THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL
I TIMOTHY 3:14-16
DORN RIDGE JUNE 29, 2013
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INTRODUCTION:
1.) In the closing verses of 1 Timothy 3, Paul speaks to Timothy about “the greatness of the mystery of Godliness.”
2.) All through the Old Testament Era the plan of God and how he would make man acceptable in his presence was largely a mystery.
A.) Even though the Scripture, and Old Testament prophecy had proclaimed of the coming of Christ, until he came, and offered himself as a sacrifice for sin, God’s plan was a mystery.
aa.) But praise God, what had been a mystery, through Jesus Christ is revealed.
ab.) As our own nation has been formed, Leaders of this country had come to experience the Love of God through Jesus Christ.
aba.) some of these men also had the desire that Jesus would be made known to this new nation.
3.) 146 years ago tomorrow Canada became a nation. One of the things that had made Canada so great was an awareness and desire for the Christ and the Gospel to spread throughout the land.
A.) A former premier of New Brunswick, and one of the Fathers of Confederation was Sir Leonard Tilley. Tilley was a Christian man who began his day with prayer and the reading of the Word of God each day.
B.) One day Tilley was reading Psalm 72: ““He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth…Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” (Psalm 72:8,18-19).
ba.) Tilley felt this scripture speaking of the Dominion of God from sea to sea should be a motto for Canada.
bb.) Having presented the idea to government Sir John A. Macdonald wrote a letter to Queen Victoria stating that it was the intent of this nation to have that as a motto.
bba.) Canada wanted Jesus Christ to be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords within our nation.
4.) Today as we look at the revelation of the mystery of Godliness, we see of God’s desire that Jesus Christ would go from sea to sea of the entire world.
I.) HE (GOD) APPEARED IN THE BODY.
1.) Part of the mystery of the Gospel was that God could become flesh.
A.) There have been many theories, and writings on God become Flesh.
B.) Regardless of any theories that man has put forward, the reality is that there is not a man alive who can comprehend how that the God who is above all of creation and who has created everything that is in the world could ever become part of the very creation He had created.
C.) But understand it or not, we accept the prophecy given in Isaiah that a virgin should conceive and give birth to a son and that he shall be called Immanuel: God with us.
ca.) When Jesus was born that prophecy was fulfilled, and the God who had created all things became part of the very creation he had made.
cb.) Matt. 1:22-23
cc.) That was the beginning of God’s mystery of Godliness revealed to man.
II.) HE WAS VINDICATED BY THE SPIRIT.
1.) Every part of the life and ministry of Jesus was in and through the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God.
A.) The Day Jesus stood up and probably for the first time in his home town synagogue proclaimed the Word of God the people of Nazareth were excited at his message, and thrilled with his words, until one part of his sermon.
aa.) When Jesus came to the part of his message where he told the congregation that He was full of the Holy Spirit of God, and that this very day the prophecy of Isaiah he was reading from was being fulfilled in their very sight, they turned on him.
ab.) Luke 4:14, 17-22
aba.) “ Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
abb.) That was the turning point. At first they were excited about the words Jesus had said. But then after the initial excitement they began to think on who Jesus was. When they asked is this not Joseph's son, they were in fact saying Who does he think he is. He is not a priest, nor a Pharisee, or teacher of the law. What gives him the right as a carpenter, or carpenter's son any claim to be the fulfillment of this passage of Scripture?
abc.) Once they considered this, they rejected it, and took him to the edge of the city to kill him, but Scripture records he passed through the crowd.
2.) The Holy Spirit testified to his birth.
A.) Prior to his birth, the Holy Spirit testified through Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary.
B.) After his birth, the Holy Spirit testified of him through Simeon and Anna.
ba.) These were particularly powerful messages from the Spirit of God before the people.
baa.) I say this because God had not spoken to the people for 400 years.
bab.) If you had been worshipping in the temple that day you would have been filled with excitement at this prophecy that this new baby was the Messiah of God.
3.) The Holy Spirit came upon him at his Baptism.
A.) When the Holy spirit descended on Jesus visibly as a dove, it was a sign to John the Baptist that this was the Christ.
B.) Not only did the Holy spirit come on Jesus, but it stayed on him all throughout his earthly ministry.
ba.) This was kind of a new concept.
baa.) In the Old Testament there were instances of the Holy Spirit coming on a person, but seemed to be for a time, and then often would leave.
bb.) When Jesus came into this earth the Holy Spirit came on him as a permanent part of his life and ministry.
bc.) Since the time of Christ, the Holy Spirit has made his dwelling place in the hearts of Christians as an abiding presence within our lives.
4.) The Holy Spirit empowered Him in both his ministry and His Miracles.
A.) From the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.
B.) The miracles he performed showed the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
C.) Scripture states that nobody before or after him had the wisdom he demonstrated
5.) The Holy Spirit worked with him through his death and resurrection.
III.) HE WAS SEEN BY ANGELS.
Jesus was ministered to, and watched by the angels of heaven while on this earth.
1.) At the time of his birth angels sent messages to Joseph to protect him.
A.) They fled first to Egypt. Then a couple of years later the angel again told them to move, and they moved to Nazareth.
aa.) Matt. 2:13-14; 19-23
2.) Satan tempted Jesus with the knowledge of his angelic watch care.
A.) Matt. 4:5-6
3.) In the wilderness angels were sent to minister to him.
A.) Matt. 4:11
4.) In Gethsemane, an angel came to minister to him.
A.) Luke 22:43
5.) When Jesus was on the cross he had at his authority the legions of heaven’s angels at his disposal if he called to them.
A.) Matt. 26:53
B.) Sources vary on the size of a Roman Legion of soldiers.
ba.) We have all heard and many of us have loved the song Ray Overholt had written several years ago entitled 10,000 angels. The thought that Jesus could have called 10,000 angels while he was on the cross is comforting, but at the same time those words of 10,000 angels were inaccurate.
bb.) While some have suggested a Roman legion would be around 3,000 soldiers, Many historians would list this number as too small, and the actual size of a Roman Legion between 5,000 and 6,000 soldiers.
bc.) In other words Jesus did not say he could have called 10,000 angels, but rather that he could have called between 36,000 and 72,000 angels.
6.) At the time of the resurrection the angels were there at the tomb.
A.) When the women went to the tomb they were wondering about the stone and how they would have the grave opened.
B.) Can you imagine their shock and surprise when they got to the tomb and find the angels of God had moved back the stone, and were now present as the women came to the grave?
7.) At the second coming of Christ, the angels will be with Him.
A.) Matt. 25:31
B.) When you look at everything that will happen at the return of Christ it will be a day of wonder and amazement at the power of God revealed in Jesus Christ.
C.) To see the glory of Christ accompanied by the angelic hosts of heaven, what a powerful sight that will be!
IV.) HE WAS PREACHED AMONG THE NATIONS, AND WAS BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD.
1.) Throughout the ages long past, one of the great mysteries was that the Jewish Messiah could be messiah to the entire world.
A.) Eph. 3:6
B.) there are so many passages in the Old Testament speaking of the Gentiles coming to Christ.
ba.) Hosea speaks of those not the People of God as being called the people of God.
bb.) Even in Genesis 12 the God first gave the offer of salvation to Abraham, it was not just for himself and for the Jewish people, but God said that all the world would be blessed through the Christ.
V.) HE WAS TAKEN UP TO GLORY.
1.) Once Jesus glorified the Father through his crucifixion, he was himself glorified by God.
A.) Phil. 2:8
2.) Today that glorification continues in the realm of heaven.
A.) Phil. 2:9-11
B.) Ultimately, that glorification will be climaxed on the day when every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord.
CONCLUSION:
1.) For countless centuries the plan of God for the salvation of man somewhat a mystery to mankind.
A.) The Jewish people had at least a concept of that mystery, but even to them it was yet to be revealed.
B.)Jesus completed his mission when he died on the cross. Fifty days after the Crucifixion after Jesus had been raised from the dead, and ascended back to heaven, the mystery of God was made known to the Jewish people, and on that day of Pentecost they were given the invitation to come to Christ.
2.) A few years later, the even greater mystery of extending the kingdom of God to the Gentiles came to be.
3.) For over 2,000 years the mystery of God has been made known to man .
A.) for over 2,000 years the offer of salvation has been given to the entire human race.
B.) Today God may be calling to you to accept His great offer of salvation. Won`t you come and accept His offer?
