The Great Mystery Of Godliness

by ROSS, L. M. | Category: Opened Secrets | Mar 2005

'"These who have turned the world upside down have come here too,"' was the charge brought against Paul and Silas by some of the Jews of Thessalonica (Acts 17:6). Paul and Silas, ordinary men, were preaching an extraordinary message based on an extraordinary Man.

Simply put, the message was, '"This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."' In a largely pagan world, a message which directed men to the living God of heaven and His Son was revolutionary in those early days. It was a prominent and essential element of the witness of 'the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth' (1 Tim.3:15) and is described in the following verse by Paul to Timothy as 'the mystery of godliness'. In a beautiful hymn he expands on this and we will follow Paul as he shows that to understand 'godliness' we have to look at the Person and life of the Lord Jesus Christ who, as God �

'... was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit �'

Without beginning or decline,

Object of faith and not of sense. (Cowper)

We don't have to explain the mystery which is God's, rather allow faith to rest on divine revelation granted through the new birth and rejoice that the eternal God so loved us to give 'the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father' to declare Himself here on earth (John 1:18).

Sometimes, perhaps, we are a bit like Philip who said to the Lord, '"Show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us"' (John 14:8); as it were, "Lord, just a little bit more �". But those who saw the Lord Jesus saw the Father also. The implication of godliness is the revelation of God in Christ; there is no more for the present. Like 'the faith', it is once for all delivered, and the clear challenge of the subject is to reflect in our own lives the attitude of Paul, 'The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me' (Gal.2:20).

In the opening of his gospel account, John confronts us with eternity, introducing us to the Word who has no beginning; whatever point in time or eternity we may choose, the Word 'is'. The One whom we now know as Lord Jesus Christ is eternal, distinct from God the Father and yet equal with Him. Yet - and this is the greatness of the mystery of godliness � 'the Word became flesh'. This is a divine revelation that thrills the born-again believer, that the Eternal chose not only to die, but to be born! The fact of His humanity never compromises His deity and, conversely, His humanity is never compromised by His deity.

Paul recognises both as he opens his letter to the Romans '... born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead'. It was not difficult for John having heard, seen, looked upon, and handled concerning the Word of life (1 John 1:1) to conclude that the signs which he witnessed done by the Lord proclaimed that, 'Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God' (John 20:31).

When the Lord said to His disciples, '"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"' (John 16:33), what did He mean? At that stage in His life He could look back and feel justified - vindicated - in His own spirit, that in all things He had fulfilled His mission: '"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do"' (John 17:4). Anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power He 'went about doing good and healing � for God was with Him' (Acts 10:38). Through all the trials and challenges of living the will of God from early days in Nazareth to that present moment, He had overcome. All the detail of what happened in the years He spent there are hidden from us: in the home with all the spread of family life; at work with all the pressures; in the synagogue. His delight in the law of God would inevitably bring conflict, but He 'overcame', proof of which is seen when the Father opened the heavens to declare, '"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,"' and further confirmed when the Spirit alighted on Him. Justified indeed, in the Spirit! And was that gracious One ever more comfortable than when He indwelt Jesus of Nazareth? Nothing in that life to grieve or quench Him!

The Spirit was so closely associated with every moment of His life, from the early promise to Mary that, '"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,"' to the testimony of His resurrection (Rom.1:4). And of course it was 'through the eternal Spirit (He) offered Himself � to God' (Heb.9:14). That same Spirit, the Lord promised, '"will take of what is Mine and declare it to you"' (John 16:14). The whole life of Jesus was the triumph of godliness over worldliness. In every sense He was 'justified in the Spirit'.

'... seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles (nations)'

Before God sent His Son, He sent the angel Gabriel to reveal His purposes in Mary that through her the Son would come into the world. To the angelic hosts was given the great joy of announcing the news to wondering shepherds near Bethlehem. Angels would minister to Him in the days of His wilderness trial and in His battle in Gethsemane, and what were the thoughts of the two who sat in His empty tomb? Like the cherubim of the tabernacle days whose faces gazed on the Mercy Seat, the angelic hosts gazed earthward desiring to fathom the wonders of redemption in the unfolding prophecies and experiences of their Creator's suffering (1 Pet.1:12). Were they also captivated by the greatness of the mystery of godliness that God the Son should adopt a less dignified sphere than they enjoyed that He 'might taste death for everyone'?

And what angels learned by seeing, Gentile nations learned through the preaching. How the apostle Peter struggled with the concept that the gospel of Jesus Christ was for all nations! Acts 10 describes his learning curve. God was teaching him a great lesson, and he was beginning to grasp that God 'shows no partiality'. The gospel of Jesus Christ was the gospel of the One who is Lord of all - Jew and Gentile, and angels too! The message to Jew and Gentile was the same: Jesus of Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power, did good, was killed, God raised Him up and showed Him openly, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. It was the message which declared the great mystery of godliness revealed to all who in faith would accept it.

'... believed on in the world, received up in glory'

'And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?' (Rom.10:14). Preaching and believing - and the result? '"Whoever believes in Him"' - the only begotten Son sent by the Father � '"should not perish but have everlasting life"'. Secured by the Man who was received up in glory. '"And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was"' (John 17:5). And so, He who was so rich and who descended, becoming poor, that He might make us rich, 'ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things' and God in His grace has 'raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus' (Eph.4:10; 2:6-7).

Received up in glory, and into glory!

Light looked down and beheld Darkness.

'Thither will I go,' said Light.

Peace looked down and beheld War.

'Thither will I go,' said Peace.

Love looked down and beheld Hatred.

'Thither will I go,' said Love.

So came Light and shone.

So came Peace and gave rest.

So came Love and brought Life.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. (Laurence Housman)

'Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness'.