Is It Still a Mystery?
by J. F. Dancer, Jr.
Some people read the Bible every day. Others read it occasionally, and some never open it. All have different views on what it teaches. Do you think God had it written so that we would "understand" it differently, allowing each of us to believe what we want to believe? I think not!
According to Ephesians 4:5, there is just "one faith." This means there is just one body of truth. Paul had earlier (Ephesians 3:4) told these people that when they read (studied) the things he wrote, they would have the same understanding that he had regarding God's will. Later (Ephesians 5:17), he commanded them to be not unwise but to understand what the will of God is. All of this does not sound like God gave a revelation that He knew people could not understand, but that they would have the freedom to "understand" it as they chose.
There are times when one will need to pray for wisdom (James 1:5) so he can rightly divide (II Timothy 2:15) the word of truth. There may also be times when one needs to ask for help from another who has more knowledge (Acts 8:30-31). The personal study, the prayers for wisdom, and the seeking help from others are all part of God's plan for people to understand His will for us today. At one time, it was a mystery, and rightly so, but now it has been uncovered. We just have to study.
How to become a Christian is something that can be learned quickly if one takes the time to read the book of Acts. This is what it is all about. One can learn how Christians are supposed to live if he will study the letters written to churches and individuals. God has revealed all things that pertain to life and godliness (II Peter 1:3), but we have to study them to understand them.
Acts chapter 2 tells people what they have to believe and to do in order to be saved. But it will remain a mystery until one reads it carefully. Yes, the will of God for man today is still a mystery to many people simply because they don't study and rightly divide the word of truth. But God did not intend it to be so. That is why we have the New Testament. It is the mystery of God revealed!
Study is hard work (Eccl.12:12), and it is easier to let someone else tell us what God wants us to do. This was also true in the first century. 1 Jno. 4:1 tells those who are interested in learning the will of God to test the teachers because there are those who don't teach the truth. Let us search the Scriptures as did the people in Berea in Acts 17:11. We can know the truth and by obedience to it be made free from our sins. God's will for us today has been revealed and is there waiting for us to study and obey it.
