There is an idea in the world that religion is a mysterious affair and therefore cannot be understood. Because of this belief, there has arisen an erroneous principle in religious teaching with respect to man's salvation. It is thought that since it is a mysterious affair, man cannot understand God's plan for saving men and hence he has to wait and pray for the direct operation of the Holy Spirit to come into his heart and remove this mystery and destroy the "Adamic sin" that has blighted his life, and the proof of all this is "his feelings" in the matter. In other words, he will know when he is saved and when the mystery has been revealed by the way he "feels."
This is either true or it is not and it should interest all of us to know just what the mystery was that was connected with the salvation of the world. That the above idea is wrong, I am certain and that we may be able to arrive at the proper understanding of what this mystery is, I am confident. In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he gives an explanation concerning the mystery of religion that becomes the hope of the world and especially of the Gentiles. In his explanation lies the entire principle of man's salvation and the "how it is to be brought about." Hear the letter as Paul gave it: "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 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 fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." (Ephesians 3:1-12). From this reading it is clear that there was a time when all this was a mystery to men but now it has been revealed. To whom was this a mystery? To us or to those before Paul's day of preaching? Paul says, "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men." Not in our age, but in other ages this was a mystery. This question then arises: "Why is it not a mystery to us today?" Hear the answer given by Paul: "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." It is plain to see that the reason for its not being mysterious now is that Paul had this mystery revealed to him from heaven and he in turn wrote it down that if we will read we may also know what that mystery was in other ages.
Just what is a mystery, anyway? It is anything we do not understand, but when it is explained the "mystery" part of it is gone. With this plain statement by Paul that he received this mystery and then wrote it that as we read we may understand what it is, how do we become so confused in matters of religion as to think it is all yet draped with mysterious utterances so that no man can understand, much less be able to teach others? Because of the above theory we are told we have to wait for the Holy Spirit, in some supernatural way, to operate upon us and reveal to us, in this mysterious manner, but they did not believe it was important to follow God's instructions. They did not believe God and they paid the price for their unbelief. "And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord" (Leviticus 10:2).After the kingdom was divided upon the death of Solomon, the northern king, Jereboam erected an altar in violation of God's law and a young prophet was sent from God to cry against the altar (1 Kings 13). God told the young prophet not to eat or drink while he was there, nor to return by the way he went. But an old prophet lied to the young prophet and he believed the lie. Consequently, he lost his life. Did the young prophet believe in God? Indeed! But, sadly, he did not believe God, choosing rather to believe the lie of the old prophet. James tells us that the demons believe in God (James 2:19). But they do not believe God.
Most folks in denominations will tell you they believe in God, but when it comes to teaching the truth, it is obvious that they do not believe God. The Lord said one must be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16) but denominational folks say that isn't so. Neither do they believe God in His prescribed manner of worship. For instance, God commands us to sing in worship to Him (Ephesians 5:19), but denominations just don't believe God and so they add mechanical instruments of music which God has not commanded.
Doing things our own way instead of God's is no different than what Nadab and Abihu did in offering strange fire before the Lord. They "did their own thing." They believed in God, but did not believe God. When we are commanded to sing and then add mechanical instruments, do you really think we believe God? Friends, you may believe in God — that He exists and gave His Son to die for us — but if you are not willing to do as He has commanded in the New Testament you do not believe God.
E. R. Harper