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titled Whispers of the Mysteries (1)
by Ray and Doris
Prinzing
"Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." [Colossians 4:3-4].
A qualifying note to begin with, we find in the Greek text that the word
Christ is preceded with the identifying article "the" to literally make
it read "the mystery of THE CHRIST." For it concerns not only quality
of the anointing, but specifically as revealed through the person of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Certainly, Paul's desire remains with us today, for a door of utterance,
to be able to express these deeper realities. Truths which we hold in our
spirit, but find it so difficult to put into words. These precious things
almost defy expression, the language fails us. And thus it must be, as
Paul wrote at one time to the Corinthians, "Which things also we speak
not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Spirit
teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." [1 Corinthians 2:13].
Or, as the Interlinear gives, "spiritual things communicating by spiritual."
It has to be a free flowing from spirit to spirit, not from "head to head,'
on a mere mental level. Phillips translation of the next verse (14) explains,
"But the unspiritual man simply cannot accept the matters which the Spirit
deals with-- they just don't make sense to him, for, after all, you must
be spiritual to see spiritual things."
We need always to remember that "God is a Spirit." [John 4:24]. That is
His substance. While the various titles we use. Jesus (Saviour), Christ
(the Anointed), and Lord (Sovereign Master), all speak of the various dimensions
of His position in manifestation. "Who is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of every creature." [Colossians 1:15]. "Being the brightness
of glory, and the express image of His person." [Hebrews 1: 3].
"Express Image . . . " from the Greek "charakter," thus, literally,
the IMPRESSED CHARACTER. This word was used of an engraver, one
who mints coins, a mark engraved. Metaphorically it meant "a distinctive
mark or token impressed on a person or thing, by which it is known from
others, a characteristic, the character of." Jesus Christ was a revelation
of all the character of God, a visible expression of the Invisible.
"Express image of His person." Now we note the word "person" from the Greek
word "hupostasis" or "substance." The word is a compound of HUPO
meaning "under" and HISTEMI meaning "to Stand." Combined it means,
"that which stands under," or, THE SUBSTRATUM.
Thus we understand that the essential being of God is conceived as setting
its distinctive stamp upon Christ, coming into definite and characteristic
expression in His Person, so that the Son bears the exact impress of the
divine nature and character. He was a manifested exact reproduction of
the divine essence-- He IS THE SON OF GOD.
Saul was coming "near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him
a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying
unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou,
Lord? And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou persecutest." [Acts
9: 3-5].
Now Saul had been "brought up . . . at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught
according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers . . ." [Acts
22:3]. He knew about the God of his fathers, the I AM THAT I AM
who had appeared unto Moses. What Saul did not know until this moment was
that this I AM (Jehovah) had taken on human form, and was expressed
in the man Christ Jesus. So he was actively persecuting everyone who followed
this "Jesus," instead of serving the I AM. Thus it was a very startling
revelation to him on this day, with the Light brighter than the noon day
sun shining upon him, and a Voice speaking (though the men with him heard
not that voice), that in answer to his question, "Who art Thou, Lord?"
would come back the answer, "I AM Jesus." And in those three
words the connection was made, the promise of IMMANUEL (God with
us) was fulfilled in this man JESUS. Man speaks volumes of words
to convey one little thought. God spoke very few words and opened up a
vast revelation unto Saul. It covered the whole process of the incarnation,
the coming forth of Divine Essence into human form, the "I AM was IN
Jesus."
Saul was taken into Damascus, fasted for three days, till God sent a man
named Ananias to go pray for him, and he received his sight again. "And
when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days
with the disciples which were at Damascus. AND STRAIGHTWAY HE PREACHED
CHRIST in the synagogues, THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD.-- And Saul
increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at
Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." [Acts 9:19-20, 22].
Three words, "I AM JESUS, " and the whole revelation burst upon
him, an understanding of the "mystery of Christ. " He was initiated into
a new realm of comprehension, and KNEW truth which totally perplexed
the Jews of the city. It confounded them! Interesting word "confounded"
from the Greek "sugchuno" that literally means: to pour out together. Figuratively
it speaks of throwing an assembly into disorder, or confusion. Their carnal
minds could not grasp what it was saying, for their opinions did not harmonize
with the truth, hence they were confused. But Saul (whose name was changed
to Paul) saw with a clarity and understanding which enabled him to declare
the mystery of Christ. He "increased the more in strength, " from a Greek
word meaning, WAS MADE POWERFUL INWARDLY. Truth was revealed in
his inward parts, and it energized him. He was not dependent upon outward
props to sustain his vision, he knew what he knew because GOD HAD SHOWED
HIM.
Much later he was able to encourage Timothy by saying, "At my first answer
no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: -- Notwithstanding the Lord
stood with me, and strengthened me (made me powerful inwardly)." [2 Timothy
4:16-17]. When our revelation of The Christ fills our inner being, we can
take our stand without fear, He will be in us that LIVING DYNAMO,
to be our strength, and bring us through victoriously.
Many years later, we find that the inner vision had never dimmed, but through
all his travels, when he found a synagogue, "Paul, as his manner was, went
in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again
from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is THE CHRIST."
[Acts 17:2-3].
However versed the Jews were concerning their "Messiah," and this word
means "Anointed," with all their longings and dreams wrapped up in the
hope for this One to come, and the mystery of the sorrows which would befall
Him, [Isaiah 53, and other prophecies] Paul took those scriptures which
they knew, and then "opening and alleging," preached Christ. The word "opening"
from the Greek "dianoigo," to open up thoroughly. And "alleging" from the
word "paratithemi," to place alongside. He took every scripture and placed
right alongside of them all the reality of Jesus Christ, as the complete
and glorious fulfillment of every promise. It was a thorough presentation,
an in-depth unfolding, born out of his personal encounter and revelation.
Not only did Paul understand the past prophecies with their fulfillment
in Jesus, but he also had a marvelous revelation of the future with its
coming fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
He understood that it was in the purpose of God "to bring into One the
whole in THE CHRIST, both things in the heavens, and the things
upon the earth." [Ephesians 1:10, Young's Literal].
To gather together into One, the whole creation included, to be brought
into union with THE CHRIST. Not just to the dimension of
Jesus, as Saviour, but also as THE CHRIST, the Anointed, for he
proved that this "Jesus" is "very THE CHRIST." The Anointed of God
who would pour out of His Spirit "upon all flesh," [Joel 2:28] until "all
flesh shall see the salvation of God." [Luke 3 :6].
"For the love which Christ has for me presses on me from all sides, holding
me to one end and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself
around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive, having brought
me to this conclusion, namely, that One died on behalf of all, therefore
all died, and that He also died on behalf of all in order that those who
are living no longer are living for themselves but for the One who died
on their behalf and was raised. So that as for us, from this particular
time onward, not even one individual do we know as judged upon the basis
of human standards. Even though we have known Christ as judged by human
standards, yet now no longer, do we know Him as such." [2 Corinthians
5 :14, Wuest].
Men know men by human standards, and they judge one another by themselves,
measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,
which, Paul says, "is not wise." [2 Corinthians 10:12]. And now, even though
we once knew, or judged Jesus by human standards, viewed only after the
flesh, Paul insists we must not do that any more, for He is THE CHRIST,
The Anointed.
One of the paramount characteristics of The Christ is HIS LOVE,
for "God is love," [1 John 4:16], and Jesus Christ is the "express image
of His person." And coming to know Christ, and His love, soon brings us
to the place where "the love which Christ has for me presses on me from
all sides, " until it brings us to one certain viewpoint, and prohibits
us from considering any other, namely, that HE DIED FOR ALL MEN.
"To
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." [2
Corinthians 5:19]. His love being for ALL MEN, He gave Himself for
all men, and shall reconcile unto Himself all men. HIS LOVE prohibits
us from any other view, Paul declared. And if we presently hold to any
other view, then we still have not come into an understanding of the "mystery
of Christ" in the measure ,which Paul experienced.
Now specifically, love was holding Paul to one view alone, that when One
died for all, then were all dead. What does this mean? Paul understood
that when Christ died, by the grace of God, "taste death for every man,"
[Hebrews 2:9] it was an act that ensured that all men would ultimately
partake of that death-- to die to self, that they might come alive to God.
His death ensured the death of all men. What He did was in behalf of this
whole world. Not to absolve us from dying, but to make sure that we all
would die to self, rebellion, evil, and then by the power of His resurrection
life, come alive to God, come alive to righteousness, and LIVE UNTO
HIM. Therefore, "In Christ shall all be made alive, but every man in
his own order." [1 Corinthians 15:22-23].
It is IN CHRIST that all are dead, and it is IN CHRIST that all are to
be made alive. We are to experientially partake of both-- His death,
and His resurrection. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the...dead." [Philippians
3:10-11].
Without THE CHRIST, and the overshadowing and indwelling of His
anointing Spirit, we cannot face the death process, until all of self is
dealt with by His cross. And certainly, without THE CHRIST we would
never realize the glory of His resurrection life. All of this outworking
is contained in this mystery of Christ. Some are presently being
initiated into its operation, and for some it remains an utter mystery,
sealed until the time appointed of the Father for their drawing, their
order of experiencing Christ.
Furthermore, this mystery includes the tremendous transformation, first
seen in Jesus, and ultimately to be worked in us, for going from the "man"
into the "Christ." Yes, from bearing the image of the first Adam, into
becoming the last Adam, "a quickening spirit." [1 Corinthians 15:45].
We can conceive of Him as a MAN, born as a babe in the manger, growing
up in Nazareth, walking the shores of Galilee, and even ultimately facing
the angry crowd to be crucified and hung on a cross. vividly preachers
describe in detail all the emotions and passions which the natural would
feel-- the pain, the agony, the loneliness of being forsaken, misunderstood,
etc. As men we identify with Him as a man. But to comprehend Him as "THE
CHRIST," it requires a divine revelation for us, even as it did for
Paul. To bring Him down from the celestial glories, into this vale of tears,
the incarnation, is mystery enough. But then to take Him as man, and restore
Him again into the realm of Spirit, baffles the imagination of carnal man.
The Anointed, who is able to pour out of His selfsame spirit upon us, that
we might be His anointed ones, this is precious truth indeed.
"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if
Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus
from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up the Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you."
[ Romans 8:9-11].
It is this indwelling anointing, the Spirit of The Christ, which will quicken
us, change us from glory to glory, until we become fully ONE IN HIM.
So in another place, Paul speaks of how this is "the mystery which hath
been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest
to His saints; to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the nations; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of
glory. " [ Colossians 1:26-27]. Here the mystery has a
dual working, it is "Christ in you" working that you might be "IN THE
CHRIST." "That they also may be one in us." [John 17:21]. For "He that
is joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT." [1 Corinthians 6:17].
As wonderful as it is to have "Christ in you," that is not His ultimate
intention, for it is His purpose, when the times are ripe for it, to gather
together in one all things in THE CHRIST. His indwelling is the seal,
the surety of the promise that we shall be brought fully into Him.
We are very thankful that we have "this treasure in earthen vessels." [2
Corinthians 4:7]. Without HIM
we are nothing. But we long for our
earthen vessel to be CHANGED, fashioned anew like unto His glorious
body, so that we might be "as He is." No more do we just want to
"contain Him" for we desire that He truly "contain us." Not only will we
hold the truth, but the truth will hold us. For the "mystery of Christ"
not only concerns THE CHRIST, which it does, first and foremost,
that "in all He might have the pre-eminence." [Colossians 1:18]. But then
it goes on to embrace all those who do become one in Him.
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all members of that
one body, being many, and one body; SO ALSO IS THE CHRIST. For by
one Spirit (His) are we all baptized into one body . . . and have been
all made to drink into one Spirit." [1 Corinthians 12:12-13].
There is a corporate Christ body of which
HE is the Head. And to
become a part of this body in its full expression of reality means more
than just to have the beginnings of an anointing. It included the
whole process of our identification in His death and resurrection, till
even our body is changed like unto His glorious body. He went into the
grave as Jesus, but He certainly came forth as THE CHRIST. There
is dimension beyond dimension, in one glorious expression after another,
until HE becomes the fullness that filleth ALL IN ALL.
There was the realm where He was made of no reputation, numbered among
the transgressors, and had to borrow a tomb for His burial. Such was His
poverty for our sakes. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through
His poverty might be rich." [2 Corinthians 8:9]. Then the Spirit of God
did quicken Him, and He came forth as a LIFE GIVING SPIRIT. Certainly
He was anointed in His Jesus ministry, even as Peter preached to Cornelius,
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and with power;
who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;
for God was with Him." [Acts 10:38]. But after His resurrection, this Anointed
One also became THE ANOINTER-- pouring out of His Spirit upon others
who are now apprehended to become a part of the corporate Christ body.
"The head of every man is THE CHRIST . . . and the head of Christ, THE
GOD." [1 Corinthians 11: 3].
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." [Hebrews 13:8].
He is not to be known only as the man Jesus. Nor to be known only as the
Anointing Spirit, Christ. The "mystery of Christ" bespeaks of the combining
of both dimensions, and he remains
THE ANOINTED SAVIOUR for all
time. As long as the ages last, with one creature needing salvation, He
is Jesus. But He is also THE CHRIST and able to lift them out of
their low estate, and into the heavenlies, to be "with Me where I am."
[John 17:24]. Until the whole is gathered together into one into the Christ.
Some would deny this mystery to the extent they would erase the Jesus
dimension, and know Him only as the Christ. But they will have come
short of understanding all that is contained in this glorious mystery.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, THE MAN
CHRIST JESUS; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in
due time." [1 Timothy 2: 5-6].
To know Him as Jesus, our Saviour, for "He shall save His people from their
sins." [Matthew 1:21]. To know Him as The Christ, The Anointed, who
also pours upon us His Spirit to anoint us, and lift us up into the heavenlies,
"quickened together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made
us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus." [Ephesians 2:5-6].
And to know Him as LORD, for He is truly our Lord Jesus Christ,
in sovereign control of all that touches our life, that His will alone
might be fulfilled.
"In view of the fact, therefore, that you were raised with Christ, the
things above be constantly seeking, where Christ is, on the right hand
of God, seated. The things above be constantly setting your mind upon,
not the things on the earth, for you died, and your life has been hidden
with Christ in God. Whenever the Christ is made visible, our life, then
also you with Him shall be manifested in glory." [Colossians 3:1-4, Wuest].
Where is our Life? It is hid with The Christ in God. All the fullness that
we desire, all the victory we have yearned for, the complete change even
of this mortal body-- all is resident in our Jesus Christ. And when He
shall appear then shall we receive the fulfillment of the promise. Christ
in us now, as the earnest of our inheritance, continues to work those changes
which shall result in our being prepared for His coming. But then, glory
beyond comprehension, we shall be IN CHRIST, swallowed up into the
life, love, and glory which shall ever endure.
Nor is this just a selfish goal for our own pursuit, but it is this Christ
that "we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." [Colossians 1:28].
The whole to be gathered into Him, every man made perfect in Him. So marvelous
is this purpose and plan, we have but uttered "whisper" of the mystery
of Christ. Let us go on to-know Him in His fullness.
O Thou glorious God-man, who hung upon the tree,
Condescending to us, though veiled in mystery.
Human form appearing, a body thou didst bear,
Fitted for our vision, our vanity to share.
Know we now as Saviour, the Lamb of Calvary ,
Sacrifice and offering for our iniquity.
Buried in the garden, tomb of hewn stone,
Rising up triumphant to take Thy rightful throne.
How is it that we still perceive Thee as a man?
Thou, a quick'ning Spirit, a greater realm began.
Would that we could know Thee in spirit and in truth,
Going beyond the boundary which now bespeaks our youth.
True, that just the natural is all our being knows,
Till Thy life within us by revelation grows.
But long we for the day when childish things shall cease,
And from our present bonds we'll know thy blest release.
Spirit unto spirit, we shall be joined to Thee,
Knowledge of Thee growing into reality.
O Christ, Thou art my Lord, fulfillment of desire,
To know Thee as Thou art -- to this I now aspire.
______________________________________________________________
(1)
Prinzing, Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF THE MYSTERIES. Boise, Idaho
83705, P.O. Box 5822
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