THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS
"I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the
household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
support of the truth. And by common confession (beyond all question, NIV;
without controversy, KJV) GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory"
(1 Timothy 3:15-16).

Devotion 6 of 13

WILLING INVOLVEMENT
     More is involved here than a mere transaction, or perfunctory obedience on Christ's part. Christ's vicarious death was accomplished willingly; i.e., the Savior volunteered to accomplish this facet of the Divine will. The heart of Jesus was in His work. The glory of our redemption is found in the absolute willingness of the Godhead to save us. The Father had no compunctions about sending the Son, and the Son had no reservations about coming. This is the precise point of the tenth chapter of Hebrews.  "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God" (Heb 10:7-9). Once this is perceived  with the heart, a total commitment to the will of God becomes possible.

The Great Need
     The great need of humanity is not self-understanding, but comprehending the Lord. Psychology and Sociology,  twins of human wisdom, attempt to acquaint humanity with itself. But this was not the Divine undertaking. It is God Who needs to be comprehended! In His assessment of humanity, the Lord said, "There is none that understandeth" God (Rom 3:11). The deficiency of this knowledge thrust men into death in trespasses and sins. Where God is not known, sin always dominates, and there are no exceptions.

     You must not be confused on the role of Jesus in the Divine economy. While He "left us an example, that we should follow in His steps," His primary purpose is  not that of a Role-model. He came to "show us the Father." He is the "Way" to the Father, the embodiment of Divine "Truth,"  and the "Life" of God (John 14:6). If you take God the Father out of the picture, there is no purpose for Jesus! If Jesus does not "bring us to God" (1 Pet 3:18), He has brought us to nothing!

     The subject of revelation was not man! Jesus was not a super man, but God made known in the flesh. He was not a mere role model for humanity, He was God revealed in the flesh. God's objective in Christ was not to show man's potential, but His own nature and will. 

      The real objective of godliness is not simply for men to live right, but for them to "participate in the Divine nature" (2 Pet 1:3, NIV). This conflicts sharply with common representations of Divine objective. Our great need is not self- knowledge, but the knowledge of God. True counseling acquaints us with  God! In this sense, one of Christ's names is "Wonderful Counselor" (Isa 9:6).

True Godliness
     What is true godliness? It is the life of God revealed in our flesh. To put it another way, it is "the life of Christ manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor 4:11). This is the "treasure" in "earthen vessels" (2 Cor 4:7). Godliness is not simply a way of doing things--a manner of life that can be emulated. It is participation with God, involvement in His purpose, and unity with His Person! To see a godly person is to witness the life of God. It is to behold how the Divine nature reacts in "this present evil world."

     One of the reasons for the mysteriousness of "godliness" is hidden power. On the surface, it appears that godliness can be achieved by human discipline, or rule-- keeping. The weakness of this approach is declared in Colossians 2:20-23. "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--'Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,' which all concern things  which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things  indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (NKJV). Self-imposed, or a procedural, religion cannot remove the desire to sin. It cannot neutralize the power of lust. It leaves the individual with all of the inner weaknesses possessed before being subject to ordinances.

     How different the glorious reality of life in Christ! "I  say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal 5:17). Those who so walk are revealing God through their lives. That is what godliness is! It is not measuring up to a code, but revealing the life of God through our conduct.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus name, I thank and praise You for the blessing of being "willing in the day of your power." I know that it is really You Who works within me, "both to will and to do" of your own good pleasure. I want You to know I find great delight and refreshment in this arrangement.

-- TOMORROW: JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT --