Vs. 16: - This verse is the ‘Cliff Notes’ of the life and work of the Messiah. This verse is similar to 1 Cor. 15:3-4 - "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
I like the NASB wording: "By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness" of this verse more than the New English Translation (NET) version shown above. The NASB is more poetic. Nothing can be more amazing than the mystery revealed - God loves you, and He Himself paid the price for your sins. This is the Gospel laid out in a few words. We can also see the gospel laid out in "Four Spiritual Laws" (by Campus Crusade for Christ), another version is ‘Roman Road to Salvation’ (the Letter to the Romans is the source material) .
"And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation" - Perhaps this NET version is clearer and more understandable, yet is weaker. There is no controversy here; no one disagrees - We have an amazing God, who through His amazing grace has saved us from the penalty of our sins. If we reject Christ and Lord and Savior, the wrath of God remains on us - not anger, not revenge but execution of His clearly defined justice. See: John 3:36.
The NET turns 'godliness' into 'our religion'. It is not entirely wrong, but the word 'religion' has all kinds of baggage loaded on it. Things like: Ecclesiastical church, denominations, popes, cardinals, cathedrals, etc. (Not picking on the Catholic Church, here - just using one of the largest denominations in the world as an example.) 'Religion' also includes Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Greek and Roman gods (not a big factor in our time, but huge in the first century A.D.).
The word Paul uses in 'godliness', not 'religion', which are different Greek words rather than different meanings for the same word.
“Godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16) refers to piety pertaining to God, or ‘holiness’.
“Religion” (James 1:27) refers to ceremonial observances and practices.
Paul is not talking about religious practices and rituals, but the miracle of Jesus Christ - His incarnation, His sacrifice, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven. Those facts are AMAZING!
Paul, after all the time he spent being a missionary for the faith, was still amazed and astounded that God dealt with us through Jesus. Godliness - God exercising His grace and mercy in order to bring us to Him, holy and without blemish or spot - is an amazing revelation. (Jude 1:24)
"He was revealed in the flesh" - Jesus, is God and man, wholly and fully both. This is another 'mystery'. (See: Matt. 1:18, Luke 1:27-35) We humans have trouble visualizing abstract things. (Side note - for example: how many people do you know that can look at construction plans and drawings and have no idea what it will look like when built? There are people who can 'see' the object in their minds in 3-D, and get it on paper for the construction contractor to build.) God is Spirit, and His true worshippers will worship Him in Spirit and truth. (John 4:23, 24) We cannot imagine what a Spirit looks like. We cannot imagine fully how a omnipotent, omniscient Spirit can know us and love us. Jesus came to show us, in actions, in His sacrificial death and resurrection. Would you give your life to save your children whom you love? Of course.
"vindicated by the Spirit" - In short, the resurrection!
- If Christ's life was not sinless, the sacrifice would not be acceptable.
- If His sinless life and death was not sufficient, there is no resurrection.
- If no resurrection , there is no eternal life.
- His life is acceptable, the vindication is Jesus is in Glory, heaven right now, with the Father, preparing heaven for our arrival.
"seen by angels" - He was announced by the archangel Gabriel (one of the few angels with names!). HIs birth was heralded by angelic hosts ('Angels We Have Heard on High'). Luke 2:18-25.
"proclaimed among Gentiles" - This was Paul's calling. (Acts 9:15, 26-31) Peter also shared the gospel with Gentiles, Acts 10:1-48.
"believed on in the world" - Jesus was followed by his disciples, some of whom became His apostles. After 'Easter' and then Pentecost they became proclaimers of the grace of our Lord. In an incident in Acts, the apostles were warned to no longer preach Christ and Him crucified. "We must obey God, rather than man," was their response. (Acts 5:29) Thousands believed and were saved through their ministry. (Acts 2:24, 4:4)
"taken up in glory" - Not long after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples to 'prove' his resurrection. He had defeated death. That is our hope. We have seen the resurrected Christ! We have seen Him taken up into glory. We, too, shall be like Him! After a short time with the disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven to be with the Father, to advocate for us. (Acts 1:8-11).
How cool is that?!
*** End of Chapter ***
No comments:
Post a Comment