THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
I Timothy 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.
The word Mystery means a sacred secret. In Paul’s letters it is the revelation of the truth of the Body of Christ, once hidden but now revealed. The term Godliness means reverence to God through an understanding of the truth of the Body of Christ. This is shown in:
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.
So, the Mystery of Godliness is the ability to live a life pleasing to God through an understanding of the revelation of the Mystery of the Body of Christ. It is essential to know that a believer cannot live a life wholly pleasing to God without such a knowledge as revealed through the epistles of the Apostle Paul.
NOTICE THE SIX PARTS OF THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
1- God was manifest in the flesh
This is the incarnation as shown in the following scriptures:
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 14: 9: He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form (appearance) of God, thought it not robbery (A thing to be grasped after) to be equal with God: (Because he was God!)
7 But made himself of no reputation, (He laid aside his outward, heavenly glory, not His deity) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The second part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
2 - Justified in the Spirit
Justified means that Christ was approved by the Holy Spirit. Notice the following:
John 1: 29: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
I John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
The third part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
3 - Seen of angels
This was at His resurrection and ascension. Notice:
Resurrection
Matthew 28:2 And, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
John 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Ascension
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The fourth part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
4 – Preached unto the Gentiles
The Gospel of the Grace of God was preached to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul. This was not the Gospel of Jesus or the twelve Apostles. Note the verses below:
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into theway of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
In contrast to the ministry of Jesus who said, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, the ministry of the Apostle Paul was directly to the Gentiles:
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify (lay great stress on, glorify my ministry) mine office.
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery…
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Col.1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation, of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
The fifth part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
5 – Believed on in the world
Jesus Christ is believed on throughout the world as seen below:
Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not head: Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Col. 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.
The last part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
6 – Received up into glory
This is the ascension of Christ from the Mount of Olives back to heaven as seen in the following verses:
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 7:55 But he (James), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The six parts of the Mystery of Godliness in chronological order then are:
1) Jesus was born in the flesh.
2) The Holy Spirit declared Him to be the Son of God.
3) The angels bore witness of His resurrection.
4) He ascended to heaven as head of the Church, the Body of Christ.
5) He was preached to the Gentiles by the Apostle Paul.
6) He is believed on throughout the world.
Notice that all six parts of the Mystery of Godliness are centered in Jesus Christ. He was the virgin-born Savior. He was the Son of God. He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven. He was preached to the Gentiles and He is believed on in the world.
Today, He is in heaven, seated at the right hand of God as the head of the Body of Christ. We are the members in particular of that Body. To lead an acceptable godly life in this Age of Grace, believers must understand and follow the revelation of the Mystery of the Body of Christ as we are admonished in:
Eph. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
I Timothy 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.
The word Mystery means a sacred secret. In Paul’s letters it is the revelation of the truth of the Body of Christ, once hidden but now revealed. The term Godliness means reverence to God through an understanding of the truth of the Body of Christ. This is shown in:
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.
So, the Mystery of Godliness is the ability to live a life pleasing to God through an understanding of the revelation of the Mystery of the Body of Christ. It is essential to know that a believer cannot live a life wholly pleasing to God without such a knowledge as revealed through the epistles of the Apostle Paul.
NOTICE THE SIX PARTS OF THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
1- God was manifest in the flesh
This is the incarnation as shown in the following scriptures:
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 14: 9: He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form (appearance) of God, thought it not robbery (A thing to be grasped after) to be equal with God: (Because he was God!)
7 But made himself of no reputation, (He laid aside his outward, heavenly glory, not His deity) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The second part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
2 - Justified in the Spirit
Justified means that Christ was approved by the Holy Spirit. Notice the following:
John 1: 29: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
I John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
The third part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
3 - Seen of angels
This was at His resurrection and ascension. Notice:
Resurrection
Matthew 28:2 And, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
John 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Ascension
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The fourth part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
4 – Preached unto the Gentiles
The Gospel of the Grace of God was preached to the Gentiles through the Apostle Paul. This was not the Gospel of Jesus or the twelve Apostles. Note the verses below:
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into theway of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
In contrast to the ministry of Jesus who said, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, the ministry of the Apostle Paul was directly to the Gentiles:
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify (lay great stress on, glorify my ministry) mine office.
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery…
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Col.1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation, of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory;
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
The fifth part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
5 – Believed on in the world
Jesus Christ is believed on throughout the world as seen below:
Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not head: Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Col. 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.
The last part of the Mystery of Godliness is:
6 – Received up into glory
This is the ascension of Christ from the Mount of Olives back to heaven as seen in the following verses:
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts 7:55 But he (James), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The six parts of the Mystery of Godliness in chronological order then are:
1) Jesus was born in the flesh.
2) The Holy Spirit declared Him to be the Son of God.
3) The angels bore witness of His resurrection.
4) He ascended to heaven as head of the Church, the Body of Christ.
5) He was preached to the Gentiles by the Apostle Paul.
6) He is believed on throughout the world.
Notice that all six parts of the Mystery of Godliness are centered in Jesus Christ. He was the virgin-born Savior. He was the Son of God. He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven. He was preached to the Gentiles and He is believed on in the world.
Today, He is in heaven, seated at the right hand of God as the head of the Body of Christ. We are the members in particular of that Body. To lead an acceptable godly life in this Age of Grace, believers must understand and follow the revelation of the Mystery of the Body of Christ as we are admonished in:
Eph. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.