"THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS"
INTRODUCTION
All of us like some kind of music. Music seems to have always had a place in the church. Some I like. Some I do not like. You probably have the same feelings: But out of Christian love, we endure other types of music, knowing that others find it a blessing. Many churches that did not exhibit real Christian love have been split apart because of fights over music styles: By people who are selfish and self-centered and who want everything their way. I am so glad that you, in our church, support the need to give something to everyone, when it comes to music. I just know how you adults love today’s teen music styles. :) And how you teens love your parent’s music. :) Usually the words are not the problem(Except when I can not understand the words.) Usually the rub comes, not from the lyrics, but from the style of musical accompaniment or the style of singing.(Let me tell you something that I, a mere musical layman, taught my musician wife. She never realized that the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and the "ABC/Alphabet Song" were sung to the same tune!) It is not the tune. It is the message. The old Wesley saying, by all means save some, is still true.
There are no recordings of First Century Christian vocal groups, soloists, or bands for us to listen to, and discuss the merits and demerits of the early music of the church. The verse that I just read from 1 Timothy is thought to be one of the earliest hymns of the new Christian Church. The words are indelibly etched in the record of our Holy Bible: And we know that God’s Word will last forever. The music has long ago been forgotten. This song is about the great mystery of godliness. There was strong faith in the early church about the divinity, the messiahship of Jesus. "Beyond all question…" they believed that Jesus was the Christ promised by God and the prophets. When this song was inspired, there were still disciples of Jesus who were alive, plus all of their fellow church members who had been changed from sinners to saints.
The Psalms have special instructions on how they were to be sung. Many of the hymns written 200 or more years ago were sung to barroom tunes: Because people seem to remember words put to music. Lives were changed and drunks and other sinners were brought to Christ by those old, still loved, hymns. Lets take a line by line look at this old hymn sent by Paul to Timothy. 1 Timothy 3:16 "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."
I. HE APPEARED IN A BODY.
In Jesus, Spirit became flesh. Born of the Virgin Mary. The "Word" of the First Chapter of John became flesh. Jesus came to live, breath, be tempted and tried, to experience life on man’s terms, and finally die, like humankind. John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
William Barclay wrote, "Look at Jesus, and you will see the mind and the heart of God, in a form that men can understand." Jesus is "the image of the invisible God." He who was before all things, who was the King of the Ages, he who created all things, became incarnate in man. God with us. Emanuel. Isaiah 53:3 "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." He committed no sin. The only perfect man, yet he carried our sin, and died for our sin, was buried for our sin, and rose again as testimony to his power and love to forgive our sins. Through him we see and reach the Father.
II. HE WAS VINDICATED BY THE SPIRIT.
Vindicated means, justified, endorsed, proved.
At his baptism the Holy spirit publicly descended on him. His words and miracles , and wonders convinced and convicted and converted hearts and lives. Even before his crucifixion, the disciples worked signs and wonders in his name, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Jews said he was an impostor, a blasphemer. He forgave sins and permanently changed lives. The crowds who followed him thought he was a good man, a powerful prophet. The apostles at times, thought he was Messiah. After his death and resurrection they were sure he was God.
On the Day Of Pentecost, at the beginning of the church, the Holy Spirit, whom he had promised he would send, fell upon the 120 believers and under their Spirit blessed witnessing, 3,000 sinners were converted in one day. And countless millions in the ages to follow. The church began and will continue for ever. The Spirit still gives him vindication.
III. HE WAS SEEN BY THE ANGELS.
Before his birth, the angels who knew him in Heaven, told Mary and Joseph that they were to be his earthly parents. The angels said "he will save his people from their sins."(Matthew 1:21) They told the shepherds that first Christmas to go and see the Savior. The Spirit warned the Magi of the messianic mission that was threatened by Herod’s jealousy: And they outsmarted Herod to save Baby Jesus’ life. An angel warned Joseph of Herod’s plot and took Jesus to safety in Egypt for a period of time, until another angel told Joseph it was safe to take Jesus back to Israel. Angels worshipped him. Fallen angels, demons, recognized him as he walked this earth. Angels told of his resurrection. Angles told of his second coming. An angel will blow a trumpet to signal his Second Coming. In Revelation, we are given a picture of Jesus, surrounded by angels and the redeemed, being worshipped in Heaven.
IV. HE WAS PREACHED AMONG THE NATIONS.
Jesus was to save the whole world from our sins. He was and is not just a nationalistic hero to be glorified by the Jews. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of our world. Savior of all who believe. Jewish prejudice towards the Gentiles was forbidden. A new covenant, a new testament in his blood was made with the whole human race. He commanded the gospel to first be proclaimed in Jerusalem and then to the rest of the world. The Christian is to work at this blessed task until he returns. When he comes, unexpectedly, he wants to find us doing all to the glory of God. He wants us to tell all of their need to be saved.
He was, and is, to be preached through love, not the sword. The Christian has no Jihad. "He was not the Messiah who had come to raise the Jews to earthly greatness, but the Savior of the whole wide world."(William Barclay)(No matter what statement is issued by the bishops of America’s Roman Catholic Church, Jews, as well as Gentiles must believe on Jesus to be saved. His is the only Savior!)
V. HE WAS BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD.
Someone wrote that he is the center of all worlds. Worshipped in Heaven’s bright places by those who never knew sin and by those who committed earth’s darkest sins. The Old Testament tells us to "Taste and see that the Lord is good…"(Psalm 34:8) Christ has not only influenced civilization, he has caused huge portions of the world’s population to become born again believers. Believers who were and are willing to lay down their lives for sinners.(Martyrs.)
John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Words of witness from changed lives are the best testimony. The foolishness of preaching also saves many. Many are saved through hymns, spiritual songs… The millions of testimonies from "The Jesus Film’s" showing around the world speak to the saving power of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
VI. HE WAS TAKEN UP IN GLORY.
After hundreds of appearances to believers, he ascended into Heaven. As the Lamb of God and also our High Priest, his blood atones for our sins. He lives to make intercession for the believer.
His prophetic fulfillment, his virgin birth, his baptism, his sin free life, his miracles, his love, his words, his sacrifice on the cross, his death, his burial, his resurrection, and his ascension all testify that He is the Messiah, the Christ, who takes away the sin of the world.(John 1:29)
Before his crucifixion it is recorded in Matthew 26:63, "The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." One day, every knee will bow and declare him Lord!
CONCLUSION
The Bible, history, changed lives, the voice of the Holy Spirit in your heart right now, have all told you that Jesus is the Christ. The book of the gospel, the story of the gospel is no longer a mystery. "Mystery" applies to truth we could not apprehend unless God revealed it to us. "He" refers to Christ, making the whole hymn a song of praise to Jesus."(Asbury Bible Commentary) The mystery of it all is that even though we are sinners, he still loves us, and wants to live in our hearts. That guilt that some of you are feeling, right now, for your sins, is the rebuke and conviction of Jesus’ Holy Spirit. He is here and he wants to save you from your sins, today! Accept him right now! Listen to his words found in Revelation 3:19 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
You know who Jesus really is. What will you do with Jesus?
(Some quotes, background, and ideas from William Barclay’s writings, Vine’s Word Studies, Word Studies In the New Testament, Asbury Bible Commentary, and other commentaries. Reference to RC bishops is found in several recent newspaper articles, in many papers, where they wrongly say we no longer have to evangelize Jews. Scripture quotes from NIV.)
