The Three Stages of the Mystery of the Universe

 

The Three Stages of the Mystery of the Universe 

1 Timothy 3:16 "Great indeed, is the mystery of godliness!"

John 14:9 "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."

Colossians 2:2 "To reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ."

Ephesians 3:9-10 "To bring to light...that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." 

Stage Mystery	Meaning	Explanation	Application	Relationship	Related Scriptures
First Stage God is the mystery of the universe	God Himself is a mystery, who is real, living, and almighty, yet invisible.	No one has ever seen God, thus God is mysterious to mankind. God is the starting point of mystery, the source of all mysteries.	We seek to know this mysterious God, but can only know Him through Christ.	God as a mystery is embodied in Christ, thus Christ becomes the mystery of God.	John 1:18 "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known."
Second Stage Christ is the mystery of God	Christ is the concrete expression of God, manifesting God, thus He is the mystery of God.	Christ is not only God, but more specifically, He is God concretized, explained, interpreted, and expressed. Therefore, Christ is the visible God.	We know God by knowing Christ, and find and experience God in Christ.	Christ manifests God and produces the church as His own expression; Christ is the embodiment of God, and the church is the continuation and enlargement of Christ.	Colossians 1:27 "The glory of this mystery...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Ephesians 3:4 "When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ."  Ephesians 1:22-23 "The church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
Third Stage The church is the mystery of Christ	The church is the Body of Christ, expressing Christ, thus it is the mystery of Christ.	Although Christ dwelling in believers is mysterious, the church as the Body of Christ is the manifestation and expression of Christ. When we see the church, we see Christ; when we contact the church, we contact Christ.	We express Christ in church life and experience Christ, so that Christ may have a corporate expression.	The church is the continuation and enlargement of Christ, the continuation of this mystery. The mystery of God—Christ, brings in the mystery of Christ—the church.

  

Conclusion:

From the Bible, the mystery of the universe can be understood as three consecutive stages of a single mystery. These three stages form a complete divine revelation, demonstrating God's eternal plan and economy.

The importance of these three stages lies in how they reveal how God progresses from being an invisible mystery, to becoming visible through Christ, and finally obtaining corporate expression through the church. This is a progressive revelation process: 

1.          First, God Himself is the greatest mystery in the universe because He is invisible

2.          Then, this mysterious God is embodied and expressed in Christ

3.          Finally, Christ receives corporate expression through the church as His Body 

These three stages are not separate but are mutually inclusive and interrelated. God is found in Christ, and Christ is found in the church. Therefore, the church is actually a "mystery within a mystery," the ultimate expression of the divine mystery.

This revelation has important applications for believers, helping us understand our position and function in God's eternal plan, and comprehend the importance of the church as the Body of Christ. 

 

*Please refer to the July 2024 Anaheim, California, USA training Experiencing, Enjoying and Manifesting Christ (II) Week 21 The Mystery of the Church