"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law."

(Gal. 5:22-23)

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January 2008 Newsletter

GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS!

 

1 Timothy 3:15 says that the “church of the living God [is] the pillar and ground of truth.” An essential pillar of truth that needs to be understood and strengthened in the church is the truth concerning the mystery of godliness.

“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.

 

The mystery of godliness is without controversy. ‘Without controversy’ is the Greek word homologoumenos, SC #3672; it means ‘confessedly’ and comes from the word homologeo SC #3670 meaning ‘confession’ or literally to ‘speak the same thing’. This mystery is to be confessed in truth with utmost confidence in its verity and there is no argument that can stand against it. Our confession is to agree with the truth of this mystery as revealed in the word of God.

 

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS

God was manifested in the flesh

God became a man! “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” Jn.1:1. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” v14. Jesus is the Word of God; that is one of His names in Revelation 19:13. Jesus was God manifested in the flesh!

In 1 John 1:1-3, Jesus is described as “That which was from the beginning” and “the Word of Life”, and three natural senses are used in the description: hearing, “that which we have heard”; seeing, “that which our eyes have seen”; touch, “our hands have handled”.  John declares to us that “the Life was manifested” (v2). God was manifested in the flesh and eyewitnesses had physically heard, seen and touched Him!

Paul writing to the Philippians concerning Christ Jesus says of Him, “who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man…” (2:6-8a). God came in the likeness of men and was found in appearance as a man! Paul writes, “The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second man is the Lord from heaven” (1Cor.15:47).

 

God was Justified in the Spirit

God, who was manifested in flesh was also justified in the Spirit. This word dikaioo SC #1344 means ‘to render just or innocent’. God manifest in the flesh was witnessed to, or rendered right and just, by the Holy Spirit.

John teaches on testing the spirits. He says, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist” (1Jn4:2-3a). The confession of God being manifest in the flesh is justified in the Spirit!

 

The Holy Spirit justifies Jesus as the Son of God

  • At His conception. The angel speaking to Mary said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” Lu.1:35.
  • At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit justified Him to be the Son of God, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” Mt.3:16-17.
  • Through His resurrection, “concerning His [God’s] Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was 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 of the dead” Rom.1:3-4.

 

Who is the Son of God?

The Son is described as, “the brightness of His [God’s] glory and the express image of His person” (Heb.1:3); “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Col.1:15); Christ is “the image of God” and “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God is seen in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor.4:4,6).

The Son of God is God manifested in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was justified in the Spirit as the Son of God!

 

Seen by angels

Jesus on many occasions was seen by angels:

  • An angel heralded Jesus as the Son of God at His conception. “And the angel answered and said to her…that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” Lu.1:35.
  • Angels gathered at His birth, “And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them [shepherds]…Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid…For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” Lu.2:9-13.
  • Angels ministered to Him after His temptation in the wilderness, “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him” Mt4:11.
  • An angel also ministered to Him in the garden of Gethsemane when He submitted to the will of the Father, “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him” Lu.22:43.
  • Angels confirmed His resurrection to certain women who came to the tomb and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, “And it happened as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?’” Lu.24:4-6.
  • Angels were with the disciples to witness Jesus’ ascension to heaven, “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go up into heaven” Acts1:9-11.

 

Preached among the Gentiles/Nations

God, who was manifest in the flesh in Jesus, has also been preached among the Gentiles. Mark testifies that the apostles “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mk.16:20); “Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word” (Acts 8:4).

Paul testifies of himself to Timothy that he was “appointed a preacher and an apostle…a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1Tim2:7). Paul preached the mystery of godliness as he was given grace to “preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph.3:8). Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles (Gal.2:7-8) and was instrumental in this mystery being preached among the Gentiles.

Paul, in Ephesus was “reasoning daily” in the School of Tyrannus for two years. The result of this was that “all who dwelt in Asia [Turkey and surrounding regions] heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:9-10).

Paul, writing to the Thessalonians testifies of them that, “from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth…in every place” (1Thess1:8). To the Colossians he says that “the word of the truth of the gospel…has come to you, as it has also in all the world” (1:5b-6).

 

This mystery of godliness, that God was manifested in the flesh,

has assuredly been preached among the Gentiles/Nations!

 

Believed on in the world

In Acts 8:35-37 Philip is “preaching Jesus” to an Ethiopian eunuch. After hearing the preaching, this man’s confession was, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (v.37).

As Cornelius and other Gentiles who had gathered in his house, heard the word preached by Peter, “whoever believes in Him [Jesus] will receive remission of sins”, upon them “the Holy Spirit fell” (Acts 10:43-44).

The Ephesians believed what Paul preached, “In Him [Jesus] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph.1:13).

The Philippian jailer and his household were saved by “believing on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31-32).

To this day people are believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and being saved.

 

Received up in glory

The awesome event of Jesus being received up in glory was witnessed by the apostles, “while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts1:9).

 Jesus said, “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” Matt.24:30. Jesus was received up in glory and will come again in like manner!

Stephen had a revelation of Jesus being received up in glory when he exclaimed “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts7:56).

Jesus “when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb.1:3). Jesus “has entered as the forerunner for us behind the veil” (Heb.6:19-20).

Confessedly, without controversy, this Jesus, who is the Christ, is God revealed in the flesh and was received up in glory!

 

This is a great mystery that is to be confessed with certainty:

  • God was manifested in flesh,
  • Justified in the Spirit,
  • Seen by angels,
  • Preached among the Gentiles,
  • Believed on in the world,
  • Received up in glory!

 

The mystery of godliness is of primary importance. It is the cornerstone of Christian doctrine. All other revelation of all other mysteries cannot be real and will not release the glory of God to His people if this basic doctrine of who Jesus Christ is, is not the foundation and cornerstone of our faith.

Paul states this basic mystery of ‘God becoming a man’ in the context of wanting us to “know how we ought to conduct ourselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” 1Tim.3:15.

Paul Galligan & Nicholas Jackson

 

INTERNATIONAL APOSTOLIC TRAINING 2008

Monday 7th - Saturday 19th January 

(School commences 9am Mon. morning)

 Pastors, Leaders & those called to minister in the body of Christ

Training School for Children & Youth to age 13. Mon.7th – Fri.11th

to be held at: SHILOH CENTRE, 9 Russell St TOOWOOMBA, ph. 0746130633

 

OVERSEAS TRIPS: Myanmar – 10th – 24th Feb. Paul & Nicholas.

India – from 24th Feb. Paul & Nicholas 2 wks; Bruce & Jean for 5 wks.

 

 

     email: rma@revivalministries.org.au

 

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