A note from our Pastor:

”And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: 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.”

1 Timothy 3:16

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

This week we continue our study examining 1 Timothy 3:16. Last week we considered the phrase “God was manifest in the flesh”. If you have not read last week’s study I encourage you to go back and read it before continuing with this week’s writing. Again, this verse examines the truth the community of believers should hold to and, thus, we are taking several weeks to examine it in our study.

Great is the mystery of godliness: justified in the Spirit.

The justification spoken of by the Apostle Paul in this verse is not the same justification the elect Children of God need and receive. Justification for believers is part of eternal salvation. Jesus did not need to be saved because he was sinless perfection. The justification spoken of here could also be interpreted as validation. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus’s claims of divinity and being part of the Godhead were validated.

Justification occurred at conception and birth as the body of Jesus was formed and brought into this world in sinless perfection. How this occurred is a mystery of God which the human mind cannot comprehend but believes by faith. Regardless, the sinless perfection of Jesus upon his birth was a confirmation of both his divinity and his purpose in this world. It was a less visible marker of validation but was nonetheless present.

Justification continued at the baptism of Christ. In this instance, the disciple often focuses on the voice of God speaking from heaven saying he is well pleased in Jesus. However, the scriptures also document how the Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a dove. Both the words spoken by God the Father and the presence of the Holy Spirit were measures of validation not for Christ but for those who were gathered at his baptism. In particular, these items validated for John the Baptist that the man he had just baptized was in fact the Messiah he had been looking for and prophesying about.

Justification in the sight of the Apostles and thousands of others occurred on the day of Pentecost. As the Apostles preached on the work of Jesus Christ and his accomplished mission of salvation the Holy Spirit descended on the congregation. This time it took a different form, but the result was allowing all who were gathered from a variety of nations to understand what was being preached in their own language. This act validated not only the truth of Jesus Christ and his accomplished work but validated also the work of the Apostles to preach his gospel.

The three examples considered in this writing are not the only times Jesus was validated by the Holy Spirit, but they serve as examples to bring understanding to this verse.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah