The Great Mystery

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.               1 Timothy 3:16   NKJV

I don't know about you but, before I was saved and came to know Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I knew very little else about Him. I knew there was a God but, I never considered that He was Jesus. I'd pray when I got myself into trouble but, I didn't really know who I was praying to. But when the prayer worked, I never thanked them for helping me. It really was a great mystery, one in which I didn't come to know Jesus properly until I was in my thirties. When I think back to how I was then, a rough and ready soldier who lived by the next drink he could find, I often think that if I had been God at the time, I wouldn't have given me the time of day. But He didn't and this is why I am doing what I do today - serving Jesus.

As I was flicking through my bible this morning, I noticed this particular verse and just had to share it with you. David Guzik writes a helpful piece at the beginning of this verse:

WITHOUT CONTROVERSY 

The wonderful summary of Christian truth in 1 Timothy 3:16 should be without controversy among believers. It is unfortunate when those who claim to be Christians debate or deny these fundamental truths'.    David Guzik Enduring Word

Spurgeon also quoted and wrote:

“When he says ‘without controversy,’ I suppose he means that there ought to be no controversy about these facts, though controversies have arisen concerning them, and always will, since the most self-evident truth will always find self-evident fools to contradict it.” Charles Spurgeon.

There will always be people who doubt the deity of Jesus Christ. This is why there are so many sects in the world today. Many only give Him a fleeting word and never go as far to say that He is God. You've met many of these since you were saved - Jesus did and so will you.

GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH

This is the essence of the incarnation; that God the Son, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, added to His deity humanity – and was thus manifested in the flesh. Read and let the Words of  the first chapter of John flood over you.

JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT

We can say that Jesus was justified by the Spirit not in the sense that He was once sinful but made righteous, but in the sense that He was declared to be, by the Holy Spirit, what He always was – completely justified before the Father.

David Guzik comments:This declaration was made at His baptism (Matthew 3:16), and at His resurrection (1 Peter 3:18; Acts 2:32-33). 

SEEN BY ANGELS

The ministry of Jesus, both on earth and through the Church, is of great interest to angelic beings. There were many instances when Jesus was seen by angels (Mark 1:13; Luke 22:41-43), and especially at the resurrection (Matthew 28:2-7).

There is so much more that can be said about Jesus. As an exercise, why not get a bible, notebook and pen and read 1 Timothy 3:16 yourself. I must admit that my findings today have been a joint effort with mixing my findings along with David Guzik's. Two heads are better than one sometimes.

In conclusion, this Great Mystery was unfolded before your eyes. He loves you so much that He wanted to share with you all about Himself. He has nothing to hide and, this is the way He wants each of us to live, totally transparent.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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