The Mystery of Godliness

I. Introduction: In the middle of his first letter to Timothy, Paul reflects on what he terms “the great mystery of godliness.” Though it may appear simple to understand, the mystery is quite profound.

[!NOTE] Primary Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:1-4

II. The mystery

A. Unveiling the mystery

B. The mystery of godliness is Jesus Christ Each descriptor describes some part of Jesus’ life on earth.

C. Revelation of the mystery

D. A mystery is something that cannot be known without revelation. Some people enjoy reading mystery novels because they are left in suspense until the end of the book where the plot is unraveled or the criminal is revealed.

E. The plan of salvation is a mystery that God kept for thousands of years and gradually revealed to man.

F. 1 Peter 1:10-12 – Even the angels desired to know the mystery The prophecies of the Old Testament were like puzzle pieces scattered on a table—the connections were not obvious.

G. The coming of Jesus Christ reflected the wisdom of God

H. 1 Corinthians 2:1-9 The knowledge of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice is profound. No man could have conceived of God living as a man to save man. It is only through the revelation of the mystery through the Spirit that we can understand God’s eternal plan for man’s redemption.

I. The mystery of our faith is embodied in Jesus Christ.

III. God was manifested in the flesh

A. The incarnation of Jesus is the first profound mystery

B. The psalmist marveled that God took note of man yet it is a greater marvel that God became a man. John 1:1, 14 – Deity became flesh Philippians 2:5-8 – the creator became as the created In the passage of 1 John 1 (read earlier), the apostle John wrote that he and the other apostles saw and touched God in the flesh.

C. Hebrews 2:10-18

D. Through His flesh, Jesus became our brother. Through His suffering, Jesus became our comforter. Through His death, Jesus became our savior.

E. Those who deny Jesus’ incarnation will be condemned as false teachers

F. 1 John 4:1-3 – Spirit of the antichrist2 John 7-11

IV. Justified in the Spirit

A. To be justified is to be declared right

B. At this verse, every major translation disagrees with the International Standard Version which reads “kept righteous by the Spirit’s might.” The Spirit vindicated Jesus as in Romans 1:4.

C. The declaration of the Holy Spirit

D. John 14:16-17; 26 – Holy Spirit would be a helper to the apostles John 16:7-15 – The Spirit would glorify Jesus and prove Jesus’ ascension Acts 2:32-36 – The presence and message of the Spirit proved that Jesus was right in His claim to be the Son of God and the Christ

V. Seen by angels

A. He was seen by angels on the earth as they ministered to Him

B. Luke 1 – angels announced His birth to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds Matthew 4:11 – after His struggle with Satan Luke 22:43 – comforted Him in the garden Matthew 28:2/John 20:12 – angels accompanied the resurrection

C. He was seen by the angels when He ascended back to the Father to rule over all powers, including the angels.

D. Hebrews 1:6 tells us that Jesus is the subject of angelic worship1 Peter 3:22 – The angels are subject to Him as He reigns on His throne

VI. Preached among the Gentiles

A. This is a mystery within the mystery

B. Not only is Jesus coming in the flesh to save man a mystery, likewise, His great reception by the ungodly and idolatrous Gentile nations is a marvel. Acts 10:45; 11:1, 18 – The Jewish Christians were astonished that the Gentiles could also be Christians Ephesians 3:1-7 – The Gentiles would be fellow heirs with the Jews Colossians 1:26-27 – Christ in the Gentiles

VII. Believed on in the world

A. It is incredible to think that any cosmopolitan idolatrous Gentile would serve a poor Jewish man from the backwaters of Judea who claimed to be God yet was executed by the Roman government as a criminal.

B. However, the message of His power and resurrection and the power of God’s word brought many souls to Jesus. Colossians 1:5-6 – The message went throughout the world and bore fruit Acts 17:6 – The message “turned the world upside down”

C. Even today, 2000 years after the manifestation of Jesus Christ, the gospel continues to traverse the globe and reap souls for our Savior.

VIII. Received up in glory

A. Though Jesus lived and died as a man, He ascended back to the Father when His mission was complete.

B. Hebrews 1:2-3 – Jesus enthroned after His successful mission on earth Ephesians 1:20-23 – Exalted above all principalities

C. Though He was received up in glory, He will return for judgment

D. Acts 1:9-11 – Jesus’ ascension1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 10 – Jesus will come at an unexpected time and we must be ready to meet Him