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1 Corinthians 1:3–2:16; Colossians 1:24–2:3
God’s Mystery, that is, Christ Himself
The Hidden Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge
1 Corinthians 1:3–2:16 — Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the Grace of God Which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and in all knowledge, 6 even as the Testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift [1 Corinthians 12:1–14:40], awaiting eagerly the Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 Who Will also Confirm you to the end, blameless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is Faithful, through Whom you were Called into Fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. 18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Chapter 2
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:1–11 — Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of Love, if there is any Fellowship of the Spirit, if any Affection and Compassion, 2 make my Joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same Love, United in Spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with Humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 Who, although He Existed in the Form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but Emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He Humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God Highly Exalted Him [Jesus Christ], and bestowed on Him the Name Which Is Above every name, 10 so that at the Name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.
Colossians 1:24–2:3 (NASBu–NIV)
24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness —
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints,
27 to whom God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Chapter 2
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
3 in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Christ Himself—the One, the All In All, the I AM, the All Sufficient Being—contains all things. In Him are hidden all the Treasures of the Wisdom and Knowledge of the Mysteries of God. These Hidden Treasures are eternal and infinite—They have no end. You can search your entire life with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Deut. 6:1–25; Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27) and not even scratch the surface of These Infinite, Hidden Treasures in Christ, which are Christ Himself. You can make it your life pursuit to search the Vast, Endless Depths of Christ; however, you will be left at the end of your pursuit still pursuing and searching, even more diligently than you did at the beginning. You will be left hungrier and thirstier for Christ at the end of your pursuit than you were when you began this lifelong journey. In wisdom, maturity, and humility, you will find that you know less about the Depths of Christ at the end of your lifelong pursuit than you did at the beginning. For you will end up extremely overwhelmed by the Depths of His Character, by the Depths of His Love, by the Depths of the Wisdom and Knowledge of Him; that you will realize you know very little about your Infinite, Eternal, Mighty King, and you will become very humbled at His Precious Feet.
Did you know that His Depths are endless (Rom. 11:33–36)? You may have thought this at the beginning of your pursuit, but you will absolutely know it at the end. Christ will reveal Himself to you as you diligently seek Him; however, as your Knowledge of Him and His Depths increases, He reveals more of His Vast, Endless Depths to you, Those Depths that were unknown to you before your diligent pursuit of Him began. The New Depths of Your Savior, which are now revealed at the current Depth that you are at, are endless. The New, Endless, Infinite, Eternal Depths that overwhelm your spirit, soul, heart, and mind bring you to that place of true spiritual worship, which brings you to that quiet place of safety and security in knowing your Savior more intimately than before, in knowing your Savior as He truly is and not as you thought He was prior to this (at the Previous Depths). You enter into that place of worship where you can almost see His Face, where you cling to His Feet in the Spirit; that place where you touch Him and where He touches you, where you feel His Tender, Loving Arms around you, where you are in the Security of your Lord; that place of worship where you have never been before—a New, Deeper Revelation of the Depths of Christ; that place of infinite peace and eternal security; that place of perfect rest; that place where you are with your Lord; that place without words; that place where thoughts overwhelm; that place where your heart is poured out at the Feet of your Savior; that place of endless, new emotions; that place of True Love—the Love of a Savior (Rev. 2:4, 5); that place of eternal tranquility where time is lost, where time appears to disappear, where time seems to end; as if, you were transferred from this time as you know it to that place beyond time—outside of time—in the presence of your Lord and Savior; that place of Divine Comfort; that place…that place…at the Feet of your Lord —the One Thing that is necessary, the Good Part, which shall not be taken away from you (Luke 10:38–42); that place…At The Feet of your SAVIOR!!!
The Depths of Christ will be revealed to you, according to the Will of God, as you enter into that place of true worship through the Power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in you (Rom. 8:9–11; 1 Cor. 2:12; 6:19), through Christ in you—the Great Mystery of God (Rom. 8:10; Col. 1:25–27), and through the Power of the Word of Christ / god (Matt. 24:35; Luke 21:33; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Heb. 4:12) spoken so clearly to your spirit, soul, heart, and mind. As you search the Depths of His Word, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, you are then searching the Endless Depths of Him. He reveals Himself to you as you pursue Him diligently, as you seek to search Him completely, as you intend to know Him as He truly is, as you desire to know Him fully as you are fully known (1 Cor. 13:9–13), as you long to be as He is—Compassionate, Full of Mercy, Longsuffering, Kind, Humble, Gentle, Patient, Forgiving, Loving, Full of Joy, Peaceful, Faithful, Good, Self-Controlled, Holy, Righteous, Pure, Glorious, Perfect, Spotless, Blameless, and True (Isaiah 66:1, 2; Matt. 5:48; John 17:22–24; 1 Cor. 1:4–9; 3:18; Gal. 5:22–26; Eph. 1:3–4; 4:17–24; 5:25b–27; Phil. 1:9, 10; 2:14–16; Col. 1:21–23; 3:1–4, 12–17; Heb. 10:14–18; 1 Pet. 1:13–16; 2:9–12; 2 Pet. 3:11, 13–15a; 1 John 2:29; 3:1–7). You can pursue Him in this way as you truly worship Him, as He truly is, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Deut. 6:1–25; Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27); to be pleasing to Him for His Glory. You can pursue Him in this way as you worship your One and Only Lord, Savior, and King. Remember that all the Hidden Treasures are to be found in Christ, as you diligently seek Him, as you diligently search His Word (Isaiah 34:16a, b (NLT)), as you diligently seek His Face until you see His face in that Great and Glorious Day when you appear before your Lord in Glory (Psalm 11:7; 27:8; Isaiah 30:19–21; Rev. 22:4a), as you diligently seek to be in His Presence, as you diligently seek to touch Him, as you diligently seek to know Him. As you diligently seek Him in these ways, and as you worship your Lord and Savior, you become lost in the Endless Depths of your Beloved Lover—jesus christ. You are His Bride and He is your Bridegroom (Rev. 19:7–9; 21:9–22:6; Matt. 22:1–14). You can diligently seek Him and diligently search His Depths while longing and hoping for the Great and Glorious Day of the Lord when you will be revealed with Him in all the fullness of His Glory along with all the saints (Matt. 24:27–25:46; Mark 13:24–37; Luke 21:25–36; Acts 1:9–11; Rom. 8:18–25; 1 Cor. 1:4–9; 15:35–58; 2 Cor. 4:14, 16–5:10; Phil. 3:7–21; Col. 3:1–4; 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11, 23–24; 2 Thess. 1:5–2:14; 2 Tim. 4:1–8; Titus 2:11–15; Heb 9:27, 28; 10:19–25, 35–39; 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:3–16; 4:12–13; 2 Pet. 1:10, 11; 3:1–18; 1 John 2:25–29; 3:1–3; Jude 17–25; Rev. 19:11–20:6); joined as one, joined as His Bride (Rev. 19:7–9; 21:1–22:6) when you sit with Him and dine with Him at the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7–10), at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Matt. 22:1–14; 25:1–13). You can desperately long for that Great and Glorious Day, when you will behold your Lord and Savior for all of eternity.
Did you know that the search of the Depths of the Lord will not end there? Did you know that the Depths will continue to be revealed there? Did you know you will have all of infinite, eternity future to search the Depths of your Savior? Begin to search the Vast, Endless, Depths of Him now. Begin to pursue Him diligently with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength (Deut. 6:1–25; Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). Remember that the Hidden Treasures in Christ are Endless and that you can know These Hidden Treasures during your time on earth. Also, remember that the pursuit of These Hidden Treasures in Christ is a lifelong, infinite, eternal pursuit without end. Do not be discouraged, but be encouraged by the Vast, Endless Depths of Christ. Remember, you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you (Phil. 4:13). As you get deeper into the Reality and Person of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you get to know His Heart as His Heart truly is, you get to know the Endless Depths of His True Love for you, for all the saints, and for every human on the earth. Remember that nothing can separate you from the Love of your Beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:31–39). He will fill you up with all the Surpassing Knowledge of His Love and with all the Fullness of God to overflowing (Ps. 23; Eph. 3:14–21).
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my Eternal Shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down
In pleasant, green pastures;
He leads me
Beside tranquil, quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His Name’s Sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your Rod and Your Staff,
They comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord
forever, forever, and ever.
Amen.
You must seek Him, worship Him, sing to Him, and praise Him (Ps. 146:1–150:6) in His Sanctuary (Ps. 20; 28; 63; 68; 73; 96; 134; 150:1), where He is Seated and Enthroned at the Right Hand of God the Father in the Heavenly Places (Ps. 2:4; 103:19; 123:1; Is. 6:1–3) above all rule, all authority, above all power, all dominion, above all principalities, all world forces, above all spiritual forces, and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come (Eph. 1:19b–23; 6:12; Phil. 2:5–11; Col. 2:13–15; Heb. 1:1–14; 8:1–5; 10:11–13; Rev. 1:4–8, 12–18; 4–5; 7:9–12; 11:15–19; 15:2–8; 16:5–7; 17:14; 17:1–22:21). “Oh, continually give thanks to the Lord God the Almighty, for He is Good; For His never ending Lovingkindness is Everlasting (Ps. 107).”
Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord God the Almighty!
Praise God in His Holy Sanctuary;
Praise Him in His Mighty Expanse.
2 Praise Him for His Mighty Deeds;
Praise Him according to His Most Excellent Greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord God the Almighty.
Praise the Lord God the Almighty!
In the deepest depths of your worship offered to Him, all your previous misconceptions of Him and His Love will be abolished through His Power, through the Power of the Holy Spirit that works within you, through the Power of His Spoken Word that He Speaks so clearly to you during the deep, quiet times of your worship in His Written Word. You will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the Breadth and Length and Height and Depth of His Love, you will be filled with the Knowledge of the Love of Christ which surpasses understanding, you will be filled up to all the Fullness of God, because He is able to do far more exceeding abundantly beyond all that you ask or think, according to the Power that works within you, to Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen (Eph. 3:14-21).
In the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ,
called to be a shepherd to the lost sheep of ISRAEL Y
V JOHN 3:16; GALATIANS 2:20 V
FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (1 Corinthians 4:10a)!!!
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD (Revelation 19:1–22:21)!!! EPHESIANS 2:4–10
Confess and Believe that Jesus is Lord and You Will Be Saved!!!
Romans 3:21–25a_…the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all [humans] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified [made not guilty / innocent] as a gift by His Grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 Whom [Christ Jesus] God displayed as a propitiation [an atoning sacrifice] in His Blood through faith.
Romans 6:23_…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:8–10_The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart—that is, the word of faith, which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
John 1:12_But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He [Jesus] gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His [Jesus’] name.
John 3:3_[Jesus said,] “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
2 Corinthians 6:2d, e_Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation…”
VYV…If you want Eternal Life in Christ Jesus, to be saved, and to be born again; then Believe in Jesus, confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead; and you will be saved…VYV
V If you want to talk to someone about Jesus Christ or if you are interested in The Kingdom of God, then please contact us, bond-servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, by using the phone number or the address at the bottom of Page 1.
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