THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS (1 Tim 3:16) [We re going to look at those contrasts. But first, What is this mystery of godliness? ]

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1 THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS (1 Tim 3:16) A. This verse may seem out of place, but the previous verse indicates that the church is the pillar & ground of THAT truth. [We re going to look at those contrasts. But first, What is this mystery of godliness? ] I. THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS B. What God has given us here are the facts of His plan of salvation for us. 1. The commands & promises are not stated here, only the facts. C. It is a poem of beautiful contrasts. 1. We see God directing the earthly & heavenly events; & each event compliments the other. 2. The overriding thought of this poem is the glory, worthiness & power of Jesus Christ. A. The word mystery refers to something concealed (Mk 4:11; Rom 11:25; Rom 15:25-26; 1 Cor 2:1-9) Luke 8:10 And He said, "To you [apostles] it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, & hearing they may not understand.' Eph 3:6, 9 that the GENTILES SHOULD BE FELLOW HEIRS, OF THE SAME BODY, & PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE IN CHRIST THROUGH THE GOSPEL, 9 the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. Col 1:25-27 the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages & from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. 1. The mystery is the core message of the gospel of Christ: ALL nations, ONE family, UNDER God, SERVING Jesus Christ. 1

2 2. This mystery of godliness is not like a mystery novel written to keep us guessing. 3. It is not a mystery because people cannot agree ON it. 4. It is ONLY a mystery because it was not revealed until the coming of God s Son. [What was the first step in the revelation of this mystery?] Gen 3:15 I will put enmity between you [serpent] & the woman, & between your seed & her Seed; He shall bruise your head, & you shall bruise His heel." Gal 4:4 When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, Matt 1:23 [Lord to Joseph in a dream] Behold, the virgin shall be with child, & bear a Son, & they shall call His name Immanuel, which is "God with us." (2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:5-8; Heb 2:14; John 1:1, 14; 2 Cor 8:9; Heb 2:14; Heb 9:12; Eph 1:7) John 8:23-24 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins." (cf. Exo 3:13-16). II. GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH [But if this were all we knew about the mystery of God then we wouldn t know what to do with that knowledge. So there is second step in the revelation of this mystery.] A. GOD, who is the subject of the whole verse, appeared in human form. III. JESUS WAS JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT 1. This was a promise of God in the shadow of the first sin. A. To be justified means to be vindicated; to be cleared from any criticism, censure & suspicion because of valid evidence. 2

3 1. There is no sensible reason to doubt that Jesus is God, because being justified in the Spirit cleared Him from any criticism. B. Why was it necessary for God in the flesh to be justified in the Spirit? 1. The flesh alone could not prove his divinity. Isa 53:2-3 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, & as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; & when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised & rejected by men, a Man of sorrows & acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, & we did not esteem Him. 2. So He was given the Spirit, meaning the Holy Spirit of God (Jn 3:34; Col 1:19; 2:9). 3. The miracles He performed by the Spirit were written down so that we might believe that He was God in flesh (Jn 20:30-31). C. Many saw Jesus justified in the Spirit. John 1:32-34 And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, & He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, & remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen & testified that this is the Son of God (Matt 3:16-17). John 3:2 [Nicodemus] This man came to Jesus by night & said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, & signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know. 1. And Hs resurrection declared Him to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness (Rom 1:3-4). a. And His resurrection was witnessed by over 500 people at once (1 Cor 15:6). [The third step in the revelation of this mystery.] 3

4 IV. JESUS WAS SEEN OF ANGELS [The fourth step in the revelation of this mystery.] V. JESUS WAS PREACHED UNTO THE GENTILES A. Jesus has not only the earthly testimony of His divinity, but also the heavenly testimony. A. Without this little detail, we would have no hope in this life. B. Angels attended every major event in His life: 1. Rejoiced at His birth 2. Served Him during His temptation 3. Strengthened Him in Gethsemane 4. First to see Him after His resurrection 5. Welcomed Him back to Heaven (Rev 5:11-12) B. It seems odd that the apostles struggled with unbelief. Mark 16:14 He rebuked their unbelief & hardness of heart, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THOSE WHO HAD SEEN HIM AFTER HE HAD RISEN. a. There is no doubt that Jesus was a historical figure. 1. But their unbelief was soon buried under the weight of evidence & a great commission. 4 b. But He was not ONLY that, He IS currently the preeminent resident of Heaven according to eyewitness testimony. 2. And they covered the earth with the gospel in 30 years (Col 1:23). 3. All of them eventually dying violent deaths with the exception of John (Jn 21:18).

5 C. Paul s final instruction to Timothy was to preach Christ among the Gentiles & prepare others to do the same (2 Tim 4:1-2; 2:2; 1 Cor 1:21). 1. We continue that work today in a lost & dying world, faced with the same ploys of Satan to prevent it (Acts 20:29; 2 Tim 4:10; Col 2:2; 1 Tim 4:1). [The fifth step in the revelation of this mystery.] [The final sixth step in the revelation of this mystery ] VII JESUS WAS RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY Luke 24:51 [In Bethany with His disciples] Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them & carried up into heaven. Mark 16:19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, & sat down at the right hand of God. Rom 8:34 It is Christ who died, & furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Heb 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. VI. JESUS WAS BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD 1 Pet 3:22 who has gone into heaven & is at the right hand of God, angels & authorities & powers having been made subject to Him. A. Of every tribe, tongue, people & nation, they were redeemed to God by the blood of Christ (Rev 5:9). 1. (Acts 2) (4:4) 5000 men 3. (6:1) multitude 4. (8:1) went everywhere preaching the word [While the echo of His anguish at the cross had scarcely faded out; Heaven opened wide her portals to receive her victorious King, resounding with a jubilant anthem sung by thousands upon thousands, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory & blessing. ] 5

6 CLOSING A. The mystery of godliness has been revealed, & without controversy how great it is. 1. The gospel furnishes us proof of God s love, His wisdom & His power to accomplish His purpose. B. According to the commandment of the everlasting God, this mystery of godliness has been revealed to all nations for obedience to the faith (Rom 16:26). HOW DOES ONE OBEY THE FAITH? Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE? Col 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 6