1Ti 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.
I. It Is A MYSTERY
A. A Holy God Revealed As A Humble Man.
- Rom 8:3 “…God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…” God came down and put on SKIN!
- It’s a mystery how a glorious God would put on undesirable flesh. Isaiah 53:2 “…he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him…”
- This shows Godliness is not a show. It isn’t about drawing men through beauty and flash. Contrast this with the “mystery of iniquity.”
- The devil/Antichrist will clothe WICKEDNESS with beauty, false religion, and fake godliness. Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
- It is a mystery because the God of the universe left the riches of heaven to please sinful man. Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; 2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
- If God’s purpose was to please others and not to draw attention to himself, then we should please others and not draw attention to ourself.
- What do people commonly say? Look out for old number 1!!
- Jesus is KING and he became a SERVANT Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- You’re a KING and a KING’s kid, you should become a servant. Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
B. God Came Down And Experienced Life As A Man. (He would have got his diaper changed, rocked to sleep, got hungry, he got tired, he sweated, he got thirsty, and all the discomforts of a man)
- He came down to be a MODEL for man. 1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:1Pe 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 1Pe 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
- He came down to make MOCKERY of the devil. The devil probably said “you don’t know what it’s like to be man”. So he came down lived a man’s life better than anybody. Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
- He came down to MAKE A WAY for man to get righteousness. Why would a righteous God come down to die for a mess like us? Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
II. GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH
A. Jesus didn’t just Begin in a Manger!
- You see Him in the Old Testament as the Angel of the LORD! (Voice walking in the garden, wrestling with Jacob, in the burning bush, captain of the LORD’s host in Joshua, appearing to Manoah,
- You see Him present in the creation! Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
- He proclaimed to be here BEFORE ABRAHAM! Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Joh 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
B. He is God according to Many witnesses.
- The Father called the SON, LORD! Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
- The father said “let all the angels of God worship HIM!” Heb 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
- The unclean spirits testify to it. Mar 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,Mar 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
- Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
- The LORD says the LORD sends him. Zec 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. Zec 2:11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
III. The Importance Of The Virgin Birth
A. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy.
- Isa 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.
- Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
- Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
B. If Joseph Was His Father He Had A Sin Nature.
- Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
- Since he was virgin born he bypassed the curse on Coniah. Jer 22:28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
Jer 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.Jer 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
IV. 1 Timothy 3:16
A. Without Controversy
- It is a fundamental to the faith. We can’t argue about it.
B. Justified In The Spirit.
- According to the Spirit he is justified. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
C. Seen of angels.
- Ascending and descending, when he was tempted, the LORD tells the angels to worship HIM.
D. Preached To The Gentiles.
- The Jews rejected him, so the LORD turned to the gentiles.
E. Believed on in the world.
- You must believe on Him to be your crucified, buried, and risen Saviour.
F. Received up into glory.
- Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
- If he wasn’t God he would have stayed dead and buried in the ground.
