CAN WE KNOW? by T. Godfrey

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 11, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 10.

CAN WE KNOW?

By T. Godfrey

“And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.” Mark 4:11. Unto those who have entered the kingdom of God, who have received the law of that kingdom into the soul, and have truly made it a present reality, to them “it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God.” But to those who have not thus received it, it is given in parables. The Word tells us that “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.” Ps. 25:14.

The apostle Paul in his presentation of this glorious experience to the church, said: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

2 Cor. 4:6, 7. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for this glorious experience. He said: “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Luke 11:2. Or in other words, that His will be done in each one of His disciples as it is done in heaven by the angels of God. He wanted them to have a foretaste of the glories of the kingdom of God before the revelation of Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven with all His holy angels. Peter, James, and John were permitted to see the kingdom of God, in miniature, and the coming of the Holy One, that they might weave it into their experience, as they went forth to reveal the mystery of godliness. Upon the “holy mount,” divinity was revealed in humanity, just as it will be when Jesus shall appear in the clouds of heaven. The apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, said: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16. Again, he says in his letter to the Colossians: “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:26, 27. O glorious experience! Humanity becomes partaker of the divine nature,—Christ revealed in mortal flesh, a new creature in Christ Jesus.

T. GODFREY.