The Mystery of Godliness...

1 Timothy 3:16 says "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..."

What exactly is this "mystery of godliness"? Well, this verse of Scripture tells us the principal answer: this mystery is the humble condescension of the Son of God into a human form. What a mystery this truth has proven to be indeed: so great a mystery, in fact, that many men have used the misunderstanding of this truth as a foothold to neglect the subject of this mystery: Jesus Himself! Or even worse, many men have promoted their misunderstandings into false doctrine, and have treaded lightly upon and casually abused this mystery's subject. What a disaster! Should such a mystery propel us toward neglect or careless disdain? Of course not. Rather, if we are hungry for truth, such a mystery will only contribute to our insatiable state, and propel us toward proper and reverent Biblical conclusions: Jesus Christ was fully man and yet fully God.

Here are some popular false views that have been spreading the filth of error and heresy:

(1) Greek mythology: Jesus was only a half-God, half-man creation, or a demi-god.

(2) Jesus was God converted into a man, or He was a man converted into God. Deity was humanized, or humanity was deified.

(3) Jesus was a man that was merely filled with the Spirit of God, but was not actually God Himself.

(4) This God/man union of Jesus can be compared to a marriage relationship: the 2 are made one flesh; the 2 are joined as one flesh.

(5) This God/man union of Jesus can be compared to the relationship of the believer with Christ: they are one spiritual union.

So what are the correct views?

(1) Jesus was one person, having in Himself the union of 2 natures; the nature of God and the nature of man, thus constituting Him the God-Man. He could not have been a half-God or half-man creation because He regularly exhibited the fullness of both natures, not only half. He possessed human emotions, human sorrows, etc. However, at the same time, He was able to say: "he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (Jn 14:9). Such a plural display is also evidence against the heretical idea that Jesus was merely a God who was humanized, or a man who was deified.

(2) These natures were distinguishable, yet indivisible. They were inseparably bound together so as to constitute the one personal Christ of God. This union of natures cannot be compared to a mere marriage relationship because though the 2 are joined as one flesh, they are yet separate and distinct persons. Furthermore, this union of natures cannot be compared to the relationship of the believer with Christ. For these, though one spiritual union, are still 2 separate and distinct persons.

To better understand why such views are essential, we must understand the purpose behind Jesus' plural identity: just why did He do this? Why did He condescend?

The reason for Jesus' humble union of Deity and humanity is in order that He might fulfill in His one person, that which was separate and distinct in the Old Covenant mediatorial ministry. He was both High Priest and Sacrifice; both Priest and Offering. This is the only way He could obtain a "more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Heb 8:6).

How wonderful for us who believe! And yet how scary for those who pervert this truth: To downplay the significance of our High Priest's divinely-human identity is to downplay the very salvific act He came to accomplish, for these acts are interdependent on one another!

May we always be enthralled at His ever-loving condescension! And may we trust that such a "mystery" is only a mystery to those who do not "hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience" (1 Tim 3:9).

"...it is given unto YOU to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven..." (Matt 13:11).