Men talk bravely of believing whilst whole and sound; few know it. Christ is the mystery of the Scripture; grace the mystery of Christ. Believing is the most wonderful thing in the world. Put any thing of your own to it, and you spoil it. Christ will not so much as look at it for believing. When you believe and come to Christ, you must leave behind you your own righteousness, and bring nothing but your sin: (Oh, that is hard!) leave behind all your holiness, sanctification, duties, humblings, and so on; and bring nothing but your wants [lacks] and your miseries, or else Christ is not fit for you, nor you for Christ. Christ will be a pure Redeemer and Mediator, and you must be an undone sinner, or Christ and you will never agree. It is the hardest thing in the world to take Christ alone for righteousness; that is to acknowledge Him Christ. Join anything to Him of your own, and you un-Christ Him. Thomas Willcox
“Christ is the mystery of the Scripture” is a very biblical statement. It is hard to overstate the case, though some may be able to find Christ in ways that don’t really point to Him or find Him in ways that the Scripture does not intend. However, the main point is that Christ is the very mystery of Scripture which is to say that it is Christ who is the main message of Scripture. The Old Testament spoke much of Christ, though its message was and is hidden in mystery. Scripture tells us (in several places) that there was a mystery that had been kept secret for long ages past, but on the other hand we have Scripture telling us that Moses saw Christ. The New Testament, on the other hand, sets forth Christ using the Old Testament as well as new revelation which was and is Christ Himself.
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
Ephesians 3:4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 5:32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
Colossians 1:26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 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. 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
What we must be careful to point out and see for ourselves is that the mystery is not just things about Christ, but it is Christ Himself. In reading the verses above, it is very striking to see that Christ Himself is the great mystery that has been hidden from the eyes of so many. This leads us (or should) to examine our hearts and our methods of studying Scripture. Do we look for Christ Himself or are we satisfied with looking for things about Christ? Are we satisfied with doctrinal statements about Christ and things that we like to think on because how it reflects on us and our comfort or do we want to know Christ Himself? The great point about reading Scripture is not to just know about it or memorize it, but it is to behold Christ Himself and bow in worship. Even pagans can know vast amounts of Scripture and the facts about Scripture, so it would at least appear self-evident that Christians should study Scripture in a way that is far higher than a pagan can do. That way is to pray and seek Christ Himself in the Scriptures. If we don’t see Christ as the central message, we have missed the message.
We must behold Christ, but we must behold something true in Christ and about Christ as well. That great mystery is the sovereign grace of God in Christ. It is not just that Christ has grace, but Christ is grace Himself. God the Father sent His Son, yes, but He sent His grace in Christ. All those that have Christ revealed to them have Christ revealed by grace and as grace. No one deserves to see Christ and to have Christ live and die in their place. No one deserves to know anything about the glory of Jesus Christ, which should teach us with a great deal of plainness that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about Jesus Christ and that the Gospel of Christ is the same Gospel of grace alone. There is no way for a person to know the mystery of Scripture (Christ) in truth apart from knowing the mystery of Christ which is grace. What we must know is that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. What did people see? They saw the very glory of God shining forth which is Christ and is in grace and truth. Behold and adore.
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