The Grapevine
Number 119                                                                        
December 17, 2005
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

The Great Secret
by Jack Northart

There has been a very poignant presentation on the internet about a great secret that is due to be announced on television sometime in January of 2006. This great secret is said to have been known by many great people of history including Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and John D. Rockefeller, just to name a few. People who have been very successful in the world throughout history. The suspense continues to mount before this big announcement, and it will be telecast to a world-wide audience. How valuable is this great secret ?

The true element of a great secret rests in a number of things: 1) It is usually beyond the ordinary understanding of most people. 2) It is usually shared only by the initiated ones. 3) It is discreetly hidden. Finally, it is a method or formula upon which success is based.

While these things may be correct in many ways to describing the great secrets of men, God has revealed His great secret to anyone who cares enough to learn and find out about it.

Romans 16:25-26
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.

Some of the aspects of this Great Mystery of God that are listed here in Romans are: 1) It was hidden in God since the world began. 2) Is now made manifest by way of the scriptures by the commandment of God. 3) It is being revealed now to ALL nations for one reason namely, THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH.

Can a person benefit from knowing this Great Mystery, the great secret? Absolutely. How valuable of a secret could it have been?

I Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a [should be translated: "regarding the"] mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

That is tremendous! This Great Mystery was so top secret in God's vault, that if Satan and his hosts would have known about it, they would have not implemented the crucifixion of Jesus Christ! It marked the beginning of the end for Satan. His impending doom began then. It is easy to see why he would try to cover up this information since God has made it known.

Verses 9,10a
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit...

Many people misquote verse nine out of context saying, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard.." but fail to read verse ten and following. Verse ten starts off with the word BUT, which sets the previously mentioned verse nine, in contrast with the remainder of this passage. God has revealed His great secret. It is plainly set forth for all to see.

What is the Great Mystery or the great secret? It that the Gentiles are fellowheirs and of the same body of Christ as the Judeans, when they both believe on Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:4-6
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

God had chosen the children of Israel out from among all nations to be His people. He did this because of His promise to Abraham. (See Romans 4). Israel (Jacob) was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham. The children of Israel were to be the true believers of God, just as Abraham had been. When Christ came to Israel, many rejected him as the true Messiah, including the leadership of Israel at that time. Although Christ was crucified and died, God raised him from the dead and then seated him at His own right hand in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 1:20). Since no one can physically see the resurrected Christ right now to believe that God did raise him from the dead, God made the requirement for salvation so simple.

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Perhaps it should have an exclamation mark behind it; "Thou shalt be saved!" Simple. No other requirements. Anyone can do this simple act, whether that person is from the nation of Israel or a Gentile from another nation, they will be saved with this simple confession of believing that He raised Jesus from the dead. When a person from either of these two categories believes, they become a member of the Body of Christ, and receive special enablements that they didn't have before, on top of receiving salvation.

Colossians 1:26-27
Even 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 Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Again, this should also have an exclamation mark behind it, "Christ in you!" To have Christ in you gives you power, it gives you enablements, it gives you life. Power to manifest in your life day after day. Enablements that make you more than a conqueror. Jesus talked about receiving this power before his ascension into heaven.

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Mark 16:17-20
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; [If] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

There is clear evidence that God has truly endued us with power from on high. However, because each man, woman and child that believes Romans 10:9 has freedom of will, they can choose to manifest this great power or choose not to. They can choose to learn more about it, or choose not to learn more about it. It's up to each individual.

Considering how long God waited to make known this great mystery, and that the price He paid for our salvation was by giving His only begotten Son, it should inspire us to want to learn more. It should inspire us to respond to His great love for us by carrying out His will and doing as Jesus commanded them in Mark 16.

The value of this great secret was very costly to God. He wanted us as His children to have what no other people in the history of the world have ever had which is Christ in us, the hope of glory. He is rich toward us, so that we can have a true and vital relationship with Him, and live a life that is promised in John chapter ten.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.