LS-31-The Mystery Of Godliness

The Mystery Of Godliness

Yes, confessedly great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was manifested in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels,
was preached among the Gentiles,
believed on in the world,
taken up into glory.--1 Timothy 3:16.

It is suggested that Paul was here quoting the words of a Christian hymn, sung in the early churches in such cities as Rome and Ephesus-a hymn which is at the same time a confession of faith, setting forth some of the great facts of the incarnation, the resurrection and the ascension, and the success of the gospel in the world.

We, too, love to sing of the great facts of our gospel. We believe them, we rejoice in them. We know that because of them we are redeemed. We incorporate them in our hymns, and voice them in our praise. Yet we ever feel that there are mysteries here beyond our understanding. "O depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" The Incarnation--who can understand it? Who can tell what it means to say that God is manifest in flesh? The creeds of the Christian Church have sought to express it. But great is the mystery of godliness! The Atonement--who can set forth this wondrous truth? Ever since the Lamb of God came to bear away the sins of the world the keenest minds of the Christian Church have sought to fathom its meaning, and bring forth its treasures to the gaze of mankind. But no adequate statement of the atonement has ever been made. Vicarious suffering! Expiation! Ransom’ Satisfaction! Propitiation! Words which each express some aspect of truth concerning the death of Christ, as men have experienced it, but words which are difficult to reconcile in a regular system of thought, and when combined, are still inadequate to the task of setting forth the wonder of our redemption in Christ. But thanks be to God! The power of His redeeming grace is a fact, which we know and experience, apart from any explanations that may be made about it. We may know but little of what transpired in spiritual realms when our Lord Jesus gave His life for sinful men, but we know that our redemption was accomplished, and Christ has made us free.

"I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know at His right hand
Is One who is my Saviour."