2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. I. THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS is a mystery of — 1. Light. (1) Its author is "the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world." In the character, life, death, resurrection of Christ you will find no shade of what is false or insincere. (2) So with His revelation. If it be dark it is with excess of splendour; but throughout there is an utter absence of unreality. (3) No man can understand it but he who has been made sincere and true by the Spirit of God. "The light shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not." But there is light within when the veil is removed from the heart, and the light that is "in the face of Jesus Christ" beams upon the soul. 2. Love. (1) It springs from a love that cannot be guaged, and exhibits a love that cannot be spanned. "Herein is love." The mystery of mysteries is that God "spared not His own Son," etc. (2) The love of Jesus is past finding out. "Greater love hath no man than this," etc. Therefore St. Paul prayed that the Ephesians might "know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge."(3) Christ's whole religion is a religion of love. "The love of Christ constraineth us." "Love one another." 3. Wisdom. (1) Christ is "the wisdom of God," and "in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."(2) His religion is the most exquisite contrivance, and exhibits the most perfect adaptation to accomplish the purpose of its Author. How wondrous the wisdom that has brought the sinful creature back into fellowship and favour with the Holy Creator. 4. Holiness. Its grand end and aim is to accomplish holiness in the redeemed; hence it is emphatically the mystery of godliness. "Be ye holy for I am holy." II. THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY is a mystery of — 1. Darkness. Romanism is a perversion of the truth. It has a show and mask of retaining the truth, but only to make it subservient to its dark purposes; so that there is not a single Divine truth in the whole compass of Christianity which has not its parallel caricature. Thus if the wondrous transparency and purity of the "mystery of godliness" is an evidence of its Divine derivation, the wondrous "deceivableness of unrighteousness" in the "mystery of iniquity" is an evidence of its derivation from the prince of darkness. Truth must be from above, and error and falsehood from beneath. 2. Despotism and oppression. The object of the whole economy of Popery is the exaltation of the priesthood. The mysterious leaven which was working in the apostle's day, and ultimately produced this was — (1) On the part of the laity, that carnal mind which loves to indulge its pleasures and passions while it wants the conscience quiet. (2) On the part of the clergy the leaven was a love of power and aggrandisement, that mighty principle that cast down angels from heaven, and our first parents from paradise. So Rome has distorted the mystery of godliness so as largely to obscure its loving aspect. Jesus, instead of being the Mediator, requires to be propitiated. Man is enslaved by means of a sacerdotal system that makes him continually seeking a salvation but never finding it; continually working out a salvation he can never accomplish, hanging in the scales of doubt and vibrating between fear and hope. Thus man is kept submissive under his taskmasters; and inasmuch as Rome teaches that sins are never fully forgiven in this life, its devotees are kept in bondage to their latest breath. According to the principles of Rome a man should give himself up to his ghostly director as completely as a staff is wielded by a man's hand, or as wax is moulded by him who uses it. God only knows what are the fearful scenes of oppression and cruelty that are concealed beneath the mantle of Popery. 3. Subtlety. Of all the systems that ingenuity ever elaborated there is none that can compare with Romanism. Only the prince of darkness is equal to the task. There is more than human subtlety and art in it. Though the structure has been built in different ages, and the elements brought from many quarters, yet it so marvellously coheres, and is so wondrously propped by a thousand subsidiary principles that the only greater mystery in the universe is that "of godliness." It was Satan's last resource; he could not destroy Christianity, so he perverted it and made it subserve his own purposes. 4. Immorality. There are good Roman Catholics, and many have gone to heaven out of Rome; but that is because of the remnant of truth which defies perversion. The whole tenour of the system, however, is contrary to godliness. "The commandments of God are made of none effect through their traditions." Then they poison the springs of holiness by their system of casuistry which seems only intended to enable men to sin without being disturbed. The same effect is produced by their absolution, which stupifies the conscience without giving peace to the soul.Conclusion: 1. Let us adore and cherish the "mystery of godliness," share its power, and delight in its faith, and walk worthy of it. 2. Let us sympathize with, pray for, and endeavour to rescue the victims of the "mystery of iniquity." (Canon Stowell.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. |
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