AUG 5

Colossians 2:2-3
Memorise Matthew 13:44
“…the acknowledgement of the mystery…”

ARE YOU FASCINATED BY HIDDEN MYSTERIES?

Paul continues with “… to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Do recall from our earlier study of Colossians 1:26-27 what the meaning of mystery is. God has now revealed Himself and His salvation plan concerning Christ to everyone, and such attacks against Christ and His Word only seek to make this revelation even clearer to His elect. The word “acknowledgement” implies full recognition and accurate discernment of this revelation by God, so that the elect can defend the faith against false teachers (Ephesians 4:14), to whom this mystery is not revealed.

One such false teaching was Gnosticism, which teaches that salvation is gained by attaining knowledge that is hidden or secret, similar to today’s Hindu practice of meditation to discover ‘secret’ knowledge within one’s soul. Paul thus uses the word “hid” to tell us the key to revealing God’s redemptive plan is Christ; there is no other hidden knowledge relating to salvation to be discovered, unlike what the Gnostics believe. In contrast, God’s knowledge is meant to be revealed. Paul then uses the word “treasures” to remind us of Matthew 13:44, where the knowledge of Christ is likened to a hid treasure which a man would sell all that he has just to acquire. Christ not only brings salvation, which is in itself treasure beyond compare, but He is also the omniscient God who is in heaven, and in whom all wisdom and knowledge dwells, ready to be revealed to all who believe in Christ. We have no true wisdom if we do not know Christ, and why should we desire any other source of spiritual knowledge if we already have Christ?

Today many teens are fascinated by hidden mysteries. Do you look at Gnostic thriller novels by authors like Dan Brown with fascination and interest, but have no desire whatsoever to study biblical prophecy revealed in Christ? Dear teen, do realize you have a treasure storehouse waiting to be revealed to you, which is the absolute truth, compared to these works of fiction that make use of half-truths and falsehoods to weave a tale that is full of “enticing words” (Colossians 2:4). You may wish to argue that you won’t be so easily fooled by reading such mystery novels, but then how would you be able to discern truth from error if you have not studied the whole truth in the first place? Do come to “…the acknowledgement of the mystery…” and truly know Christ.

Thought: If you say you want to know Christ, do you understand what this means?
Prayer: May I come to a full knowledge of Christ.