OK, well, over the past three
weeks, we began a series of studies from the book of Don Portner
titled The Mysteries of God. And obviously, it's going through
the Bible and looking at the different mysteries of God. And
he laid out in Chapter 1, which took us three Sundays to get
through, the blueprint. for all, for the rest
of the studies. And in that blueprint, we saw
the first part of that blueprint that he gave us in Chapter 1
was the mysteries of godliness. Now we're going to go back through
the six points, the six mysteries that Don addressed in Chapter
1, and we're going to look at each one this time with a great
deal more We're going to go into the Word
of God deeper and look at these great mysteries that were brought
out. And this morning, we're going to consider the mystery
of godliness. And I don't want to go through
all the other five at this moment. Chapter 2 is the mystery of godliness,
and then chapter 3, 4, 5, and 6 are the other five points that
we looked at in chapter 1. And we're going to see a little
bit of duplication in today's study from what we studied in
the first week's study in looking at this mystery of godliness.
So I want you to turn over to 1 Timothy 3.16 first off. 1 Timothy 3.16. And while you're
turning there, Don begins this book of the mysteries of God
with this statement from 1 Corinthians 4 verse 1. Let a man sow a count
of us. as the ministers of Christ. And
folks, this is every one of us. This is every one of us are ministers
of Christ. I realize not all of us are preachers
or teachers, but each and every one of us minister Christ as
we go about through this valley of the shadow of death, as we
go about through our lives, through this walk, through life. So let
a man so account of us, all of us, as the ministers of Christ
and the stewards of the mysteries of God. And that's what Don bases
the book on. Let us account to others as ministers
of Christ, the stewards of His mysteries. And then here in 1
Timothy 3.16, we read these words, and without controversy, great
is the mystery of godliness. And we looked at this briefly
in In the first week, in Chapter 1, the first week of this study,
it says, God was manifest in the flesh, we looked at that,
justified in the Spirit, we looked at that, seen of angels, we looked
at that, preached unto the Gentiles, and believed unto the world,
received up into glory. Now when Paul says, without controversy,
great is the mystery of Godliness, he means us to understand three
things. First, The doctrines of the Gospel
are irrefutable facts. That's the first thing God teaches
His children when He begins to reveal His mysteries to us. The fact is this, that the Bible,
the Scriptures, the Holy Writ of God, the very Word that was
inspired by the Spirit for men to write, is irrefutable facts. It's true. It's the Word of Truth. We talked a little bit about
this Friday night. Scott Froshauer was asking me
about false doctrines, false teachers. So was Anthony. Anthony was also talking to me
on Friday morning about that. Folks, our Lord does not save
through the preaching of lies. That does not mean He cannot
teach you some truths through other religious organizations. There are some things that many
religious organizations speak of the truth of God. And it takes
God to lay those truths to our hearts. But he does not save
through those religions. He saves through the preaching
of his truth. And his truth is the word of
God that we hold in our very hands. Without controversy, great
is the mystery of godliness, and it means that doctrines of
the gospel are irrefutable facts. Sometimes the word godliness,
writes Don, refers to the whole body of revealed truth, particularly
the truth of God as it relates to a person and the work of our
Lord Jesus Christ. What Paul is saying here is he's
saying the doctrines of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ are
indisputable. They're undebatable. They're
irrefutable facts, so plainly revealed and evidently manifested
in the Holy Scripture that no reasonable controversy can be
raised about them. Yet, yet, yet, yet, the gospel
of Christ is a mystery. No man can comprehend it. It
cannot be known, understood, or received by any human being
except by divine revelation and regenerating grace. And I want
to show that to you. Turn over to 1 Corinthians chapter
2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. And let's look at that. We're
talking about the gospel is a mystery that can only be revealed by
God Himself under divine inspiration. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. We read these words in verse
14. But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned." Have you ever had a conversation with somebody,
you're looking at some scripture, and you're looking at Romans chapter 9 is an example
where it says, let me quote it properly, where it says, so then it is
not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that showeth mercy. Have you ever been talking to
somebody about a scripture like this? It's so clear. It's so
clear to you and I. Now, what this is talking about? It's not of him that willeth.
It's not of him that runneth. It's not of you who do works. It's not of your free will. But
it is of God that showeth mercy. And we sit there and we say,
well, why can't the world see that? Why couldn't I see that before
God came to me and revealed it to me is really the answer to
that, is the real question about it. Well, that's what this is
talking about here. That's what it's talking about
over here in 1 Corinthians 2, verse 14. But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish
as unto him. That's exactly what it's talking
about over here in 1 Corinthians 1. For the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved It
is the power of God. Let's look at another verse here.
Speaking of the gospel being a mystery to men, turn over to
2 Corinthians chapter 4. Go to the right, over to 2 Corinthians
chapter 4. Look at two verses with me here.
2 Corinthians chapter 4. Beginning in verse 5, for we
preach not ourselves, writes Paul, but Christ Jesus the Lord,
and ourselves, your servants for Jesus' sake, for God who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness. And there we
go, this is talking exactly about that very thing. The gospel must
be, it's a mystery to natural man, it must be revealed through
regenerating grace for God who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness and shine in our hearts, to give the light
of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Even to those to whom and in
whom the gospel is revealed, it remains a mystery that we
cannot fully comprehend. We see through a glass darkly.
Who can comprehend to the fullness of God's love for us? I mean,
we get an understanding of it, absolutely. And that understanding
is through the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. But who
can comprehend it fully, how deep our God loves us? Thirdly,
the basis and the motive of all true godliness is the gospel
of Christ, the person and the work of our God and Savior. Generally, when we use the word
godliness, or when it is used in a biblical context, it refers
to the believer's devotion and consecration to Christ. Looking
at it that way, Paul is telling us that the mystery of godliness,
which the world can never understand, is not a legal bondage, but a
constraint. It's a constraint of love. You're
in 2 Corinthians here, look at chapter 5. Look over at chapter
5, verse 14. It's a constraint, the love of
God. For the love of God constraineth us, because we thus judge that
if one dies for all, then all are dead. Another one, if you
would. Turn all the way over to 1 John,
just before Revelation. The book of Revelation. Turn
over to 1 John. And let's look at a couple of
verses over there. We're talking about this understanding of Christ
is not a legal bondage, but a constraint. It constrains us to love Him
because He first loved us. In the book of 1 John, chapter
4, we read these words. In verse 19, we love Him because
He first loved us. Now look over at chapter 3, go
back to the left. Chapter 3, verse 23. And this is His commandment,
that we should believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another as He gave us the commandment. In Christ,
God's elect are free, entirely free, from the law. And we can
read that over in Romans chapter 6. Go to the right, or go back
to the left if you went to Romans chapter 6. And we'll look at a couple verses
there in Romans. We are free from the law. Romans
chapter 6. Look at verses 14 and 15. For sin shall not have dominion
over ye, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What
then? Shall we sin because we are not
under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Now look over at
chapter 7 verse 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye are
also become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that ye should
be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead,
that we should bring forth fruit unto God. And there's several
more. Let's look at one more, if you
would. Turn over to chapter 8, verse 1. Look at Romans 8, verse
1. There is therefore now no condemnation. The law has no power over us.
Christ was condemned for us and put the law at a risk to them
which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit. One more. I know I said that
was one more, but I got one more I want to read here over in chapter
10, verse 4. And you can't get any more plain
than this. You can't get any more plain
than this. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to every one that believeth." Folks, believers are not motivated
or ruled by legal principles in any way or in any degree. Having said that, Paul goes on
to assert six facts, six matters of divine revealed gospel truth. which to immortalize are incomprehensible
mysteries. Who can understand them? And
I want to examine these six statements in this study. Actually, it's
going to be probably three different studies. These six mysteries
of faith are the things which inspire and compel the believer's
heart in the worship and the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. You'll recognize these because
we talked about them in the first, but there's a little more detail
to them this time. And this morning, we're only
going to look at one of them, and that is that God was manifest
in the flesh. The incarnation and the birth
of our Lord Jesus Christ was an absolute necessity because
of God's eternal purpose of grace to save His elect. It was an
absolute necessity. We read in Hebrews Body that
thou has prepared me. It was an absolute necessity
because God in spirit cannot die He prepared a body for the
Son of God who is eternal now folks We're we're talking about
the grace of God and what is the basis of the grace of God?
His love for his chosen people. That's who that's what I The
basis of His grace. The grace in sending His Son,
preparing a body for the eternal Son of God to dwell in. So we see that the incarnation
and the birth of our Savior was an absolute necessity because
of His purpose in saving His elect. Now there was no other
way for God to be just, writes Don, and yet justify the ungodly. Listen to these words. from Romans
3, 24-26, being justified freely. Remember, we talked about this
thing to God. We're not bodies to Him. We are
freely, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in His blood, through believing in His blood, to declare His
righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through
the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at this time, His righteousness,
that He might be just, and be justifier of him which believeth
in Jesus." Now, the Lord God declares Himself to be both a
just God and a Savior. That's in Isaiah 45, 20. If there
was any other way for Him to save that did not involve the
incarnation, righteous obedience, and sin-atoning death of His
dear Son, then as the Scripture plainly states, Christ is dead
and vain. That's in Galatians 2 verse 21
through 321. In order for God to save His
elect, all the demands of His holy law and infinite justice
had to be satisfied on our behalf. That's why we can sum the gospel
up in one word. That's why the whole love of
God can be summed up in one word. Substitution. In order for God to save His
elect, the demand of His holy law must be satisfied on our
behalf. Someone whose righteousness and
sacrificial death would be of infinite merit. Can it be any
more merodious than the death and the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ? The Son of God, the perfect Son of God, the one who knew
no sin, and therefore of infinite efficacy, must make atonement
for our sins. Someone had to live and die as
our substitute. The only person capable of such
substitutionary obedience must be both God and man. And that person is Jesus Christ,
who is the incarnate God, God manifest in the flesh. And that's
what we're looking at, God with man in the flesh. What a mystery! that God left His glory in heaven
for just a moment and became flesh for you and I to lay down
His life and sacrifice Himself in our stead. The results of
His obedience unto death as our substitute before God, they're
certain. There's nothing can stop it.
There's nothing that can get in the way. It's like Paul says,
I am confident. I'm assured. This great Savior cannot fail. He cannot fail to save those
who He came to save. Listen to these words. And she
shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus,
for He shall save His people from their sins. That's a pretty
positive statement there. There's no question to that.
That's in Matthew 1 verse 21. wait for His law. Therefore,
because of what we just read, because of the assurity of what
we just read, every believer may rightfully enjoy the blessed
comfort and assurance of their acceptance with God. How often,
how often do we stand in doubt of our salvation because of what
we see in this flesh? How could God save me? And I
know you feel the same way. I know all of God's children
look at ourselves the same way. How could the Lord save this
wretched man like myself? Paul says, O wretched man that
I am, who shall save me from the body of this death? Paul
says that. Not because of anything of you.
But because of the Lord Jesus, we can be rightfully enjoyed
the blessed comfort and assurance of our acceptance with God. We have an advocate with the
Father, who is infinitely merodious, whose advocacy is so justly efficacious
that God cannot injustice, impute sin, to those for whom He lived
and died for. Look over at 1 John again. Turn
back over to the right there. Let's read 1 John 2, verses 1
and 2. 1 John 2, verses 1 and 2. My little children, these things
I write unto you that ye sin not, And if any man sin, we have
an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous."
Did you notice whose righteousness it's talking about? It's not
talking about ours. We have nothing to stand in there,
but we do have all things to stand in in our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ the Righteous. Verse 2, washed out, purged out for our
sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world. And that's speaking of all of
his people throughout all time, throughout all tongues, throughout
all nations. This great work of redemption
by Christ was planned and purposed in eternity by God the Father.
I can prove that to you. Turn over to Ephesians chapter
1. This was a plan of redemption before the world ever was. This
is a plan of the salvation of God's people before the world
was created. Look at verses 3-6 of Ephesians
chapter 1. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as He hath
chosen us in Him, speaking of Christ again, before the foundation
of the world, see there, before anything was ever created, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him. in love, having
predestinated us into the adoption of the children by Jesus Christ
Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." When was
the good pleasure of His will? Before the world was ever created,
before the foundation of the world, as we read in verse 4.
Now look at verse 6. "...to the praise of the glory
of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved."
This great work of redemption by Christ was effectually purchased
and obtained for the elect at Calvary by God the Son. Look
over at Hebrews chapter 9. Our Lord went to the cross and
bought His people. He purchased them with His own
blood. At Calvary, look at verse 12
of Hebrews chapter 9. Neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by His own blood He entered once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption. One more if you would,
Galatians chapter 3. Go to the left of Hebrews to
Galatians chapter 3. All the way past Ephesians. In Galatians chapter 3, we read
in verse 13, Christ hath redeemed us. from the curse of the law,
being made a curse for us. For it is written, cursed is
everyone that hangeth on a tree." This great work of redemption
by Christ was and is effectually and irresistibly applied to every
chosen redeemed sinner by God the Holy Spirit in regeneration
and conversion. The mystery of godliness. The
mystery of godliness. Look here. Go back to Hebrews
chapter 9 again. There's two verses, three verses
over there. Hebrews chapter 9. This time look at verses 13 through
15. For if the blood of bulls and
goats and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifying the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God, and for this cause He is the mediator
of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption
of the transgressions that were under the First Testament, they
which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Jesus Christ, who is God manifest
in the flesh, has fulfilled for every believer The will and purpose
of God according to Scriptures. Let's look at a couple of verses
over in Isaiah 7 and then we'll close in prayer. Isaiah chapter
7. Beginning at verse 14. Isaiah chapter 7, verse 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, God with us. One more if you would. Isaiah
9, verses 6 and 7. Verses 6 and 7. For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his
shoulder. That's the same thing as saying
he is Lord right there, Lord of all. The government, all government
shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful. Wonderful to those who are the
recipients of His grace. Counselor, you're looking for
some answers to questions that we have on this earth? Look to
God's Word. The mighty God, the everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace. Jesus Christ, who is God Almighty,
manifest in the flesh, has fulfilled for every believer all that God
has purposed according to Scriptures. Amen.