Faith’s the Door
“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 Tim. 3:16).
Why did Paul say, “without controversy”? If you understand it, he is saying, no one can justly, or even question the greatness of the “mystery of godliness”. Since the day Paul made this claim, it has stood unstained, though many today, especially in “higher education”, openly teach otherwise, they do so without proof. This should create an interest in every honest heart which is search for truth. Stepping through 1 Timothy 3:16 we will open six doors that will help us understand God’s purpose for us beginning with…
Faith’s Door #1: “the mystery” What is the great mystery? It is the revelation of the truth regarding God’s conditions for man’s soul salvation through Jesus Christ His Son, the good news, and it is no longer a mystery, no longer unknown, unrevealed or unlearnable. It is about the Christ and the church (Eph. 3:3-12; 5:32). God and Jesus are one, called the Word and Jesus the Son of God came down from heaven and walked with His creation bringing good news (John 1:1, 14). Paul said, “26 the [a]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: [b]which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:26-28). Thus, by reading anyone can understand. The gospel is now revealed for the obedience of faith (Rom. 16:26). “Godliness” (1Tim. 3:16) is “[εὐσέβεια, εὐσεβείας, ἡ (εὐσεβής), reverence, respect; in the Bible everywhere piety toward God, godliness:, Thayer’s].” One must take these truths into his or her own heart and live accordingly to be called faithful. What is not implied is – innovative, imaginative, wishful, dreamy feelings or some sort of a mystic vision but rather, faith based on evidence establishing a firm confidence. Jesus is the Son of God sent to man for the redemption of all (Gal. 4:4-5), and sent to sinners like me, (Rom. 5:8) and even though I do understand, it is a mystery to me that Jesus would die for one such as I.
Faith’s Door #2: “Justified in the Spirit” Simply put, Jesus was conceived of the Spirit (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:35), had the Spirit without measure (John 3:34) and by the Spirit was a sign given to John which identified Jesus (John 1:32-34) beyond doubt testifying that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God by descending upon Him at His baptism (Matt. 3:16). The Spirit later would come into the world and testify of Christ to His disciples and confirm Jesus to be the Son of God (John 15:26; Rom. 1:4). In context Jesus was made righteous/justified, cleared of all charges brought against Him, vindicated and proven true or righteous. Even the Heavens declare His righteousness (Psa. 50:6).
Faith’s Door #3: Jesus was “Seen of Angels” Angels announced His birth (Luke 2:9-11), ministered to Him after the Devil tempted Him (Matt. 4:11), strengthened Him after a night of prayer in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43), and it was an angel that rolled back the stone that sealed the tomb after His resurrection (Matt. 28:1-8). When certain other women came to the empty tomb, they saw two men in shining garments that stood by them. These were angels who said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:5-6). Christ is risen! “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you” (2 Cor. 13:4). Not just seen of angels, but by after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus was literally seen by more than 500 witnesses (1Cor. 15:6).
Faith’s Door #4: “Preached unto the Gentiles.” This happened first by Peter at the house of Cornelius (Acts 15:7-8). In Romans 9:30-33, Paul plainly shows that “Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith” (Rom. 9:30). “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47). The Gentiles believed Jesus to be God’s Son.
Faith’s Door #5: “Believed on in the world.” Even though the Jews sought to destroy the work of Christ in the world, they failed, for these five words clearly declare Jesus was accepted in His own time to be the Divine Son of God. Jesus did say, “…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins’” (John 8:24), which makes this one essential truth for man’s salvation. For almost 2,000 years people have hated the Bible and everything the church stands for, but we are still here standing on the rock (Matt. 7:24-27). This is one great “mystery”, because it is a manifestation that Jesus was accepted by people who lived while the Son of God walked among them. John so firmly declared they heard, saw, looked upon, touched and they bore witness of the physical Jesus (1 John 1:1-4). It is “faith working through love” that wins the victory (1 John 5:4) Truly, those people then believed Jesus in spite of the Jews. Truly, today people believe Jesus in spite of all the false, human reasoning. The inspired Word of God reveals firm, provable reasons to believe that Jesus is divine. God’s word is revealed, it is understandable and sufficient to produce the faith which moves one to accept Jesus. By grace God has provided man with the only way of salvation (Tit. 2:11-12), yet it must be believed, and obeyed (Rom. 6:17), for Jesus is, “…the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:9). What a wonderful revelation.
Faith’s Door #6: “Received up into glory.” Jesus spoke to the disciples and the scripture teaches, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). He was received up into glory, the glory which He had before He came to visit man (Acts 17:5). Thus, Jesus took His rightful seat at God’s right hand and God made Him “…both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), putting, “…all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:18-23).
Study these six things on your own, question them. But do not do what so many have, letting teachers and others think for them, tell then what to believe. Do not turn you heart against the word of God as so many who have never read it for themselves but stand on great opinions about it. Read it yourself, investigate it, then fairly judge it. Decide for yourself. After Jesus prepared the way, the Holy Spirit revealed it in an understandable manner to make it available and attainable to all men (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 15:1-3). Do you have the courage to hear it, or do you fear it? If you find that you cannot argue against it, do you possess the grit to believe it, and obey it to the saving of the soul, or will you hide from it? God has provided the answers they are within your own reach. “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Tit. 2:11).
The gospel of Christ is God’s power unto salvation to all who believe, and the wrath of God will befall “…all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who [b]suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:16-18), and many are doing just that. In grade schools through colleges and universities godless and unrighteous men and women suppress the truth teaching both young and old that science proves there is no God. But real science proves the existence of God. They teach that we are measly accidents and worth no more or less than snails in the “big scheme of things”. Yet, at every single funeral I have attended, preachers preach unbelievers up to heaven—even within families whose faith is based in evolution.
In Love
dave
Welcome One and All!
Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as only Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)