Daily Manna

Key Verse

“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” (1 Timothy 3:16).

TEXT — 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Message

There is an old mariner’s chart, drawn in 1525, on display in the British Museum in London, outlining the North American coastline and adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing notations on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. One note shouted: “Here be giants”; another cried: “Here be fiery scorpions,” and yet another exclaimed: “Here be dragons.” Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British explorer in the early 1800s. Scratching out the fearful inscriptions, he wrote these words across the map: “HERE IS GOD.”

The mystery of godliness is great and cannot be discovered by reason or the light of nature. However, it is now partly revealed through Apostle Paul.
He gives six characteristics about Christ to explain this mystery, which naturally form three pairs.
(i) God was manifest in the flesh and justified in the Spirit;
(ii) He was seen of angels, and preached unto the Gentiles, and
(iii) He is believed on in the world, and received up into glory.

These pairs also form three natural contrasts, namely,
(i) the contrast between flesh and spirit,
(ii) the contrast between the angels and the nations, and
(iii) the contrast between the earthly and the heavenly.

What then are those “great” or remarkable things which constitute the mystery of godliness or revealed religion? God was manifest in the flesh, at His birth and His earthly ministry; that He was “justified (or vindicated) by the (Holy) Spirit through His miracles and resurrection; He was seen of (or served by) angels, and that His coming had broken down the walls which had separated the world, making it possible for Christ to be “preached unto the Gentiles”, and be widely “believed on in the world”, He was “received up into glory (heaven)”, as the crowning grandeur for His work of redemption for all humanity.

Today, the gospel has been embraced, not by a few, but by millions in all nations where it has been published, proving the truth of the doctrine and the great power of God. Every new convert, therefore, is a new illustration of the greatness of the mystery of God. And even today, Christ still waits for those outside the fold, to come, receive His free gift of salvation from sin, and experience the riches of the mystery of God.

Thought for the day

Living above sin is a mystery only revealed in and actuated through Christ.

• Bible
• in one year
• Mark 7 – 10 (Read By Alexander Scourby)