Godliness, don't let it be a mystery
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Conduct
Conduct
Christians are placed into the church (the body) and as a part of the body we have a manner in which to live, 1Tim is about that, our conduct as the church.
15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Paul writing to Timothy for the church at Ephesus on how conduct themselves and why.
Because we are the church of the living God
Because the church is the pillar and the foundation of the truth.
The church has the truth that has been revealed through the apostles and the prophets and we are stewards of it.
The revealed truth, the great mystery of godliness is what we are looking at this morning
16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
The “great mystery” is how it is put in most translations.
[the hidden truth] is added in the AMP
Mystery of righteousness in the Aramaic bible in plain English.
This great mystery or the greatness of the mystery is described “without controversy.”
The mystery is a unifying mystery that brings about proper conduct as the church.
(Transition) The great mystery [the hidden truth ] of godliness, of righteousness, we may know that the mystery revealed is Jesus Christ and the church from our study in Ephesians. This morning we are going to delve into the great mystery of godliness by looking at
The greatness of the mystery
The greatness of godliness
Drawing a conclusion on the greatness
Greatness of the mystery
Greatness of the mystery
We will need to look at the meaning/definition of the mystery and the revelation of the great mystery in this section.
The meaning of “mystery”
(Insert PowerPoint - Musterion)
“Musterion” - Greek meaning _________________________________________
That was from Thayer’s
In the N.T. this word denotes not something that is mysterious like we may think in English, but that which being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can only be made known by Divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit - Vines bible dictionary
In layman it is that which had been hidden , but is now made known by Divine revelation.
The revelation of the mystery
What was hidden has now been revealed through the apostles:
Could not be by man’s wisdom alone (1Cor2:7-10)
In summary the apostles spoke of God’s wisdom in a mystery that was hidden before, predestined before the ages.
That the mystery once hidden was revealed through the Spirit to them.
It required the Spirit filled, inspired men (apostles) to reveal (1Cor2:12-16)
not by the spirit of this world, but by the spirit who is from God, freely given from God.
It is combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual things, Some, natural man, would not accept the spiritual things
in (v.16) it says they have the mind of Christ, and that can only be because they have the Spirit of Christ.
It was recorded, written so that we may understand (Eph3:1-5)
Paul given stewardship of God’s grace, the mystery that in other generations was not made known has been revealed to Paul and Holy Apostles
Understand that we Gentiles may be fellow heirs of God’s promises (Eph3:6-9)
Well, time to bring in scripture now, summaries maybe nice, but they are not scripture. I do encourage you to look up the scriptures on your outline.
The mystery revealed
6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
This promise through the gospel, this grace given to the Gentiles was made known for:
Mystery made known for benefit of all nations (Rom16:25-26)
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
The revealed mystery, well, still can defy earthly description at times.
The mystery was beyond man’s ability to foresee (Rom11:33-36)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Look at those words, Unsearchable, unfathomable!
Come on be honest, can we truly comprehend that Jesus, God, came in the flesh. There are spiritual truths that we must accept by faith without full understanding (comprehension). In fact revealed truths may challenge us and our understanding at times, that is why faith is a necessary component of the Christian.
(Transition): This mystery revealed has to do with godliness as seen in 1Tim3:16, in fact let’s look again.
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
“The godliness here means ,properly, piety, reverence or religiousness. It is used here, however for the gospel scheme, to wit, that which the apostle proceeds to state” (Barnes)
This godliness centers around the coming of Jesus Christ!
Greatness of Godliness
Greatness of Godliness
If the great mystery is the revealed mystery, the church and Jesus, maybe we better look at the greatness of godliness and that is found in Jesus.
Jesus: God in the flesh
Proclaimed in the introductions, prologues of John (Jn1:1-5, 14; 1Jn1:1-4)
On the previous slide it says warning scripture rich, so here we go.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
and then
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
and then furthered in
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
Do you get it? John in his introductions, in his prologues of the gospel and the epistles said that Jesus, the divine one, came in the flesh. The One who is eternal who was before there was time came in the flesh
Proclaimed in the epistles of Paul (Php2:5-6; Col2:9)
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
and then to the church at Colassi
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
Deity, the Deity of God, the fullness of God in bodily form!
Immanuel (God with us) foretold in Isaiah (Isa7:14, 9:6)
14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
And have to bring in the other passage
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Emmanuel explained in the gospel (Mt1:22-23)
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
It took place at the birth of Christ, fulfilling the prophesy that God with us!
(Transition) the coming of Deity in the flesh (Jesus) was the working of God to reconcile man back to Himself. So is that not great, the greatness of Godliness?
Consider this passage not on your outline so just note it down
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Oh we are getting on a role about the greatness of godliness.
Greatness through being justified in the Spirit
Let me pause just for a minute, in the context here justified means to vindicate, Jesus was vindicated in the Holy Spirit, or vindicated by the Holy Spirit. Or really go further vindicated by His own very Spirit.
Vindicated in the spirit - shown to be the Son of God by the Agency of the Holy Spirit (Barnes)
Holy Spirit bore witness at Jesus baptism (Mt3:16; Jn1:32-33)
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
and then
32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
Jesus cast out demons by the Spirit (Mt12:28)
The Spirit continued to bear witness after Jesus death through the signs, wonders (Jn15:26, 16:13-14; Heb2:4; 1Jn5:6)
Better go to scriptures again. Let’s quickly look at
4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
and then
6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
it is in the spirit, Jesus, the greatness of godliness, was vindicated. These things point to Jesus eternal, higher, greater nature
Vindicated by His words (Mt7:29; Jn7:46)
Vindicated by His works (Jn2:21, 3:2)
Vindicated by His Fathers testimony (Mt3:17, 17:5)
Vindicated by His resurrection (Rom1:3-4)
3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
(Transition) vindicated by and in the Spirit that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, how great is that?
Greatness as seen by angels
Previously they looked, longed, marveled at what was to come
Now they saw the suffering of Jesus as foretold by the prophets (1Pt1:10-12)
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
Angels ministered to Jesus (Mt4:11; Lk22:43)
In the wilderness after the temptations
In the garden in his time of agony
Angels attended His ascension, and will accompany in His return (Act1:9-11; 2The1:7)
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
oh yeah! just after this told of his return in same manner, but then look what more we can learn
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
Angels in flaming fire, coming not to console but to consume, to bring the unleashed wrath of God on the sinful world that has not taken Christ as Lord and Savior.
Greatness of godliness is just and we need to remember that.
Greatness preached among the Gentiles (Mt28:19; Mk16:15; Act11:15-18; 2Tim1:11; Eph3:3-6, 7-9)
Fulfilling the great commission (Mt28:19, Mk16:15); starting with the conversion of Cornelius (act11:15-18)
It was the ministry given to Paul (2Tim1:11)
Preaching that Paul was blessed to bring to the Gentiles (Eph3:3-9)
This was an important part of the mystery of godliness now revealed was the promise that the gentiles would be fellow heirs.
Paul felt blessed to preach to them. Check out the passage
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
(Transition) This greatness of the message, the message preached still continues today. That brings to our next point here.
Greatness believed on in the world (Jn1:11; Act2:41-42, 4:4, 5:14, 6:7, 13:43-49; 1Cor1:18, 1:23)
due to timing on this I am going to summarize some scriptures and encourage, implore you to look them up and read them on your own
Some did not believe, meaning His own (Jn1:11)
came to his own and they did not receive Him
But many did!
Act2:41-42 = 3000 souls
Act4:4= increased to 5000
Act5:14 = increased by multitude
Act6:7 = increased greatly
Rejected by Jews as foolishness (1Cor1:18); a stumbling block (1Cor1:23)
Accepted by Gentiles (Act13:43-49)
(Transition) of the godliness of the mystery revealed could go on, but then we would need to take a lunch break and come back, so we will wrap it up here.
(Godliness of the mystery revealed PowerPoint)
The mystery of the godliness did not end with the revelation that Jesus is the Christ
The mystery of the godliness did not end at the ascension of Christ
The mystery of the godliness did not end with the birth of the church
(the invitation) - the revealed mystery is Jesus! Who calls us to be reconciled to Him (expand)
(Song) (Prayer) (exit)