Once again, I ask you to turn to 1 Timothy
chapter 3. This is chapter 2 of the book
written by Brother Don Fortner titled, The Mysteries of God.
And as you're turning to 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 16, I want to
remind us where Don took his thoughts from
in writing this book on the mysteries of God. He took it from 1 Corinthians
4-1 where it says, let a man so account of us as of the ministers
of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. And we covered
in chapter one a great deal, basically the whole book, the
mystery of godliness, the mystery of faith, and several other mysteries. I didn't list them all here in
today's study. But we started chapter 2, which is more of an
in-depth look at these mysteries that God talks about in His Word. And this mystery of godliness
that we read about in 1 Timothy 3, verse 16, where it says, 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, and received
unto glory. Now the last time we came together,
which would have been two weeks ago, we spent our time looking
at great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh.
Now this morning we're going to cover two more points of this
verse. Justified in the spirit, scene
of angels, and the next week, Lord willing, we'll look at preached
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up
into glory. And then we'll go into chapter
three, which is another in-depth look at one of the mysteries
listed in his word. We considered that first part
of chapter two two weeks ago. Now, next, we see, having accomplished
redemption for us, the Son of God was justified in the Spirit. While he walked upon this earth,
his claims as Messiah were justified by the fact that the Holy Spirit
was given to him without measure. That's what it says in John 3,
verse 34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh
the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto
him. Now, particularly at his baptism,
as he began his public service in a very public manner, the
Holy Spirit descended and aboded upon him in the form of a dove. Look over at Matthew chapter
three, Matthew chapter three, and let's look at that. We're
talking about He was justified in the Spirit. The Spirit of
God came and justified His Son as He walked this earth. And
this particular instance is when He was being baptized. Over here
at Matthew chapter 3, verse 13, we read these words. Then cometh
Jesus. This is Matthew 3, 13. Then cometh
Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of Him. But John forbade him, saying,
I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answered him, suffer
it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him, and Jesus,
when he was baptized, went up straightaway out of the water,
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, And he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him. So we
see here the claim that Christ is God's Son, that he's the sent
Messiah, is justified by the Spirit lighting upon him. Look
at verse 17. Then and alow a voice from heaven
saying, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Thereby
this side of the dove, the side of the angel of God, appearing
on his son, vindicated his claims and the mission that he had come
to accomplish. This is the fulfillment of all
the things in the Old Testament when the Lord said, I will send
my righteousness. In Jeremiah, he's talking about
his son. When he says unto us, a son is
born unto us. a child is born unto us, a son
is given, he's talking about his son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And here we see the verification of that through the Holy Spirit
lightning upon his shoulders. The miracles that he performed
by the Holy Spirit justified his claims as the Messiah, the
one who was sent to deliver his people from their sins. Look
over at Luke chapter 11. Well, let's actually, we're in
Matthew. Let's look at Matthew 1 verse 21 first. Turn to Matthew,
there's two verses I want you to see here. Matthew, in chapter
1 verse 21, which we're all very familiar with. But before we
go to Luke, let's look at this. And she shall bring forth, this
is verse 21 of chapter 1, Matthew 1. And she shall bring forth
a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. This is the Messiah.
He's the one who sent, for he shall save his people from their
sins. Now turn over to Luke, if you
would, 11. Matthew, Mark, Luke. Turn over to Luke 11, if you
would. Let's look at one verse over
there. Verse 21. Matthew 11 verse 21. Oh, Luke 11 verse 20. I'm sorry. I'm getting myself
mixed up here. But if I, with the finger of
God, cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon
you. Is that the right one? 11. Oh, you know what? Actually,
back up. Back up, because to explain what I just read, what
we just read there, verse 20, we need to read verse 19 as well.
And if I be Beelzebub, and remember, they were claiming that he was
of Satan. They claimed that he was Satan and he's casting out devils.
He says, if I be Beelzebub, cast out devils, by whom do your sons
cast them out? Therefore shall they be your
judges. But if I, with the finger of God, cast out devils, no doubt
the kingdom of God is come upon you. So we see here the spirit
of God showing us that he is our Messiah. Now, when he was
resurrected from the dead, he was by the Holy Spirit justified
from our sins that had been imputed to him. He was slain because
he had been made sin for us, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5.21. And when he arose from the dead
three days later, his resurrection was God's public declaration
that all the sins that he bore in his body on the cursed tree
were forever put away. Thus, his resurrection vindicated
and justified his claims and he was justified as our representative
and our surety. Listen to Romans 4 verse 25,
who was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. The Son of God in all of his
claims as our divinely appointed Savior was justified by the Spirit
through the ministry of his chosen Apostle. In Hebrews chapter 2
verse 3 we read this, how shall we escape if we neglect so great
a salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. That's what God's preachers do.
We confirm God's Word by the very Word that we had heard in
our own hearts. And our Lord is justified in
the Spirit every time the Gospel is preached in the power of the
Spirit to the salvation of redeemed sinners. Do you realize the blessings
that God has given each and every one of us right here in this
church in watching His children come to Him through the preaching
of His Gospel? You all who were here when Kathy
heard it for the first time, some of you were here when I
heard it for the first time, and remember that day. I remember
that guy who showed up on the motorcycle out there, I remember
that, yeah. What a blessing it is for us
to witness the Spirit working in the preaching of God's Word.
Next, Paul tells us that our Redeemer was seen of angels.
And of course he was seen of angels in his pre-incarnate glory
before he became a man. Look over at Isaiah chapter 6
if you would. Isaiah chapter 6. Look with me if you would, chapter
six, verse one through seven. In the year of the king Uzziah,
I saw as the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up,
and his train filled the temple. Above it, the temple stood the
seraphims. Each one had six wings. We're
talking about he was seen of angels. And of course, he was
seen before anything was created, before the world was. And that's
what this is talking about. Above it stood the seraphims.
Each one had six wings, with twain he covered his face, and
with twain he covered his feet. And with twain he did fly. And
one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. Here we see
the angels worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4, And the
post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and
the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me, for I
am undone. because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.
For my eyes have seen the King of the Lord of hosts. Then flew
one of the seraphims unto me, having a live pole in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar, and he said,
and he laid it upon my mouth and said, lo, this hath touched
thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Turn over to Revelation now if
you would. Revelation chapter 4. We're talking about Him being
seen of angels. What a mystery. What a mystery
that our Lord was there even in the beginning of time before
a body was ever, before He ever assumed flesh. What a mystery. And over in Revelation chapter
4, we read a couple of verses in beginning at verse 8. And the four beasts had each
of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within,
and they rest not day or night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, which was and is and is to come. And when those beasts give Give
glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who
liveth forever and ever. The four and 20 elders fall down
before him that sat on the throne and worship him, and liveth forever
and ever, and cast their crown before the throne, saying, thou
art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for
thou has created all things. And for thy pleasure they are
and were created. One more here in the book of
Revelation, if you would. Turn over to chapter 5. One more page
over to chapter 5. Look at verse 8 through 10. And when he had taken the book,
the four beasts and the four twenty elders fell down before
the Lamb, having every one of them hearts and golden vials
full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints. And they
sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy. to take the book
and to open the seals thereof. For that was slain and has redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and
people and nation and has made us unto our God kings and priests
and we shall reign on earth. So we see he was seen of angels. He was seen of angels at his
incarnation when he became flesh. When the angels of God saw the
sun, their creator in human flesh coming into the world, to say,
follow men, they were overwhelmed with wonder. Listen to the words
of Luke, chapter two, verses 13 through 15. Suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, that's our
angels, that's the angel that he was seen of, hosts praising
God and saying, glory to God the highest and on earth, peace,
goodwill towards men. They were astonished at his miracles
And in conception, you can read that in Matthew chapter one.
You know, I think I'll do that. I'll turn back over to Matthew
and we'll read that. Again, in Matthew chapter one. The verses 18 through 21. Now the birth of Jesus Christ
is on this life when as His mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph
before they came together. She was found with child of the
Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being
a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away privily. And while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife. For that which is conceived of
her is of the Holy Ghost. and she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his
people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophets,
saying, behold, a virgin shall bring forth a son, and they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which is interpreted God with us. The angels observed our Lord's
life, In his baptism, as we read a moment ago, when he came up
out of the water, God's angels lighted on his shoulders as a
dove. And after his temptations in the wilderness as well, they
rushed to minister to him. The angels of God observed with
reverence all of his words and works of mercy throughout all
of his public ministries. They beheld him in awe upon the
Mount of Transfiguration as the Father displayed his approval
and acceptance of all that he had done and would do and gave
demonstration of the glory that he now enjoys on his exaltation. Remember, he was changed in the
twinkling of an eye. He became white. The glory that he obtained by
virtue of his obedience. The angels saw him and were utterly
astonished. When the God-man's heart was
crushed in Gethsemane, as he cried out to his father at the
prospect of being made sin for us, no doubt those Holy Spirits
were moved as they had never known that they could be moved.
Imagine what it was for those who knew Christ. as the angels
do to see him, his father, turn his back. What a mystery it is
to you and I to see that through the eyes of his word, through
the eyes of faith. Have you ever sat back and thought
about these things, folks? Have you ever contemplated the
wonders that God became a man? Have you ever pondered for a
moment in your lives the idea that the great three in one,
how could they be separated? How could God the Father turn
his back upon the very one who is him in the flesh? I don't
understand that. You talk about things that make
your brain want to pop, Like a balloon, poof. These are those
things that we're looking at. But let me express something
to you in closing. Our Lord did these things for
us. I hear an amen. He did it out of love for us,
folks. This is how much God loves his
people. Do you think he's going to let
them go? You think he's just going to let them run off out
into the street? Would you? If you had your cute
little grandchild with you, or your great grandchild, or whatever,
your child, and they were going to run off into the street, would
you let them? I wouldn't have. I'd have done
just like Christ. I'd have run out there and jumped
in the car to save him. Well, that's the love that God
has for you and I. We can't understand these things.
They're so deep. People say, and I've shared this
with you, I flap my arms around on top of the pond. I never go
deep enough. This is deep. This is the deep stuff that God
loved us so much. We're not going to understand
it until the day we stand with him in heaven. Our brother Cash does right now.
Our brother Bill does. All of our brothers and sisters
who've gone on before us through that door marked death, they're
standing with the Lord and they understand it perfectly right
now. It's not a mystery to them anymore. Those angels, they watched God
make His Son to be sin for us. Who can understand that? They heard the Savior's cry and
watched Him as He was forsaken by His own Father, that we might
never, ever be forsaken by Him. Our Lord says, I will never forsake
you. Why? How? Because he forsook his son in
our stead. These angels saw Emmanuel die. They were there when he went
into heaven with his own blood, with his own marks on his hands
where he was crucified and obtained eternal redemption for us. They
saw him rise from the dead, attending him in his ascension, and they
shouted for joy as the King of Glory sat at the right hand of
the Majesty on high." Brother Don closes this part of his chapter
with this. He says, when in heaven he took
his seat, the seraphim sang, all hell's defeat. Amen to that. Would you not agree?