Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

















"Preach The Word"

Text: 1 Tim. 3:16

"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."

Introduction:

The Bible mentions several mysteries:

1. Mystery of kingdom of God (Mk. 4:11)

2. Mystery of Israel’s blindness (Rom.11:25)

3. Mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:4)

4. Mystery of His will (Eph. 1:9)

5. Mystery of the Gospel (Eph. 6:19)

6. Mystery of iniquity (2 Thess. 2:7)

7. Mystery of the faith (1 Tim. 3:9)

8. Mystery of the seven stars (Rev. 1:20)

and others.

Some people say the words we have just read were a part of a hymn sung by the early church. I do not really know, but it could have been.

The Bible says the "Mystery of Godliness" is "without controversy." That means that it is without debate and also that there is to be no room for controversy over the Mystery of Godliness, as it is reveal in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians can disagree over and debate some matters, but when it comes to Christ, who He is and what He produces is made crystal clear in the Bible.

The basic word for "mystery" as it is used here speaks of a work or purpose of God which has not yet been revealed. It is something that was once hidden but is now made manifest through the channel of divine revelation. It is "revealing the concealed." It speaks of something being shown that was one time a secret.

New Testament mysteries are not secrets to withhold but rather truths to be published and proclaimed.

Many cults or lodges are not to reveal their secrets but not so with the believer. We are to tell other about who Jesus is and what He is able to do.

We cannot find out the "Mystery of Godliness" through reasons or through the light of nature alone.

The mystery about which we are speaking is about godliness.

It is not so much that "godliness" is contrary to reason, but that it is far above and excels reason.

Salvation and godliness does not come to us through reason but through revelation.

The "Great Mystery" is not so much great in the obscurity of it, but rather in the immensity of it.

If I refer to a great wilderness, I do not mean it is great in that it is obscure, but great in the fact that it covers so much territory.

Godliness covers so much territory in my life and in yours.

Christianity is like a mystery. Christ comes in you and gives you the hope of glory. You cannot see Him with the visible eye, but ye He comes in and indwells the believing sinner.

Salvation and godliness are both revealed in the Gospel. The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of godliness.

I believe the "Mystery of Godliness" has reference to Christ and also to the Gospel of our wonderful Lord. Let’s see what it is in 1 Timothy 3:16. What does it involve?

I. Incarnation- "God was manifest in the flesh" (3:16a)

To "manifest" means "to make visible or seen."

Incarnation basically means-" taking on or to robe one’s self in a covering of flesh." That is what Jesus did that He might become our Savior and Lord.

The Gnostics of the early New Testament dies denied the incarnation of their reasoning that the body was evil. Since that be true, they said God would never join Himself to a human body. Their reasoning is quite faulty. It is also contrary to the plain teachings of the Bible (Jn. 1:14)–"the Word was made flesh."

This first statement is a testimony to the deity of Christ Jesus.

He was none other that God’s own Darling Son. He was God tabernacled in a human body.

Anyone who denies the incarnation of Christ is not just a modernist he is an unbeliever. They are of the spirit of antichrist (1 Jn. 2:22).

Colossians 2:9 says, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

In Christ is tabernacled all the fulness of deity in bodily form. That absolutely blows my mind but I know it is so.

No one forced Christ to assume a human form. He felt to do so out of obedience to the Father and love for mankind.

John 1:14 states, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Matthew 1:20 say, " But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."

What a union that God could become a man and yet be sinless man at the same time. The Holy Ghost placed the promised seed and a virgin born child came forth.

Hebrews 9:26 declares, " For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. "

His body was not made to be displayed before others, but to be broken for sin, so that the sinner might go free.

Many bodies have been offered for various reasons during the years of man’s history, but only one broken body could provide the way for man to be saved and for man to know God—that is the body of Jesus.

Jesus is not just good teacher or great man- He is God.

II. Justification- "Being justified in the Spirit" (3:16b)

"Spirit" has a capital "S." That means it does not refer to the spirit of man but the Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus was justified by spiritual power of the Holy Spirit–showing He was the Son of Man and Son of God.

If Jesus were not who He said He was, then he would not have been raised.

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

D. Through His Church (Acts 2:3,4)

The Spirit through the church says Jesus is who He say He was.

Fill church and fulfill the Word of God.

III. Observation- "Seen of angels"

A. Worshipped Him as God from the beginning.

B. Declared his conception.

Luke 1:32--" He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

C. Rejoiced at His birth (Luke 2:10-11).

D. Ministered when He was tempted (Matt.4:11)

E. Watched him die

F. Rolled away the stone

G. Proclaimed His resurrection

"He is not here, He is risen."

H. Witnessed his ascension (Acts 1)

I. Announced His coming (Acts 1)

"Same Jesus...so come.."

IV. Declaration- "preached unto the Gentiles"

The Gospel was to the Jew first.

Christ was not the possession of one particular race.

Came to be the Savior of the whole world.

The middle wall of partition broken down.
Gentiles can now be received.

Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46-" Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

V. Reception- "believed on in the world"

A. Awakening- Jews refused because in darkness.

B. Disciples multiplied

Increase of disciples.
Expansion of church from handful of fishermen.

C. Not all refused him though many do.
We are made the righteousness of God when we believe.

VI. Ascension- Received up into glory.

A. Stately- angels were there.

But He will come with clouds.

Lets make things unknown to others know through the proclamation of the Word of God.

Sermon Study By Dr. Tom Walker
Founder and President- The Preachers Corner Org.

Site created by Tom Walker