Have you become part of the Kingdom of God?
Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
December12,2010
Luke8:10
“The Mysteries of the Kingdom” Part3
“The Incarnation”

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

Introduction  We have looked into some of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.  The most amazing and fascinating one, the most powerful and meaningful mystery is to look into the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity as the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Why was this necessary?  How did it happen?  What is His nature?  What did He accomplish as the God/man?

Luke2:26-35
26  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.


Matthew1:21
21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

John1:1-18
1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

1. What is the Incarnation?  John1:1-3,14

1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Carne = flesh, to put flesh on Spirit.  Theologically, to give a human body, soul and spirit to the Word, the2nd Person of the Trinity, making Him the God/man.

Amazing - the very nature of the Trinity was changed, permanently altered.

2. Why was the Incarnation necessary?  Genesis3:14-15

14  So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

After what the devil did to the human race - to ruin our innocence, our paradise, our holiness, our peace and eternal life, it was to be a man who crushed his head.  Not just any man, God and man together, the offspring of woman, from Eve to Mary.

3. What was God’s purpose in the Incarnation?  Matthew1:21

21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Because we all miss the mark of loving God and others, One had to be made one of us to hit the mark of love.  To save us from the guilt of past sins, from the chronic tendency to sin, from the results of sin, the condemnation of sin.  Anything having to do with sin, missing the love-mark, or it’s consequences, He came as a man to save us from it.

4. How was the Incarnation accomplished?  Luke2:34-35

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

5. What was the nature of the Incarnate Christ?  The God/man  Heb4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

a. Divine in every way, but veiled.  Always God the Son, on a mission to Earth.

b. Human in every way - body, soul and spirit.   His humanity included temptation, except for sin, missing the mark of love.

Then how could he be fully human?  Mark missing is a big part of our experience.  Did Jesus then not experience sin, guilt, shame, alienation?  On the Cross.

He became the God/man, fully human and fully divine, a delightful person, perfectly blending the two natures.

6. What did He accomplish as the God/man?

a. Communication/Representation  John1:4-5,14,18

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Hebrews1:1-3
1:1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power

b. Experience/Compassion  Hebrews2:9-18

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
14  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

c. Atonement  Hebrews1:3

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
 
d. Resurrection  Hebrews2:14-15

14  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

e. Intercession  Hebrews7:24-26

24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

f. Enablement  Matthew1:21, Ezekiel36:25-28

21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

He will rescue you and me from continually missing the mark.  How?

Ezekiel36
25  “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
28 “Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

These are the accomplishments of the Incarnate Christ.  Summed up - love.

a. Communication/Representation  John1:4-5,14,18, Hebrews1:1-3
b. Experience/Compassion  Hebrews2:9-18
c. Atonement  Hebrews1:3 
d. Resurrection  Hebrews2:14-15
e. Intercession  Hebrews7:24-26
f. Enablement  Matthew1:21, Ezekiel36:25-28

7. What will be the final outcome of the Incarnation?

Luke2:31-33
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.
32 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Isaiah9:6-7
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Daniel7:13-14
13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Revelation5
5:1  And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6  And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Conclusion  Luke8:10

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

We have looked into some of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.  The most amazing and fascinating one, the most powerful and meaningful mystery is to look into the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity as the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We have seen why was this necessary, how it happened, what His nature is like, and what he He accomplished as the God/man.


Application to My Life

Colossians1
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
December19,2010
Luke 8:10
“The Mysteries of the Kingdom” Part 4
“The Indwelling”

Introduction  We have studied the interaction between God and mankind.  We are created in His image, but He is deity and we are human, He is infinite and we are finite, He is supernatural and we are natural.  So many things about Him and His ways are a mystery to us, which we cannot understand unless they are revealed and we are enabled to “get it.”  The most profound mysteries are those surrounding the interactions between God and us, and we ponder them at Christmas time.

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians2
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Luke2
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

John1
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians1
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1. The Mystery of the Incarnation

John1
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Incarnation means to put human flesh around pure divine Spirit.  For pure deity to enter this world in humanity and become part of it, to participate in it in every way, in order to make it holy, godly, good once again.

The Second Person of the Trinity, the Word became the God/man, body, soul and Spirit.  His interjection into humanity and the Earth began in a small way, but will have become comprehensive in it’s fulfillment.  Every atom in the universe will have been affected by the Incarnation.

2. The Mystery of the Indwelling 

Colossians1
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Spirit of God was at the core of one Man, Jesus, and deity had come into humanity, creating the most amazing one person ever known.  But God was not done intimately interacting with humanity.  The promise of the Father is that He sent His Spirit to indwell, to become incarnate in all of us.  Not in the same way as Jesus, in which two natures are merged into one person, but for deity to enter into humanity, into our flesh, into our earthly lives - body, soul and spirit, to make a divine difference in us.

John14
11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
12  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15  “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18  “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

John20
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Colossians1
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

John17
20  “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Christ in us, the hope of glory, even in our humanity, in this world, on this earth.

The Christians of the first century understood this mystery:  The Odes of Antioch.

Ode1
“He is on my head like a crown, I shall never be without Him.”   - glory

Ode6
1. As the wind glides through the harp and the strings speak,
2. So the Spirit of the Lord speaks through my members, and I speak through His love.

This is the glory when Christ is in us, indwelling the divine within the human.

3. The Incarnational Manifestations of Christmas

Every aspect of Christmas is an outgrowth of Christ being incarnate in us.  Love, joy peace are manifested because Christ is in us, the hope of glory (heavy, amazing, awesome, staggering).

a. Saint Nicholas - kind, compassionate, secret giver, many miracles - glory

b. Worship, singing Christmas carols, special programs - glory

c. Togetherness as congregations, families and friends - glory

d. Gift giving - God gave His Son, Wisemen gave gifts, Jesus gave His life, God gives salvation, xaris, Christian charities, Christmas gifts - glory

e. Celebration and joy - good food and drink - glory

f. Peace - Christian armies laid down their weapons, people try to get along

g. Decorations - glorious

h. Christmas tree - evergreen, tree of life, a reminder of the good earth, new earth.  That will be glorious.

This is the glory of Christmas.  It’s all about love, joy and peace - in the Spirit of Jesus, because Christ is in us, the hope of glory.  The glory of Christmas is a showcase of the Christian life, and foretells the glory of eternal life.

Conclusion  Luke8:10

10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

Colossians1
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (awesomeness)

Application to My Life