The Mysteries of God: Mystery # 1
“God was Manifest in the flesh” (I Tim. 3:16 KJV)
“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” (I Tim. 3:16). The Bible tells us many are going to be unfaithful stewards of this mystery in the end time (I Tim. 4:1; I Cor. 4:1-2)
The 6 Truths that comprise this mystery of God will focus our attention on 4 key & unique events in the life of Jesus: The virgin birth, Transfiguration, Resurrection, and Ascension. No one else in all of History has ever been virgin born, transfigured, resurrected & ascended!
We must begin with a preliminary note on the Importance of Progressive Revelation in the Bible. Each great Divine truth & Doctrine begins in seed form in the Book of Genesis, grows with life giving insight throughout the Bible, finally culminating in a life altering full bloom of glory in the Book of Revelation.
We learn a lot about God in the O. T. but behold His glory as never before in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). The ultimate revelation of God is found in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:9; 1:19; John 1:14, 18).
But in the same way there is a progressive revelation of God in Christ throughout the N. T. which ultimately explodes with unimaginable life transforming glory in the Book of Revelation! (Matt. 8:27; Rev. 1:17)
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor. 3:18). The greater the glory we behold, the greater our transformation (2 Cor. 3:18; I John 3:2).
We see this Progressive Revelation in the supernatural design of the 4 Gospels. The Gospel of Mark (50 A.D) has no genealogy. Jesus presented as the perfect servant of the LORD (Isa. 52:13 – 53:12). The Gospel of Matthew (60’s) traces Jesus’ genealogy back to King David (1000 BC) then Abraham (2000 BC) (Matt. 1:1) & reveals Jesus as King. The Gospel of Luke (60 ‘s) traces Jesus’ genealogy back to the 1st man, Adam & reveals Jesus as the perfect man who came to save all mankind. The Gospel of John (90 A.D) traces Jesus’ existence & Being all the way back to the beginning; and reveals Jesus as God manifest in human flesh. The Book of Revelation gives us the full “revelation of Jesus Christ”(1:1).
This is why it takes a whole Bible to be a whole Christian (Matt. 4:4). You really grow & mature in your Faith as you read & study the Bible through from Gen. – Rev. We can’t afford to skip some books of the Bible any more than a Surgeon can skip a few anatomy classes!
“And without controversy…” - There can be no question about the validity of this truth – Jesus is God! The mystery of how God can become a man is beyond our human understanding. But the fact that God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ is beyond dispute!
“great is the mystery of godliness” - The greatest part of this mystery is that “God was manifest in the flesh.” Manifest in two ways:
First & foremost “God was manifest in the flesh” in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God! (Col. 2:9). Secondly, “God was (and is) manifest in the flesh” in every true “born again” Christian. If we are a Christian, Christ lives “in” us (Col. 1:27; Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 13:5; etc.). And Christ is God!
GODLINESS is a way of life: (1Tim. 2:2) “...that we may lead a quiet & peaceable life in all GODLINESS.”
This way of life was unknown in the O.T. but now manifested through the lives of Christians. Supernatural Godly living is made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19). It is a supernatural way of life made possible by the 2nd great mystery of God which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
GODLINESS is also a revelation: a revelation of God in Christ through His virgin birth, Transfiguration, resurrection from the dead, and ascension into Heaven where He now reigns in glory.
So the mystery of godliness has to do with both the doctrine of Christ & the lifestyle of Christians.
False doctrines lead to false living. Faithfully teaching the “mystery of godliness” results in God’s redeemed people living godly lives! But we are warned that “… in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, disobedient to parents, unholy, despisers of those that are good, … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
The lifestyle of true believers in Christ is truly one of the great mysteries of the history of the World. People who live the way Christians live was unknown until Christ came and began redeeming lost humanity! Who can understand the godly life & death of the millions of martyrs throughout Church history? What unbeliever can understand the life of a believer in Christ?
“God was manifest in the flesh…” - through the virgin birth.
Through the Holy Spirit our LORD became not “God & man” but “the God-Man.” “The angel said unto her [Mary], “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35; Matt. 1:20). “…Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa 7:14; Matt. 1:23).
“God was manifest in the flesh…” - through the transfiguration (Mat. 17; Lk. 9). “as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white & glistering” (Lk 9:29).
The full glory of God blazed forth through the physical body of Jesus! Peter wrote “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (I Pet. 1:16).
Two of the many reasons God was manifest in the Flesh: (1) So we can become partakers of the Divine nature: “… his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life & GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Christ…” (2Pet 1:3)
“God gave us “exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Pet.1:4).
(2) To destroy the devil & remove our fear of death (Heb 2:14-15)
“Justified in the Spirit…” The Spirit Justifies Christ’s claims to sinlessness through the virgin birth. He had no earthly Father so was born without a human sin nature like all of us (Rom. 5:12). “In Him is no sin” (I John 3:5). “He did no sin …” (I Pet.2:22). Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21). He never even had a sinful thought!
“Justified in the Spirit…” - The Spirit Justifies Christ’s claims to Divinity through the Transfiguration. Jesus “was transfigured [metamorphosed] before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. A bright cloud overshadowed them: & behold a voice out of the cloud, said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:2-5).
The bright cloud was the “Shekinah” glory of the Holy Spirit
“Justified in the Spirit…” - The Spirit Justifies Christ’s Lordship through the resurrection from the dead: “Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4). Christ was “put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1Pet 3:18). Jesus’ humanity was made eternal in transfigured and glorified form!
Thus the error of the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation
Which tries to reproduce the pre-transfigured & glorified flesh of Jesus in the mass.
“seen of angels…” - Specially at His birth (Mat. 18:10). When God “bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Heb 1:6; Ps. 97:7; Lk. 1:31; 2:10-15)
The angels are innumerable (Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11). There is a unique amount of angelic activity in the life of Christ. More than for any other person in History! Jesus refers to the angels as “MY ANGELS” (Matt. 13:41; 16:27; 24:31). Why? Because He’s God & He created them all!
“preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world” - The Church of the living God will finish the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; 24:14). Its already recorded in Rev. 5:8-10: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy … for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Like Jesus, every believer will be caught up into Heaven!
“Received up into glory” [the ascension] - God the Father confirms Christ’s absolute Sovereignty over all Creation! (Acts 2:33-36)
“And while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Act 1:9). David said: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Act 2:34-36).
This Mystery changes our entire understanding of who Jesus really is. “Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2Cor. 5:16). Jesus “is the image of the invisible God… For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, & that are in earth, visible & invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, & by him all things consist” (Col. 1:15-17).
The ascension has a huge impact on us: We experience “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, & set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, & power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:19-21)
Life Changing Implications
1. Because of What Christ did He guarantees my “New Birth” – I am born again of God’s Spirit (John 1:12-13; 3:3)
2. Because of What Christ did He guarantees my “transfiguration” – I am predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29; 2Co 3:18)
3. Because of What Christ did He guarantees my “resurrection from the dead” (Rom 8:11)
4. Because of What Christ did He guarantees my “Ascension into heaven” (John 14:2-3)
Believe this mystery of Godliness and You will come to know Jesus in the fullness of Divine Glory. You will experience your own spiritual new birth and spiritual transformation. You will lose your fear of death in anticipation of your own resurrection & ascension into Heaven. And You will live a godly life in this present evil world.
