The Mystery of the Gospel: "Christ in You, the Hope of Glory"

By Stan M. Carter

Paul tells those at Corinth, he "speaks the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes knew; for had they know it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." To those at Rome he says, it is "the mystery which was kept secret since the world began; but is now, made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets."
Struct blind on the road to Damascus, Saul returns from the desert, as the new man Paul. He tells the believers at Colossae: "Whereof, I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you, to fufil the word of God; even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints." The mystery, which Paul reveals wihin his letters, is the key to understanding every story, every parable, and the intent of God's every intervention into the lives of men. Those letters entice believers to search for the "mystery of his will;" no longer hidden, they now reveal the "mystery of godliness." I`Corinthians 2:7-8; Romans 16:25-26: Colossians 1:25-26; Ephesians 1:9; I Timothy 3:16

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Mar 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781462413256

Stan M. Carter

Stan Carter, as a seminary graduate, discovered that he had somehow lost his passion for reading his Bible and ministering to church members, who seemed frozen in the pew. He didn't blame them for his lack of faith, because he realized that the real problem stemed from his own unwillingness to set aside a special time each day, to listen for the voice of his Lord. Then, when he could go no further, he made a decision to stand on the words of John: "But the anointing which you have received of him, abideth in you, and you need not that any man teach you. But the same anointing teaches you all things; and is Truth, and is no lie! And even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him." Those words of promise made all the difference; when each morning, the scriptures filled with a new breath of life. Chasing after Paul, the mystery of the gospel seemed to beat within his heart, as he read each of his letters. For the first time, the simplicity which is Christ, brought the rest, and the wisdom, he so desperately needed. Now, with "eyes that see and ears that hear," he seeks to open that same window of understanding for all those of whom Christ said: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me!"

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Stan M. Carter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author

and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of

the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of

people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Inspiring Voices

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.inspiringvoices.com

844-686-9605

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are

models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Cover Acknowledgments:

Paul: Kenneth Wyatt Galleries, Texas

Conversion of St. Paul: Nicolas Lepicie

Scroll Background: gartnerstudios.com

All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1324-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1325-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021901210

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 03/03/2021

Table of Contents

Introduction: Hidden Wisdom

Preface: Paul the Apostle to the Athenians

Chapter 1 The Stoning of Stephen

Chapter 2 Eyes That See Not

Chapter 3 Searching for Truth

Chapter 4 Revealing the Mystery

Chapter 5 Be Ye Holy

Chapter 6 Come, Let Us Reason Together

Chapter 7 A Mountain of Sin

Chapter 8 God’s Temple

Chapter 9 The Shedding of Blood

Chapter 10 The Mystery in the Tomb

Chapter 11 The Mystery of Godliness

Chapter 12 The Perfect Law of Liberty

Chapter 13 Commandments of Love

Chapter 14 The Family Album

Chapter 15 Simply Christ

Chapter 16 The Gospel of Paul

Chapter 17 Counting the Cost

Chapter 18 The Mystery of Faith

Chapter 19 The Mystery in Baptism

Chapter 20 Our Sabbath

Postscript: As You Go

My most heartfelt thanks to Mark Wyatt, of Kenneth Wyatt Galleries, for the use of his father’s painting of Paul: See how large a letter I write which so clearly captures the image of God’s chosen Apostle! Stan

Introduction: Hidden Wisdom

What do you do when watching the evening news feels life threatening, when thousands everywhere are homeless, when millions are worried about their next meal, and church pews draw dust beneath those who seem paralyzed to act? Writing a book, or even reading a book, may appear last on your list. Yet God knows, men most often seek redemption during their most perilous times.

Today’s pattern of world events speak of the falling away, which Paul warned would happen before Christ’s return. His letters also speak of those who will seek refuge, as sudden destruction comes upon them that say, peace and safety. The mystery of the gospel is the refuge that men must find. This single message reveals the hope and love, which God has proclaimed to all men since the world began.

Paul’s ministry builds a bridge between the Old and New Testaments that opens a pathway for our understanding. He says of himself, "Wherefore I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you. To fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which has 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 this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whereunto, I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily!"

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before this world unto his glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory."

But as it is written: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him. Yet, God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things; yes, the deep things of God.

This mystery, which Paul reveals, is the key to understanding every story, every parable, and the intent of God’s every intervention in the lives of men. But that understanding demands that we first choose to lay aside the doctrines of denominations that divide us, and seek afresh the wisdom found by walking alone with God’s Spirit.

God has promised to reveal everything, to those who diligently seek him, even declaring that he will make known the very mind of Christ! Even as Christ shared this mystery with his disciples; he now, by his Spirit, seeks that same audience with all those who have eyes that see and ears that hear, as the mystery unfolds within the letters of Paul.

KJV: II`Thessalonians 2:3; I`Thessalonians 5:3; Colossians 1:25-29; I`Corinthians 2:7-10;