Bible Study Lessons

The Mystery of the Gospel

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Introduction

Once the famous artist, Thomas Nast, held a public exhibition. On his canvas about six feet by two feet appeared a farmhouse surrounded by barns and meadows with cattle and crops. An orchard stood nearby under a bright sky with perfect clouds. He stood back to the enthusiastic applause of his audience, but did not put down his brush. Instead, he began to apply darker colors in a reckless fashion canceling out the sunny sky, the tranquil meadows, and the pristine cottage. The puzzled audience remained silent this time when he laid down his brushes with a satisfied look before stepping aside to reveal a messy scene of dark tones with no order or beauty. After a moment, Nast requested that the attendants place a gilded frame around the ruined artwork. Then he asked them to turn the framed canvas to an upright position. The audience burst into a hearty ovation. By simply turning the painting the mystery was revealed. A waterfall plunged over dark rocks in a forest of glorious trees. This story represents the story of the whole world. It started out as a perfect home. But when sin entered the world the dark strokes of sorrow and death began to ruin the perfection God had created. Even the Son of God was put to death on a Roman cross. So often we are confused, and wonder what is going on. But God guides even the darkest strokes that they might work His purposes. Through His Word He turns the picture, as it were, and reveals to us the mystery of the hope of the gospel through salvation in Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:24-29 speaks of this mystery which God has revealed.

Observation

Pray

Pray before reading and studying this passage that the Lord will give you understanding and wisdom through it and challenge your thinking so that you might become more like Him.

Read Focus Verses

Read Colossians 1:24-29 and notice the different ways Paul speaks of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Rejoicing

What does verse 24 say Paul is rejoicing in?

Christ’s Body

What is referred to as Christ’s body in verse 24?

Paul’s Role

How does Paul designate his role in the beginning of verse 25?

Why?

Why does verse 25 explain that Paul was made a minister or servant of the gospel?

Hidden, Now Revealed

What does Paul call the gospel which was hidden, but is now revealed?

Keyword – Mystery

Marking the word mystery will help it stand out to you in the passage.

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Mystery

Glorious Mystery

Go ahead and mark the word mystery both times it appears in this passage.

God’s Desire

According to verse 27, what does God want to make known to His people?

Mystery Revealed

What is the mystery shown to be at the end of verse 27?

Commission

What are those who know this mystery to do with it according to verse 28?

Striving

How does Paul labor and strive to share the gospel?

Interpretation

Rejoicing

James 1:2-4 explains why a believer can rejoice in sufferings.

Sufferings

From what you’ve seen in Colossians and James, why did Paul rejoice in his sufferings for Christ’s sake?

Cross Referencing

Ephesians 3:1-13 is very similar to today’s passage. Read it to better understand some of the key concepts in both passages.

Parallels

What are some of the parallels between these two sections which help you better understand the two passages?

Minister

Sometimes we tend to use the word minister as a title without considering its meaning of servant. Take a closer look at the word.

Strong's G1249

Greek,diakonos [dee-ak'-on-os]

--Noun

Origin: probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands, cf (1377))

Definition:

  1. one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister
    1. the servant of a king
    2. a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
    3. a waiter, one who serves food and drink

Manifold Wisdom of God

In Colossians 1:26 we read about the mystery being made known. Why does Ephesians 3:9-10 explain that God revealed the mystery of the gospel?

Revealer

In both of these passages, who had to reveal the mystery of the gospel?

Riches of His Glory

In verse 27 of today’s passage, we read about the riches of the glory of this mystery. The phrase is used several times in the Bible. Notice it in Philippians 4:19.

Mystery

The word mystery is used in a few different senses today. Perhaps the word even brings to mind a detective story. But unlike those mysteries, this one couldn’t be understood without the revelation of God. Take a moment to consider this word frequently used in the Bible for the gospel.

Strong's G3466

Greek,musterion [moos-tay'-ree-on]

--Noun Neuter

Origin: from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth)

Definition:

  1. hidden thing, secret, mystery
    1. generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to ordinary mortals
    2. a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding
    3. a hidden purpose or counsel
      1. secret will 1c
    4. of men 1c
    5. of God: the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly
  2. in rabbinic writings, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense
    1. of an OT saying
    2. of an image or form seen in a vision
    3. of a dream

The Mysteries of God

If you’d like to take a little extra time, this short post summarizes much of what the New Testament says about the mysteries that God had hidden but now has revealed.

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Christ in You

Colossians 1:27 speaks of Christ in believers. Jesus promised this in the Gospels, and we see it throughout the New Testament. Galatians 2:20 relates this glorious reality to a Christian’s daily life.

Indwelling

How would you explain these verses about Christ living in believers in your own words?

Hope of Glory

This is not the first time Colossians has talked about hope. Glance back at chapter 1:3-5.

Hope

What is a Christian’s certain hope?

Everyone

If you look at verses 27-28, is there anyone with whom a Christian may not share the hope of the gospel?

Who

Who is working through Paul in verse 29 to labor to share the hope of the gospel with everyone?

Labor

Paul speaks of laboring. See what he says about those labors in 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Promise

What is the promise to everyone who labors to share the hope of the gospel?

Application

Believe

Do you believe the mystery of the gospel which God has revealed through His Word that you can receive forgiveness and salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Why or why not?

Labor

If you believe the hope of the glorious mystery of God in the gospel, what are you doing, or what will you be doing, to labor to share it with everyone?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study has helped you better understand the mystery of the hope of the gospel in Jesus Christ.

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