A note from our Pastor:

“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

1 Timothy 6:16

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Our study verse this week concludes a description of God the Apostle Paul started in the thirteenth verse. This verse is a series of phrases used to describe the Trinity also called the Godhead. In our study this week, we will examine the meaning of each of these phrases.

The Apostle begins with “who only hath immortality”. To be immortal means that the person or other created being does not experience death. This is the state of the Godhead, however, not the incarnate Jesus Christ. It is the state of the angels. It is the state of the soul and spirit of the elect and the resurrected bodies of the elect. So what did the Apostle mean when he said God only has immortality? The phrase means that the Godhead are the only beings who have immortality within them. All other creations must receive it from God as a gift. God is the only one who exists in inherent and immutable immortality.

The Apostle continues by saying God dwells in a light that man cannot approach. Two clarifying points are necessary with this phrase. The light in which God dwells is the very glory of God. It is not a natural light produced through natural causes. Second, it is in the natural body that people cannot approach this light, not in the glorified state. This truth was evidenced when God appeared to Moses in the Old Testament. Moses was near the glory of God. When he returned to the people he had to put a veil over his face. The glory of God is a light that only the glorified can see either in soul in spirit or after the resurrection of the body.

The third phrase in this verse states that God has not been seen by any person. In a natural state, no person can look upon God. The only way any generation of people has been able to see God was Jesus in incarnate form. God had to put on the likeness of sinful flesh. This was necessary for the natural body to see, touch, and be in the presence of God. As disciples, we continue to see God through Jesus Christ. By studying his life, ministry, and teachings we get a glimpse of the Trinity. However, it will only be when the soul and spirit depart from our natural bodies and then when the body is raised from the grave glorified that we will see God.

The last phrase concludes this verse and the thoughts of the Apostle on this subject. Honor and power belong to God. As believers and disciples, we can choose to honor God. But whether any person makes that choice or not, honor inherently belongs to God. It cannot be stripped away. In sum, God (the Trinity, the Godhead) dwells in immortality, in Glory, and in power. How thankful disciples should be for a God who cannot be killed, removed from glory, or stripped of his power. Even more so a God who uses all of this to show kindness to his people.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah