Part I

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. That their hearts might be comforted, being KNIT TOGETHER IN LOVE, and unto all riches of the FULL ASSURANCE of understanding, to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the mystery of God, and of the Father and of Christ, in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words … (Colossians 2:2-4).

Ah, unity! It’s based on full assurance of the truth. But where to find that today amid the deceived, divided, confused, beguiled, and led astray billions in Christendom?  Is there any denomination, church, popular Bible teacher who acknowledges the “mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ”? Come to that, how many even understand what this mystery means? Put your hand up, if you do.

The tragic truth is that instead of allowing God (through Paul) to make known unto us “the riches of the glory of this mystery among (us) Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”, most of us have been “beguiled with enticing words” of men instead.

No wonder the Apostle Paul was in “great conflict” within himself for the Colossians, Laodiceans and others who had not met him face to face that they might be “comforted” (made strong) by the game-changing truth that that which hath been hid from ages and from generations is “now made manifest” to God’s saints.

Now, who among the saved doesn’t want to see believers come together in unison, believing the latest message of truth from God? We would all say “amen” to that. Strange then, that very means by which this could be accomplished, as set out in Colossians 2:2-4, is not only ignored but dismissed and derided in much of Christendom.

It should be shouted from the roof tops that TODAY in the present dispensation of the grace of God (Ephesians 3:1-4) ACKNOWLEDGING the MYSTERY is the only way to see Christian hearts “knit together in love”. What’s more, it is only through such ACKNOWLEDGING of the MYSTERY that we can receive the “assurance of full understanding” we need to be fully assured of our continuing salvation.

As the apostle explains in Colossians 2:3, it is only IN CHRIST and in nobody and nowhere else that God had hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge but is now revealing them to believers through the MYSTERY.

It seems that only through great suffering was the Apostle Paul enabled to “make all (men) see ... the fellowship of the MYSTERY which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9). As he explains in 2 Timothy 2:8-10 he “endures all things for t he elect’s sake that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”. What he endured was “trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds” because of “my gospel”.

And if you believe God’s latest word to us through Paul, then you and I too ‘will also suffer, because “if we suffer with Him (Christ) we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12).

Those brave enough in the face of determined opposition to ACKNOWLEDGE THE MYSTERY will find themselves part of a very small company of fellow believers. Most of us need only one hand to count those also hold to this truth.

As one friend “kindly” put it to me: “You should stop pushing the special message of the mystery of Paul: It’s not doing any good out there”. And that’s the truth: it’s not impacting the church-going masses; indeed, it’s anathema to them. Nevertheless, if you want to be assured of full understanding then acknowledging the mystery is the key to doing so.

John Dudley Aldworth

Email: johndaldworth42@gmail.com