Embracing the Divine Mystery of God's Love
Embracing the Divine Mystery of God's Love
Summary
Mystery is woven into the fabric of our lives, our universe, and our faith. From the earliest days of human curiosity, we have been captivated by the unknown—whether it’s the secrets of the cosmos, the origins of life, or the enigma of our own self-awareness. Science has solved many riddles, like the orbit of Mercury, but even the greatest minds have reached the edge of what can be explained. There are questions that science cannot answer: Why is there something rather than nothing? How did life begin? Why do we possess a sense of self? These are not just scientific puzzles; they are profound mysteries that point us beyond the material world.
The answers to these ultimate mysteries are not found in laboratories or equations, but in revelation. The very first words of Scripture—“In the beginning, God…”—declare that God is both the source and the reason for all that exists. He is the one who brought the universe into being, who breathed life into dust, and who made us in His image, giving us personhood and identity. These truths are not deduced by human reason but are gifts of divine disclosure.
The New Testament speaks often of “mystery,” especially through the writings of Paul. In a world obsessed with secrets and hidden knowledge, Paul proclaims that the greatest mystery has now been revealed: through Christ, God’s covenant is open to all people, not just a select few. Even more astonishing is the mystery that Christ Himself dwells within believers. This is not a distant, impersonal deity, but a God who is intimately present, closer than our own breath.
Yet, Christianity does not pretend to have solved every mystery. How can God become a baby? How can three be one? How can the infinite die for the finite? These are not puzzles to be solved, but wonders to be adored. The greatest mystery of all is the love of God—a love so deep that He would die for us, so persistent that we have never, not for a moment, been unloved. This is the truth we are called to embrace and to share: that in Christ, the ultimate mystery is not just revealed, but personally experienced.
Key Takeaways
- The Limits of Science and the Necessity of Revelation
Science excels at answering “how” questions but falters at “why.” The origins of the universe, life, and self-awareness remain unsolved mysteries for science, pointing us to the necessity of revelation. Only God’s self-disclosure in Scripture provides the answers to these foundational questions, reminding us that some truths are received, not discovered. [49:10]
- The Mystery of Inclusion: God’s Covenant for All
Paul reveals that the mystery hidden for ages is now made known: through Christ, all people—regardless of background—are invited into God’s covenant. This radical inclusion shatters the boundaries of exclusivity and calls us to see every person as a potential heir of God’s promises. The gospel is not a secret to be hoarded, but a mystery to be proclaimed. [52:25]
- Christ in You: The Most Intimate Mystery
The indwelling of Christ is a mystery that defies explanation. God is not merely near us, but within us, transforming our very identity. This intimacy is not intrusive but loving, a presence that is both humbling and empowering, inviting us to live out of the reality that we are never alone. [55:22]
- Embracing the Unexplainable in Faith
Christianity is full of mysteries that cannot be fully grasped—God’s incarnation, the Trinity, resurrection, and more. Rather than demanding complete understanding, faith invites us to worship in awe and humility. The inability to explain these wonders does not diminish their truth; it magnifies the majesty of God. [56:38]
- The Greatest Mystery: You Have Never Been Unloved
At the heart of all mystery is the unfathomable love of God. Despite our failures and unworthiness, God’s love remains constant and sacrificial. This is the mystery we are called to embrace and share: that in Christ, we have never been unloved, and this truth is for every person on earth. [01:02:16]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[34:27] - Introduction and Personal Story
[35:20] - Mystery Writers and Our Fascination with Secrets
[36:11] - Science and the Allure of Unsolved Mysteries
[37:12] - The Privileged Position of Earth and Mercury
[38:17] - The Scale of the Sun and Mercury
[39:25] - The Mystery of Mercury’s Orbit
[41:31] - Einstein and the Beauty of Mystery
[42:19] - The Limits of Science: The Beginning of Everything
[43:29] - The Mystery of Life’s Origin
[45:20] - The Mystery of Self-Awareness
[47:02] - The Limits of Artificial Intelligence and Human Personhood
[48:16] - Science Answers “How,” Not “Why”
[49:10] - The Need for Revelation: God as the Answer
[50:46] - God Solves the Three Great Mysteries
[52:25] - The Mystery Revealed: Inclusion in Christ
[54:25] - The Mystery of Christ in You
[55:22] - The Spiritual Realm and the Indwelling Christ
[56:38] - The Ongoing Mysteries of Faith
[57:39] - The Intimacy of God’s Presence
[59:20] - The Greatest Mystery: God’s Love
[01:00:38] - “And Can It Be”: The Mystery in Song
[01:02:16] - “Never Been Unloved”: The Assurance of God’s Love
[01:04:01] - Communion: Celebrating the Sacrifice
[01:12:43] - Closing and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Mystery of Faith and God’s Love
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### Bible Reading
Colossians 1:25-27 (ESV)
> "I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
> "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)
> "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
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### Observation Questions
1. In Colossians 1:25-27, what does Paul say about the “mystery” that was hidden for ages? Who is this mystery now revealed to? [52:25]
2. According to Genesis 1:1, who is presented as the source and reason for everything that exists? [50:46]
3. In Ephesians 3:6, what is the “mystery” that Paul says has now been revealed? Who does it include? [52:25]
4. The sermon mentioned that science can answer “how” questions but struggles with “why.” What are some examples of mysteries that science cannot explain, according to the sermon? [43:29]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul uses the word “mystery” so often when talking about the gospel and God’s plan? What effect might this have had on his original audience? [51:38]
2. The sermon says that the answers to the biggest mysteries—like why there is something rather than nothing, or why we have self-awareness—are not found in science but in God’s revelation. How does this shape the way Christians approach questions about existence and meaning? [49:10]
3. What does it mean that “Christ is in you, the hope of glory”? How might this change the way a believer sees themselves and their relationship with God? [54:25]
4. The sermon points out that Christianity is full of mysteries that cannot be fully explained, like the Trinity or the incarnation. Why might God choose to leave some things mysterious instead of explaining everything? [56:38]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that the greatest mystery is that we have never, not for a moment, been unloved by God. Is there a time in your life when you doubted God’s love for you? How does this truth challenge or comfort you today? [01:02:16]
2. Paul reveals that God’s covenant is open to all people, not just a select few. Are there people or groups you find it hard to see as included in God’s promises? How can you begin to see them differently? [52:25]
3. The idea that “Christ is in you” is described as the most intimate mystery. What would it look like for you to live each day with the awareness that Christ is not just near you, but within you? [55:22]
4. The sermon encourages us to embrace mysteries in our faith rather than demand complete understanding. Are there aspects of Christianity you struggle to accept because they don’t make sense to you? How can you practice worshiping God in awe and humility, even when you don’t have all the answers? [56:38]
5. The sermon says that some truths are “received, not discovered.” Are there areas in your life where you are trying to figure things out on your own instead of receiving what God has revealed? What would it look like to trust God’s revelation more fully? [49:10]
6. The message ends with a call to share the truth of God’s love with others. Who in your life needs to hear that they have “never been unloved”? What is one step you can take this week to share that message? [01:02:16]
7. The sermon mentions that God’s presence is not intrusive but loving, and that He is closer than our own breath. How does this change the way you think about prayer, worship, or your daily routines? [58:17]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for the mysteries He has revealed, especially the mystery of His love and presence. Ask for faith to trust Him with the things you don’t understand, and for courage to share His love with others.
Devotional
Day 1: God is the Source of All Beginnings
Science can explain much about the universe, but it cannot answer the deepest questions of how and why everything began. The mysteries of the universe’s origin, the emergence of life, and the gift of self-awareness all point beyond scientific explanation to a greater reality. Scripture reveals that God Himself is the answer to these mysteries—He is the One who created the universe, breathed life into existence, and made each person in His image. In the face of questions science cannot answer, we are invited to look beyond and trust the One who stands at the beginning of all things. [50:46]
Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel the need for answers or certainty, and how might trusting God as the source of all beginnings bring you peace today?
Day 2: The Mystery Revealed—God’s New Covenant Includes All
For generations, the mystery of God’s plan was hidden, but through Christ, it has been revealed: God’s love and salvation are not limited to one group but are offered to all people. The Apostle Paul writes that this mystery, once concealed, is now made known to the saints—Jews and Gentiles alike are fellow heirs in Christ. This truth invites us to embrace the wideness of God’s mercy and to see ourselves and others as included in His gracious covenant. [52:25]
Colossians 1:25-27 (ESV)
…I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Reflection: Who in your life might feel excluded from God’s love, and how can you intentionally include or reach out to them this week?
Day 3: Christ in You—The Most Personal Mystery
One of the greatest mysteries of faith is that Christ Himself dwells within each believer. This is not a distant or abstract truth, but an intimate reality: God is not far off, but present within, closer than our own breath. Though we cannot fully explain how the Spirit of Christ lives in us, we are called to trust this revealed truth and allow it to transform our daily lives. The indwelling Christ means we are never alone, and God’s presence is with us in the most personal way imaginable. [55:22]
Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to remember that Christ is truly present within you, and how might that change your actions or attitude today?
Day 4: The Ultimate Mystery—God’s Amazing Love
The greatest mystery of all is the depth of God’s love for us—a love so profound that God Himself would die for us. This love is not something we can fully comprehend or explain; it is a mercy that causes even angels to marvel. No matter how unlovable we may feel, God’s sacrifice in Christ proves that we have never been unloved. This truth is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope, calling us to rest in the assurance of His everlasting love. [01:01:24]
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Reflection: When have you doubted God’s love for you, and how can you remind yourself today that you have never been unloved?
Day 5: Sharing the Mystery—Proclaiming Christ’s Love to Others
Having received the mystery of God’s love and the gift of Christ within, we are entrusted with the privilege and responsibility of sharing this good news with others. Jesus commands us to go and tell, to proclaim the Lord’s death and resurrection until He comes. As we remember Christ’s sacrifice, especially in communion, we are reminded that this message is for every person on earth. Let us be bold in sharing the truth that God’s love is for all, and that no one has ever been unloved. [01:04:01]
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Reflection: Who is one person you can share the message of God’s love with this week, and what practical step can you take to do so?
Quotes
Solving that riddle of Mercury's orbit took a revolutionary change, a seismic shift. The laws of Newton would never have been able to explain it. And for these three beginning mysteries, we have to do the same. We have to look beyond science, meta-science, metaphysics, metaphysical. [00:50:14] (29 seconds)
A key factor here is that Christ living inside us is in the spiritual realm. Science can only explain things in the physical world. The Bible tells us about the spiritual dimension. It tells us that God is spirit, that there are spiritual rules, spiritual realities. God lets us know about these things through his word to us, and we have to trust his revelation to us. [00:55:39] (36 seconds)
Christianity is still very full of mysteries. How did God become a little, tiny, tiny baby? How can three persons be in one God? How can there be a being that is infinite and eternal? How can a man dead for three days rise again? [00:56:22] (28 seconds)
This mystery of an infinite and all-powerful God, well, that can be scary. How can we as small, finite creatures relate to such a being? How do we possibly approach him? [00:56:51] (18 seconds)
In God's grand scheme, he could have remained remote, far off and distant, like an absentee landlord or the clockmaker, as some people call it. He could have remained high on a distant throne, like Zeus in Olympus or Odin in Asgard. And that's indeed where these man-created gods are. They're distant, remote, with no care for the activities of us. [00:57:09] (41 seconds)
But this mystery of the indwelling Christ inside us, that explodes this idea. It's no longer people trying to connect to a fearsome, all-powerful, scary, far-off God. It's God in Christ in the name of Jesus. dwelling inside believers in a most intimate and almost embarrassing manner. [00:57:51] (27 seconds)
Once God has your permission, and he's always a gentleman, God is not just up close and personal to you. He is inside you and personal. How much more intimate that is. [00:58:59] (21 seconds)
The greatest puzzle of all time in history. How can it possibly be that God loves us so, so much? [01:01:14] (17 seconds)
So please embrace this great mystery the greatest one and if you remember just one thing from this message today you have never been unloved this is true not just for people here and online but it's true for every person on this planet and we as Christians have been given the great privilege of sharing this truth so as Jesus commanded us let us go and tell let us share this message with others. [01:03:16] (44 seconds)
Please think of all that he has done and that he loves each one of us eternally unchangingly everlastingly. [01:04:19] (16 seconds)
Sermon Clips
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