“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16
A MYSTERY is that which was previously hidden or obscured, but is now revealed.
“...making known to us the MYSTERY of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:9-10
“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the MYSTERY hidden for ages in God, who created all things…” Ephesians 3:8-9
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” Matthew 13:16-17
In 1 Timothy 3:16 we see:
- The incarnation of Jesus
- The resurrection and exaltation of Jesus
- The heavenly reign of Jesus: “seen by the angels…”
- The proclamation of the good news
- A new community built around the resurrected, ascended, reigning Christ
- The final triumph of the Lord
“And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” Acts 1:10-11
APPLICATION
1. In all of life and in every endeavor, always make a straight line to Christ.
2. Rejoice in the grace of the cross (Romans 11:33-36).
“...and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:39
3. Be astounded at our privileged position on this side of the glory, revelation, goodness and mercy of Jesus.
“Christ is like a river…A river is continually flowing, there are fresh supplies of water coming from the fountain-head continually, so that a man may live by it and be supplied with water all his life. So Christ is an ever-flowing fountain he is continually supplying his people, and the fountain is not spent. They who live upon Christ, may have fresh supplies from him to all eternity; they may have an increase of blessedness that is new, and new still, and which never will come to an end.” Jonathan Edwards
4. Make it your endeavor to press from the foothills to the highest peak.
“It is not possible certainly just to sit down and will praise. Praise grows out of God-given perception of reality, a seeing God is infinitely good and infinitely good to me in Jesus Christ in every circumstance. To have that kind of praise, you need to take time, to wait upon the Lord in prayer and meditate upon His greatness and grace and the might of His kingdom.” C. John Miller, The Heart of a Servant Leader
New City Catechism
Q 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
“Upon the whole, the best and clearest, and most perfect definition of justifying faith, and most according to the Scripture that I can think of, is this, faith if the soul entirely embracing the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Savior. The word, embrace, is a metaphorical expression; but I think it is much clearer than any proper expression whatsoever…” Jonathan Edwards
Christ is the attainable Lion of Judah and the ever present Good Shepherd who leads his sheep and calls them by name. Jesus is the one who holds our fragile lives together and gives us hope and joy in the daily journey.