The Motivating Mystery
24 December 2017 AM – 1Timothy 3:16 – Christmas – Scott Childs
Introduction: Read text. Jesus is the reason for the season. Without Jesus there would be no Christmas. But more than that, Jesus is at the very core of the great mystery that motivates a person to become a Christian. The word “mystery” does not describe a suspense novel but information that God kept hidden in the past.
Transition: In this verse God lists for us six facts about Christ that form the mystery behind the Christian faith.
The first fact about Christ that is part of this mystery is …
1. God was manifest in the flesh
a. God was made visible in Jesus Christ
1) What a mystery that was! For the first time in history, humans could actually see a Person of the Godhead.
2) (Matthew 1:23) “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
b. The God/Man lived in the flesh as a man
1) Jesus was born of Mary. (Luke 2:7) “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
2) While in the flesh Jesus ate, slept, talked, cried, walked, prayed, and suffered as a human.
The second fact about Christ that is part of this mystery is …
2. Christ was justified in the Spirit
a. He was justified or seen to be righteous
1) He had no need to be made justified because His spiritual side was sinless. He was God.
2) Rather, this speaks of man’s view of Him. Men were able to see that Jesus was truly justified by the Spirit that worked within Him.
b. Jesus displayed this by His spiritual acts
1) During His life on earth Jesus healed the sick, cured lepers, walked on water, calmed the sea, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, and much more. These acts proved that He was just or righteous in His Spirit and that He was God.
2) (John 20:30-31) “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
The third fact about Christ that is part of this mystery is …
3. Christ was seen of angels
a. Heavenly angels announced His birth
1) An angel announced the conception to Mary. (Luke 1:31) “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.”
2) An angel told Joseph about Christ’s conception. (Matthew 1:20) “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”
3) Angels proclaimed Christ’s birth to the shepherds. (Read Luke 2:8-14)
b. Angels ministered for Christ
1) After His great temptation, angels ministered to Him. (Matthew 4:11) “Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
2) In the Garden of Gethsemane as He prayed, angels strengthened Him. (Luke 22:43) “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”
3) An angel opened the tomb where Christ lay. (Matthew 28:2) “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”
4) God sent angels to announce His resurrection. (Mt 28:5)
The fourth fact about Christ that is part of this mystery is …
4. Christ was preached unto the Gentiles
a. The word “Gentiles” includes all nations
1) The word is often translated “nations” in the KJV.
2) The Gospel is not just for the Jews. This was a great mystery to the Jews.
b. The Gospel of Christ is for all people
1) God wants all people to be saved from hell.
a) (Luke 2:10) “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
b) (1 Timothy 2:4) “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
c) (2 Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2) The gospel is to be preached to every creature. (Mark 16:15) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
The fifth fact about Christ that is part of this mystery is …
5. Christ was believed on in the world
a. Myriads have believed on Christ
1) Thousands followed His earthly ministry.
2) More than 120 were faithful followers of Christ.
3) Millions have believed on Christ since that time.
b. Believing on Christ was a mystery
1) Jesus said in (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
2) How can believing on Christ save your soul from God’s wrath? How can believing pass a person from death in hell to live in heaven? (Jn 5:24) That is a mystery! God hid that truth in the past but has now made it clear for us.
3) Each of us is a sinner. We have broken God’s laws. We deserve God’s eternal judgment. But God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to earth to suffer and die in your place and mine.
4) Believing on Christ is far more than just claiming to be a Christian. It is not just believing about Christ in your head. It is believing on Christ to save your soul from hell. It is depending completely on Christ’s death and resurrection to save you from the judgment that you deserve.
The sixth fact about Christ that is part of this mystery is …
6. Christ was received up into glory
a. Christ rose from the dead to give us life.
1) Christ rose from the dead with a glorified body. He still looked human but He was able to walk through walls. His glorified body is immortal. It will never die.
2) After He rose from the dead, He has promised to raise all those who truly believe on Him from the dead and give them immortal bodies like His. (1 Corinthians 15:52) “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
b. He returned to heaven to prepare a place for us
1) Jesus promised, (John 14:2) “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
2) Jesus ascended back to heaven as the disciples watched. Two angels said (Acts 1:11) “… Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
Conclusion: This morning we have looked at this verse that describes the great mystery that motivates a person to become a Christian. That mystery is all about Christ’s birth and life. It began with His birth about 2,000 years ago. He was God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Because Jesus is God and these six facts are true about Him that is what makes Christmas so significant. Jesus was born, lived, served, died, rose again, and returned to heaven to offer YOU forgiveness and eternal life. That is the greatest Christmas gift ever purchased. Have you received that gift? If not, I would like to answer your questions and show you how you can receive God’s gift this morning.
Song: Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne 101