I Corinthians 2:6-10

Is not that plain? What we have—he is talking about the gospel here—is a revelation. Now this—the subject of verse 10, that God has revealed—has to be tied to the word mystery, to the word wisdom.

But let us consider mystery in verse 7. Mystery in English does not mean exactly the same thing as mystery in Greek does. Mystery in English means a puzzle that is difficult to solve. But in Greek, it means a secret that is impossible to penetrate. So, the word of God, His purpose and plan, is a mystery. It is a secret that is impossible to penetrate. He is saying that man would never find out what it is, but God gave it to us. He revealed it to us.

What we have in this way is in no way earned. What we have, we have because it pleased God to give it to us. He has withheld it from others, but He has given it to you and me. God is in no way beholden to us as if He owed us something. He does not owe us anything. We could dig in His word our entire lifetime and we would never come to what He freely gave to us for His purposes, for His own reasons.

I Corinthians 2:7-10

This world is so deceived by Satan that they do not even know what to look for. God has to be revealed. Then we can seek! Let us carry this forward one more step to I Corinthians 2:7-10.

Mystery (to an English-speaking person) means, "a puzzle that is difficult to solve." But in the Bible it does not mean "a puzzle difficult to solve," but it means "a secret impossible to penetrate." That is why it has to be revealed!

Let us put these two scriptures together—the one in Romans and the one here in I Corinthians 2. Not only must God be revealed, but God's purpose must also be revealed. And it is as a gift from God. It is a part of His grace.