The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 5
The Conditions or Mystery of the Gospel
The Conditions or Mystery of the Gospel.
"Pray for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldy, to make known the Mystery of the Gospel for which I am a an ambassador in bonds."—Paul to the Ephesians.
If a man believe that in the Age to Come a "kingdom and dominion," such as the gospel exhibits, will exist upon the earth, and that men to whom it has been preached in ages previous to its establishment, will rise from the dead to possess it, or to be judged with duo severity for refusing to believe what God has revealed concerning it—he will spontaneously inquire, "What must I do that I may inherit glory, honour, and eternal life in the kingdom of God?" This question is equivalent to saying "What must I do to be saved?"—for, if a man possess these things in that kingdom, that is "inherit the kingdom," he is saved from sin, corruptibility, and death; in short, from all evil from which he needs to be delivered. The answer to this question so transcendantly important to all is exhibited in "the Mystery of the Gospel," which may therefore be said to contain the conditions of salvation.
† Rom. xvi. 25.
But, though the Mystery of the Gospel ceased to be a secret after the day of Pentecost, it still continued to be called the Mystery. This we apprehend was to keep before the believer's mind the remembrance of the nature of the things specially pertaining to Jesus, and to his conscience before God, which had been directly revealed to him though the apostles. As if one should say to another, "I will tell you the secret." He tells it, and in referring to it at some future time, he says, "You remember the secret on account of which I have suffered greatly." Here the thing would he called a secret, although it ceased to be such as soon as told.
* Rom. i. 2.
† 1 Pet. i. 10–12.
‡ Col. 1.26.
§ Isai. liii 9.
‖ Ps. vii. 3,8.
"The Mystery of the seven stars, and the seven golden lamps. The seven siars are the messengers of the seven churches; and the seven lamps are the seven churches." We quote this text to show the use of the word mystery. It is evidently employed hear for meaning; the hidden meaning of the seven stars is the messengers of the seven churches—the seven lamps mean or signify the seven churches. The mystery ef the gospel is the meaning or signification of its accomplished facts as interpreted by Jehovah; and by his authority concentrated in an institution, through which the benefits of those facts may be imparted to those who believe the gospel of the kingdom, and its mystery.
The mystery revealed through the apostles, though unknown to the prophets and angels, was then, as it is now, still an element of the gospel of the kingdom. It was there when preached to Abraham, but hidden; it is there yet, only revealed. The gospel of the kingdom is the major term; the Mystery the lesser. The gospel of the kingdom contains the Mystery; but the Mystery does not contain the gospel of the kingdom; Mence, Jesus did not say, "Go into all the world, and preach the Mystery of the gospel; he that believes the Mystery and is baptized shall be saved;" but "Go and preach the gospel," for he that believed this apostolically ministered would believe the gospel of the kingdom, its facts and mystery.
* Ps, xvi. 10, 11.
† Isai. Ixi. 10.
‡ Ps. xxxii. 1, 2.
§ Rev. vii. 14; xix. 8.
‖ K Rom. iii. 21, 22; i. 10, 16.
Jesus the Christ, or Anointed King of Israel, is the righteousness of those who, believing the gospel of the kingdom and its mystery, put Jttm on; ‡ henee, in regard to them, he is styled "Jehovah Our Righteousness."§ When a believer puts him on he is said to be "in him," and when in him, to be "constituted the righteousness of God in him."‖ Seek then, in the first place, to understand the Word of the Kingdom;¶ and after accomplishing that, seek to be constituted the righteousness of God in its King; and all things shall be added to you.** This is the order laid down by Jesus; another which cannot be improved.
* Mat. xxii. 11–14.
† Rev. xvi. 15; iii. 17, 18
‡ Gal. iii. 27.
§ Jer. xxiii. 6.
‖ 2 Cur. v. 21.
¶ Matt. xiii. 23, 13–15.
** Matt. vi. 33.
†† Eph. vi. 19; Col. iv. 3; Acts Matt. 33.
The mystery then is the meaning of the gospel facts concentrated into a focus of power, which is The Name or' Jesys, "than which there is none other under heaven given among men whereby they can be saved." His name comprehends every thing that cart be seripturilly affirmed of him. It is a part of him name that he is that Son of David who was to he also Son of God, and King of the Jews on David's throne for the age. This is tantamount to saying that Jesus is the Christ. This truth is the foundation corner stone† of the mystery. It is also part of his name that "his blood cleanses from all sin" through his resurrection from the dead, those who believe the gospel; for "he was delivered for their offences, and raised again for their justification."‡ The believer of the gospel of the kingdom, then, who with an honest and good heart believes also that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living (lod; that a fountain was opened in his blood for sin and for unclean ness§ when he suffered death upon the accursed tree; that he was buried; and that he rose again upon the third day, According to the scriptures, for the justification of the faithful unto eternal life; such an one believes the gospel in its hope, facts and mystery, and is prepared to become "the righteousness of God in Jesus by putting on, and so becoming an element of, the Name of Jesus Christ. A believer who is constituted the righteousness of God in Jesus is one to whom repentance and the remission of sins has been granted in his name. The institution of the name is the sin-cleansing mystery" of the gospel of the kingdom. Such a thing had never been heard of before in Israel. They had heard of John's baptism—" the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,"—but of repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, this was a secret which prophet nor angel had ever heard till the Holy Spirit revealed it on Pentecost by the mouth of Peter.‖
* Acts xxvl. 6, 7; xxiii. 6.
† Eph. ii. 20.
‡ Rom. iv. 25.
§ Zech. xiii. 1
‖ Aeis ii. 38.
¶ Heb, xi. 6; Acta xv. 9; Gal. v. 6.
In conclusion then, the great salvation exhibited in the gospel of the kingdom is national and individual As a national salvation it delivers the nations from those that oppress them; suppresses vice, superstition, and crime; restrains evil; abolishes war; establishes justice and righteousness in the earth; and consummates a social regeneration of the world, which shall be "glory in the highest heavens to God, over earth, peace, and good will among men."
As an individual salvation, it saves believers of the gospel promises, facts, and mystery, from sin, sins, and the wages of sin, which is death. It saves them from sins which are past when they become the subject of repentance and remission in the name of Jesus; and it saves them from sin in the flesh, and the consequences off It, when they arise from the death-state to possess the kingdom of God. This is a great and wonderful deliverance; a salvation from all the ills of flesh, personal and relative. What possibility is there of escape if this be neglected? We know of none. The Bible reveals none; and a salvation-doctrine not inscribed in light upon its sacred page is unworthy of a wise man's consideration.
We trust we hare made this great subject plain to the inquirer's mind, as well as to the minds of all our readers. He asks foe "a few lines stating the facts of the gospel' The gospel cannot be stated in this way. The facts are few, as we have seen; the promises great and many. The gospel is more a matter of promise and doctrine than a matter of fact A man may believe all its facts, and still be very far from believing the gospel. Leave out the hope, and the mystery, and the gospel is destroyed. There Is a statement of the gospel preached as "the Ancient Gospel," which makes it to consist of "facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed"—the facts, the death, burial, aaid resurrection, of Jesus Christ; the commands, repent and he baptised; and the promises, remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life. This is the latest edition of error. The statement should be promises, facts, and doctrine to be believed, and obedience of faith to be rendered, for repentance and justification unto life in the kingdom of God. He that is the subject of this, and walks worthy of his high angelic destiny† cannot fail of obtaining an illustrious position in the Age to Come.
* Mark xvi. 15, 16.
† Luke xx. 36.