And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16
What is the mystery of godliness? In its simplest form, it is the incarnation; God, to make Himself incontrovertibly known to man, became a man. Not that man became God, but that God became man. The apostle John in his gospel account that sought to unveil the origin of Christ, began by showing in John 1:1 that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This Divine person that John called the Word, became flesh. John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Continuing his discussion on the mystery of godliness, the apostle Paul said that God, who was manifest in flesh, was also justified in the Spirit. In Matthew 3:16, we have the account of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at the Jordan. "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him."
The same God who was manifest in the flesh, and justified in the Spirit, was also seen by angels. In Matthew 28:2, 5-6, we have this account: "And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it... But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." So here we see an angelic being giving testimony of Jesus, the God who was manifest in the flesh.
This same God that was manifest in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of angels, was also preached to Gentiles. In Romans 10:18, the apostle Paul, writing about this same God that was manifest in the flesh, said, "But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” In other words, He was preached to Gentiles.
God who was manifest in the flesh, was also believed on in the world. Colossians 1:4-6. "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth." Faith in this God who was manifest in the flesh, has not only been believed on in the world, but it has forever changed the course of the whole world.
Finally, He was received up into glory. In Acts 1:11, we have this account of the ascension of Jesus to heaven. "...Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." But He was not only received up into glory, He will come again to take all who have believed on Him.
This is the mystery of godliness, which the apostle Paul said is without controversy. Praise God!
Toni
What is the mystery of godliness? In its simplest form, it is the incarnation; God, to make Himself incontrovertibly known to man, became a man. Not that man became God, but that God became man. The apostle John in his gospel account that sought to unveil the origin of Christ, began by showing in John 1:1 that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This Divine person that John called the Word, became flesh. John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Continuing his discussion on the mystery of godliness, the apostle Paul said that God, who was manifest in flesh, was also justified in the Spirit. In Matthew 3:16, we have the account of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus at the Jordan. "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him."
The same God who was manifest in the flesh, and justified in the Spirit, was also seen by angels. In Matthew 28:2, 5-6, we have this account: "And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it... But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." So here we see an angelic being giving testimony of Jesus, the God who was manifest in the flesh.
This same God that was manifest in the flesh, justified by the Spirit, seen of angels, was also preached to Gentiles. In Romans 10:18, the apostle Paul, writing about this same God that was manifest in the flesh, said, "But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” In other words, He was preached to Gentiles.
God who was manifest in the flesh, was also believed on in the world. Colossians 1:4-6. "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth." Faith in this God who was manifest in the flesh, has not only been believed on in the world, but it has forever changed the course of the whole world.
Finally, He was received up into glory. In Acts 1:11, we have this account of the ascension of Jesus to heaven. "...Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." But He was not only received up into glory, He will come again to take all who have believed on Him.
This is the mystery of godliness, which the apostle Paul said is without controversy. Praise God!
Toni
