"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)
In other words, if you want to know that, "great...mystery of godliness," you need look no further. The rest of our text tells us the revelation of, "the mystery...." Biblical, "godliness," is not so much acting right; it is "receiving" right, receiving Jesus Christ, living in obedience to Jesus Christ.
If you check the "new" translations, you will find that they are reluctant to translate, "God was manifest...." I checked the Interlinear. "And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness [He] who was revealed in flesh was justified in [the] Spirit was seen by angels was proclaimed among nations was believed on in [the] world was taken up in glory." If one can read, one will see that, "the mystery of godliness," is not a what, but a, "Who." It is, "God was revealed in the flesh." Again, this and this alone is, "the great...mystery of godliness," and what a glorious, "mystery." It is, "God (Himself) was manifested in flesh."
It is a, "great...mystery," because unlike Islam and all other religions and philosophies, "the faith of Jesus," is Jesus Himself, "God...manifested in flesh." "Godliness," is Jesus, not do this; don't do that; say this; don't say that; believe this; don't believe that. The Living Triune God gave us the Commandments on Sinai. He taught us, "exceeding great and precious promises," and life principles in both Old and New Testaments. But these are, "exceeding great," because they speak of a Person, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that no man can live in the purposes of God, no person can walk in the way He created us apart from Jesus Christ. A person only is godly if God dwells and rules in him/her.
If religious people, evangelical, "born again," people, church-goers would believe this they would not be confused about Who God Is. They would not say such dumb things as "the world's great religions." Without Jesus nothing is "great," not you, not me, not Mr. or Mrs. Wonderfully Spiritual, great preachers, no one. It is not "worship" if Jesus is not "in it." Neither am I "living" apart from Jesus. I have no hope, and joy cannot be deep and victorious in me without Jesus. But I repeat the words of Pascal, "Apart from Jesus Christ we know not what is our life, nor our death, nor ourselves."
What do you want from life? Is that joy, happiness, contentment too often illusive? Don't look for words and what they describe and which so often take you to "fantasyland." Rather, "look" for Jesus today. Look in your life, your work, your leisure, your local church. You will find no, "godliness," if there is not Jesus Christ. "The mystery of godliness," is Jesus Himself. When we have Jesus and Jesus has us, we have the, "great...mystery," in us.
Father, in Jesus' Name, only You are my, "godliness." Amen.
*************************************
* DC Mission: January 27
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)
In other words, if you want to know that, "great...mystery of godliness," you need look no further. The rest of our text tells us the revelation of, "the mystery...." Biblical, "godliness," is not so much acting right; it is "receiving" right, receiving Jesus Christ, living in obedience to Jesus Christ.
If you check the "new" translations, you will find that they are reluctant to translate, "God was manifest...." I checked the Interlinear. "And confessedly great is the mystery of godliness [He] who was revealed in flesh was justified in [the] Spirit was seen by angels was proclaimed among nations was believed on in [the] world was taken up in glory." If one can read, one will see that, "the mystery of godliness," is not a what, but a, "Who." It is, "God was revealed in the flesh." Again, this and this alone is, "the great...mystery of godliness," and what a glorious, "mystery." It is, "God (Himself) was manifested in flesh."
It is a, "great...mystery," because unlike Islam and all other religions and philosophies, "the faith of Jesus," is Jesus Himself, "God...manifested in flesh." "Godliness," is Jesus, not do this; don't do that; say this; don't say that; believe this; don't believe that. The Living Triune God gave us the Commandments on Sinai. He taught us, "exceeding great and precious promises," and life principles in both Old and New Testaments. But these are, "exceeding great," because they speak of a Person, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that no man can live in the purposes of God, no person can walk in the way He created us apart from Jesus Christ. A person only is godly if God dwells and rules in him/her.
If religious people, evangelical, "born again," people, church-goers would believe this they would not be confused about Who God Is. They would not say such dumb things as "the world's great religions." Without Jesus nothing is "great," not you, not me, not Mr. or Mrs. Wonderfully Spiritual, great preachers, no one. It is not "worship" if Jesus is not "in it." Neither am I "living" apart from Jesus. I have no hope, and joy cannot be deep and victorious in me without Jesus. But I repeat the words of Pascal, "Apart from Jesus Christ we know not what is our life, nor our death, nor ourselves."
What do you want from life? Is that joy, happiness, contentment too often illusive? Don't look for words and what they describe and which so often take you to "fantasyland." Rather, "look" for Jesus today. Look in your life, your work, your leisure, your local church. You will find no, "godliness," if there is not Jesus Christ. "The mystery of godliness," is Jesus Himself. When we have Jesus and Jesus has us, we have the, "great...mystery," in us.
Father, in Jesus' Name, only You are my, "godliness." Amen.
*************************************
* DC Mission: January 27
* Berlin Mission: September 14-October 5
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
