02.01. Preface

“THE MYSTERY”

Excerpts from the articles published by the Rev. E. W. Bullinger, D.D. in Things To Come (1895-1896).

[Note: Though appearing in separate installments, each will be found to be complete in itself. Here we start with the Third Paper, then with the Fourth and Fifth Papers, which contain the core of the teaching for the Church of God in this Age of Grace that we are living now. After them, you can find the rest of the papers (1,2,6,7).]

Preface:

One aspect of "The Mystery" that was well written by the Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith is the next: "The Bible teaches us that we are the living lessons that God uses to demonstrate His divine wisdom to the angelic beings as He works in us. How God deals with us in this world demonstrates His character to the angels!".

Introductory thoughts taken from the end of the Fifth Paper: Have we not here a practical subject for our own hearts? What is our condition before God? Are we taken up with “bodies” and divisions, which men have made, and called by their own names, or the names which man has given them? If so, we too are not, spiritually, in a proper condition to hear or receive “the Mystery of God.” No wonder the blessed truth so early dropped out of the creed of the Church of God! No wonder, when, in our day, it has been revived, so few care to know it. No wonder that many resent its revival; for it judges our Ecclesiastical position to the very core. It makes nothing of the sects and denominations, which the majority are contending for; it writes folly upon our most cherished idols. No wonder Christians are torn and divided and scattered, when they “discern not the Body” (1Co 11:29). No wonder the air is filled with false schemes for re-uniting the scattered sects when such gross darkness prevails as to what is, subjectively, “the unity” of the Spirit, and objectively, the union of the members with the one Head of the Body in the glory which is about to be revealed.

Oh, to get back to this primitive truth! Here, and here alone, is the secret of Re-union; for though scattered amongst the sects, and regarded by men as totally separated, the members of this Body are already and really “One in Christ.” This is the only real union that exists in the world, and the more truly believers can now realize their position as “dead with Christ,” “risen with Christ,” and thus “One with Christ,” and “in Christ,” the more real unity will there be amongst the members themselves, one with another.