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 7 of 13

JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT
OR - VINDICATED IN THE SPRIT
      In the end, our susceptibility to the Spirit confirms our participation in the Divine nature. If we are not in fundamental accord with the Lord, we cannot claim affiliation with Him! That statement has alarming implications. It is like John eating the book given to him. It is sweet to our taste, but bitter in our belly (Rev 10:9-10). When the professed church is weighed by this criteria, it falls abysmally short of the Divine standard. 

     What does it mean to be "justified in the Spirit?" Jesus was so vindicated when it became impossible for the grave to retain Him. Peter declared it was not possible for Him to be "holden by the pangs of death," or kept by the confines of death. He was superior to death, and therefore could not held by it. Life is superior to death, heaven is greater than earth, and Spirit is transcendent to flesh. A person will be justified in the Spirit when he is in harmony with the heavenly, or spiritual realm. This is uniquely true of our Lord Jesus Christ. His Person was greater than the circumstance of death, and thus in His resurrection, through the power of the Spirit, He was justified, or vindicated as the Son of God (Rom 1:4).

     The fact that Jesus consistently was "in the Spirit," confirmed that He was of God. Our Lord was never caught off-guard by the Divine agenda. He always said what He was given to say (John 8:28,38; 12:49-50), and consistently did what He saw God wanted done, joining with the Father in His works (John 5:19; 8:28). He was "justified in the Spirit," both in His earthly ministry and in His resurrection from the region of the dead. 

      His inward part proved Who He was! The bent of His soul, the tendency of His thoughts, the environment of His soul--that proved Who He was. He was "justified in the Spirit." When the Devil came, he found no foothold in Jesus--no place in  which he could establish a spiritual beach head. The wicked one had "nothing" IN Christ Jesus (John 14:30). From the beginning of His ministry, our Lord followed the Spirit. His reaction to the Spirit substantiated Who He was, not His reaction to humanity  Matt 4:1; Lk 4:14).

Our Participation
     What of our situation, as the "sons of God?"  We too are "justified in the Spirit." 
Having received "the Spirit of Christ" (Rom 8:9), we partake of His nature. Our  susceptibility to the Holy Spirit of God confirms our profession and vindicates our manner of life. If we are "led by the Spirit of God," we are truly the sons of God! (Rom 8:14). Those who are not led by His Spirit are not the sons of God, profession not withstanding. Nor, indeed, are they godly-- disciplined or not.  

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, I praise You that profession of allegiance to You can be confirmed. Your Son, and my Savior was vindicated in all of His claims in the Spirit. I know my faith in Him is not vain, and that He is precisely what He declared Himself to be. For this, I offer my praise and my person to You!

-- TOMORROW: THE POWER OF AFFIRMATION --