Timothy 3:16

(Thesis: True godliness flows from the church’s shared confession of the incarnate, vindicated, proclaimed, believed, and exalted Christ.)

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.

Intro:

Why is Paul writing this? After outlining proper church order, Paul reminds Timothy that the church is the church of the Living God! The “pillar and ground of the truth,” and then he summarizes that truth in a confession, showing that Christ himself is the source of our salvation and the pattern and power of true godliness.

And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness

can also be read as great is this mystery we confess (a divine secret that has been made public)

This is orthodox Christianity.

The ‘mystery of godliness’ is not something unknowable,

something once hidden and now revealed.

This mystery is called ‘of godliness’ because when Christ is revealed and believed, he produces godliness in his people.

2. God was manifest in the flesh.

God, the true and living God, was manifest in the flesh. He was one person and with two natures, Truly God and Truly Man, without confusion, change, division, or separation between the two (Phil 2)

Before Abraham I am (John 8:58).

The eternal Son was born to redeem (Gal 4:4-5)

He took our nature so he could stand in our place.

He was born under that law and fulfilled it on our behalf.

The law exposes sin – none of us can stand.

And so Christ stood in our place and became a curse on behalf of sinners (Gal 3:13)

This is where godliness begins-with humility – when we are united with Christ, the humility that Christ put on when he became flesh is counted to us and then worked within us as we belong to him

3. justified in the Spirit,

not justified in a soteriological sense, but vindicated

The Spirit supremely vindicates Christ in his resurrection. (Romans 1:4)

Godliness has confidence. The vindication Christ received becomes an assurance for those in him, enabling us to proclaim his word as true.

4. seen of angels,

As God, spiritual beings have borne witness to the redemptive work of the Son.

Present at his birth, bearing the message of hope - Messianic birth proclaimed in a magnificent display of glory.

Present at his tomb, standing and bearing witness to his resurrection

The work of Christ is openly testified before both heaven and earth.

If angels stand in awe, how much more should we?

5. preached unto the Gentiles,

The risen Christ is proclaimed beyond Israel.

The old covenant promises have been fulfilled, not replaced, by Christ, and now ->

The mystery is now revealed to the nations.

Christ is proclaimed to the world.

Application – we are not to hoard Christ but proclaim him to the ends of the earth

This is our call as individuals and as a body to proclaim the life, death, and resurrection of our God

6. believed in the world,

The gospel produces faith among the nations.

Evidence of regeneration and new-covenant blessing

This is why we proclaim the Gospel, that the Spirit shall call sinners to Christ, the fount of life

Christ not only proclaimed, but received

Have you received this Christ? Are you resting in Him alone as your righteousness, the One who stands in the place of sinners?

7. received up into glory.

The ascension, vindication, and enthronement of Christ

From his condescension to his exaltation

The reigning and interceding Christ stands in our place and is the foundation of all godliness

Godliness flows from the exalted Christ as the Holy Spirit applies his mediation to us - uniting us to him and working new life in us.