1Ti 3:16 “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.”
In this chapter Paul has instructed Timothy in the qualities to look for in a bishop and a deacon. He has described the type of family man he should be. Paul has even detailed the attributes of the wives. One thing is quite clear, the lives that we live in the service of God are beyond the ability of our carnal minds and hearts.
It follows then that the mystery of godliness is undeniable (without controversy). The term mystery does not imply that the effect cannot be seen, but rather that the cause is still beyond our mortal understanding. That does not imply that we cannot believe it. The ability to believe (or have faith) is a gift of God (Eph 2:8).
Without the Spirit of God abiding in us, a man cannot be apt to teach the things of God. It is not in the nature of man to live a blameless life. Only through the Spirit can we pray for all men. We will never, on our own, recognize our need for the Savior much less actually give Him the credit.
God, in the person of Jesus Christ, took up the form of mortal man. In that form, He still proved, by work and by doctrine, that He was truly God while being truly man. He made Himself obvious (manifest) while in a mortal body. He was born of a virgin; He performed miracles; He endured torture and death on the cross; He rose from the dead.
This mystery of godliness still continues today. Jesus promised that He and His Father would come and take up their abode in the hearts of men (John 14:23). When we live godly in this present world (Tit 2:12), then God is still manifesting Himself in the flesh. This is how we bear witness of Him.
The very Spirit of God witnesses to the justification of Christ. He manifested it at His birth when it was declared that a Savior was born. He manifested it when the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, declaring “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mat 3:17).” He declared it again on the mount of transfiguration when a bright could overshadowed those present and a voice spoke from the cloud not only testifying that this was His beloved Son, but also commanding “Hear ye Him (Mat 17:5). Then, on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit came as a mighty rushing wind and as cloven tongues of fire, moving the apostles to declare the purity and righteousness of Jesus Christ (Acts, chapter 2).
Certainly, the angels saw Him as they declared “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). Angels ministered to Him in the wilderness after His temptation (Mat 4:11). Angels were present at His resurrection when the stone had been rolled away (Mat 28:2, Luke 24:4-7). Angels declared to those gathered on the day of His ascension, declaring “…this same Jesus…shall so come in like manner (Acts 1:10-11).”
He was preached to those who were deemed unworthy by men to even hear of Him. So today, is He preached to men who are in themselves unworthy to hear of Him. He is preached by angels (messengers) who, though not celestial beings, are still sent by God. His gospel is glorious and mighty to those who are blessed to hear!
How marvelous it is that He was then, and is still today believed on in the world. He is believed on in the world, but not by the world. The world still despises Him, but to us who are blessed to hear and understand the gospel, He is precious. He is believed to be the Son of God and the Saviour of His people in spite of dying an accursed death (Gal 3:13).
He was received up into glory, as witnessed by a host of His disciples (Acts 1:9). When we are blessed to see Him today as our Saviour, He is still (in our experience) received up into glory. We certainly believe that He will come again in the same fashion as He was seen taken up: in great glory. We have the proof of that today, because it is this same Jesus that dwells in our hearts, delivers us from our doubts and fears, and comforts us even today!
Though godliness is an undeniable mystery, let us thank God that He has called us to believe in His glorious Son by the power of the Holy Ghost!
