(16a) And undeniably great is the mystery of godliness:
Paul’s just finished a section instructing Pastor Timothy about how he ought to lead God’s Church. He’s hit on soundness in doctrine, worship in response to God’s word, gender differences, disciplining people in the church, and church government.
And all this is such that God’s Church will glorify God by acting like Christ in the world.
Paul will continue to give instructions about how to govern the church in chapter 4, and so v. 16 seems a little out of place. But consider this: it is hard for Paul to go on too long about specifics in church governance without going back to worship and the celebration of Christ.
And we should learn from that. Propriety in ministry, in church government can be an idol. It can replace Jesus, even if we’re right in what we’re saying. We need to follow Paul’s example here – and thank the Holy Spirit for causing him to write this way. Paul returns to the core of everything – Jesus.
And he calls it the ‘mystery of godliness.’ By that he means that the end or goal or purpose of the proclamation of the Good News about Jesus is people becoming godly – being like God – and therefore, glorifying God – just as Adam and Eve should have done, being made in God’s image.
We cannot be godly on our own, but we depend on a preached message.
It’s a mystery that leads to godliness. Mystery in the Scriptures refers to something that was veiled in the Old Testament, before Jesus. There were signposts pointing to it, but it was hidden. But now, mysteries have been made known. Jesus has come. So when Paul refers to this as a mystery, what he’s saying is that we have been given the full disclosure of God himself about all of history.
This message is undeniably great. Note the celebratory tone. This truth is magnificent, it’s glorious, it’s heavy, it’s vital, it’s holy, it’s awe-inspiring, it’s amazing. And we know that to be true.
(16b) He was manifested in the flesh…
If Jesus was manifested, before he was manifested, he was hidden. We, however, live in the current reality of his being made known. God has revealed himself to us.
Jesus was revealed in the flesh. Flesh in Paul usually does not mean simply ‘physical.’ It refers to the entire world system under the control of sin – and destined for hell. It stands for rebellion against God, ignorance, darkness, and ultimately destruction.
Jesus was revealed into that world. The Holy God entered a sinful system as a human. And he did so in love – to relate to – to have friendship with – sinful people.
(16c) …vindicated by the Spirit
To be ‘vindicated’ means to be shown to be righteous, or in the right. Someone who is vindicated suffers unjustly, and at the last, justice is done and they are freed from that injustice and rewarded for their righteousness.
In this little word ‘vindicated’ live both the crucifixion and the resurrection of the Messiah.
Jesus never sinned. He always obeyed God. He never deserved the slightest pain – let alone punishment.
Yet, by God’s design, he suffered at our hands. We put him to death by the will of God the Father so that the punishment we had earned would be counted towards him. Christ didn’t deserve to die – we did – but he took it from God in our place, by our bloody and evil hands.
And because he was righteous, the Holy Spirit of God vindicated him. Could a righteous one, and one who had paid the penalty for our sins, stay dead? No! That would be unjust. And so the Holy Spirit raised him from the dead, in glory, showing him to be righteous.
In the old world of sin Christ died and rose, bringing in a new order of things, governed by the Holy Spirit. And the Triune God began to set the screwed up world aright.
He was patient with our sins, not punishing us. He punished Christ in our place. He raised Christ from the dead because Christ is the only righteous one! And as God gives his Holy Spirit, people join Christ in his status as ‘righteous’ – even though we sin so much. Christ has been vindicated – and so, one day, all who have his Spirit will be as well.
Summary:
1) Instructions about church government should be couched in worship in response to the Gospel.
2) The Gospel brings life change.
3) The Gospel was hidden, but is now made known.
Prayer:
God, we were separated from you. Lost in this world. Without purpose, without happiness, without meaning – destined to die. You sent Jesus and showed yourself to us. You killed him for our sins and raised him because he is holy – and through that you have declared us to be righteous – even though we’re not.
Thank you.
Thank you that one day we will be vindicated as Christ was through resurrection.
Cause these truths to sink into my heart to produce glory for yourself in my life.
Because Jesus died and rose and intercedes for me I pray – amen.
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