THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS

How true, “without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (I Tim 3:16). Who can understand the mystery of Almighty God being made flesh? The power of God that made the Son flesh is a mystery. The love of God that made the Son agree to be made flesh so He could be the representative of and the substitute for sinners is a mystery. The compassion that caused the holy Son of God to never shy away from needy sinners is a mystery. The righteousness of the Son of God, who was never contaminated by the sin of the people He touched is a mystery. The sacrifice of the Son of God, who was made sin for His people and yet remained the sinless sacrifice is a mystery. The death of the Son of God in the flesh is a mystery. It is a great mystery to me that Life Himself could die in the flesh. I cannot understand the great mystery of godliness, that God was manifest in the flesh, but how I rejoice in that mystery because all of my salvation is found in that Savior, manifest in the flesh!

LOOK TO CHRIST

Believer, you will never find any comfort looking within. All you will find there is wanderings, waverings and rebellion because of the presence of sin. The Lord has revealed what we are as fallen creatures in Adam…wretched sinners! But bless His holy name, it was just for such creatures that Christ came into this world...”to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Look to the only source of life and peace… “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else”

(Isaiah 45:22).

Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3

The gospel is not merely that Christ died for our sins, but that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. What can this mean but that Christ died for our sins in complete fulfillment of all that was said in the prophecies and types of the Old Testament? Like the animal from which God made clothing for Adam and Eve, Christ died to make a covering for our sinful characters. Like the Passover Lamb Christ died as the innocent substitute of condemned sinners. Like the sacrifice on the day of atonement, which was offered only for the house of Israel, Christ died particularly for His people. He died by crucifixion as Psalm 2 states. He died effectually, actually saving those for whom He died, according to Isaiah 53 where it is written, “He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied.” The “New Testament” gospel is clearly written in the Old Testament. Whenever we claim to preach the gospel, let us be certain it is the gospel “according to the Scriptures!

Pastor Joe Terrell

Someone once said, “Pharisees and Publicans both pour out their hearts before God; the one is bragging, the other is begging.” Lord, make us to be beggars. I love the Ten Commandments – God’s holy law. And I do not try to keep them. I have kept them perfectly! When the Lord Jesus Christ obeyed God’s holy law perfectly – I did too! Trying to keep them always comes up short, and in reality stirs up the passions of sin (Rom.7:7-8). No, I do not try to keep them. I have kept them! In the Person of my representative, I have kept them! “Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” (Rom 3:31)

Pastor Todd Nibert