Unveiling the Mystery

108 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. This portion of Scripture is likely a creed of the early church and right off the bat we learn of the importance of creeds. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul says, “without controversy,” and the word means confession, and confession always carries the idea of agreement with it. When a party who is guilty of a crime is interrogated by police, they hope that they will get a “confession” out of him or her. A confession that says, “I agree with the charges against me.” In like manner, the Holy Spirit seeks to produce a confession with individuals that “agrees” with the basic tenets of the faith....the mysteries of godliness. When Peter responded to Jesus' question of “Who do you say I am,” Peter said “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and note how Jesus responded. Mt 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” This basic, rock solid confession of Peter's that was wrought by God the Holy Spirit is the basis of Christianity. Christians acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, (the Messiah) the living Son of God! Without that confession on our part, everything about the faith remains a mystery. And so we read here: And without controversy (or agreement) on the points or creed that follows, faith will remain a mystery. (Something not fully grasped) And these Holy Spirit convictions concerning Christ, are a gift of God (by grace) and taken on God-granted faith. They will always remain foreign to the natural man as it says in 1Co 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Do you believe in this Jesus who was: “God manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.? Then thank the Lord, for the mystery of the faith has been revealed to you by the Spirit!