Introduction: This evening, we will begin a series of studies regarding the seven mysteries found in the Bible, beginning with the mystery of Godliness.
What is a Mystery: a thing that was hidden and has been revealed or something that is known but cannot be fully understood. It is something that is difficult or impossible to figure out or explain. In a mystery, we have what God has given us in His Word and that’s it. It’s not for us to try to figure it out but it is our duty to believe it.
A Steward of the Mysteries: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Here we see that the minister of Christ, which is what I am, must be a faithful steward of the mysteries of God. A steward is given a trust or charge of something.
The Mystery of Godliness: 1Timothy 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.” This is also known as the mystery of incarnation- where God took on flesh or human form.
Change in Modern Bibles: Any translation aside from the King James Bible will attack the deity of Jesus Christ by removing or replacing “(God) was manifest in the flesh” with (who, he who, or it).
Jesus Already Existed: Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. That “us” was God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost who were involved together in creation before Jesus took on flesh. In other words, Jesus Christ is not a lesser god upon whom the spirit of God came after his birth, He was already God. Read I John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” This is God manifest in three persons.
God was manifest in the flesh: God took on the form of man in Jesus Christ- John 1:1-14 “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”. Jesus came as a baby to this earth however, he was also God.
Jesus was a man- I Timothy 2:5 and John 8:40 “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham”.
Jesus was God- John 1:1 and Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
Came through a Virgin Brith: a woman having a child without a man being involved. It was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” In Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Grew up from a Baby: Luke 2:52 “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”. Can you imagine that Jesus Christ, God, was born, changed, fed, carried, and cared for by a woman named Mary. Grew up as a man: Jesus the man experienced hunger thirst, pain, suffering, loved wept, prayed, and had compassion on others. Grew up as God: as God he came to pay for the sins of the world and offer eternal life to all that believe on Him. I Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Died on a Cross: I Corinthians 15:1-4 “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” Because Jesus Christ come in the flesh, he died just like every other human being dies.
Resurrected from the Dead: After the third day of being dead, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples in John 20:19-29. When the disciple Didymus saw and touched the Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection, he said “My Lord and my God”. Thomas saw and believed “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed”.
Offers Everlasting Life: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is crucial. If Jesus Christ was not manifest in the flesh, then he didn’t die for the sins of the world, and people cannot receive everlasting life. I Corinthians 15:12-20
In Heaven Now: Mark 16:19 “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God”. Colossians 3:1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God”.
Conclusion: This is the mystery of Godliness; God was manifest in the flesh as the man Christ Jesus. Jesus was God before taking on flesh, He didn’t stop being God while on this earth and is still God today in heaven as He sits on the right hand of his Father. Whosoever believes in Him will receive everlasting life- John 3:16. Read it and believe it!
Anchor Baptist Church 