Biblical Mysteries
Many truths in the Bible are termed mysteries. These divine truths have not always been fully revealed but were kept hidden until God moved, in His own time, to disclose them. God sometimes called and used special messengers such as prophets and apostles as agents of His disclosure, but foremost He sent His Son to make them known.
Guided by love
Among God’s marvelous mysteries, we have considered godliness, God’s kingdom, God’s will, Christ’s indwelling of believers, the relation of Christ and the Church, and Gentile inclusion in the people of God. The list of divine mysteries is quite impressive and important.
Even so, one Bible passage reminds us of an occasion when understanding God’s mysteries is not enough: the cherished and oft-read love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13.
One verse in particular stands out: “Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love I am nothing” (v. 2). When love is missing, understanding mysteries is not enough.
Love is the one quality that when absent makes all other qualities or abilities of naught.
God’s revealed truth, great as it is, amounts to zero if the understanding of it is not accompanied by love.
Unbeatable union
The combination of understanding divine truth and the love that God inspires is an unbeatable union in spiritual matters and ministries.
Thus, this single verse of Scripture suggests the question: What value exists in understanding what God has revealed about Himself, His spiritual kingdom and His will, along with understanding the indwelling of Christ in believers, the relation between Christ and the Church, plus the inclusion of people from all nations, tribes and tongues in His church, if love is left out?
Straightforward answer
The biblical answer is straightforward: all such knowledge adds up to nothing.
What then is the goal toward which all God’s children should aspire? It is to take all our understanding of God’s disclosed mysteries and let it be infused with His love shed abroad in our heart by His Spirit.
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