INTRO: For our text this morning on this ascension day we go to 1 Timothy 3:16. It says, "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angles, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory." What an incredible overview of the life of Christ! Now the reason I chose this text is because in all my years of preaching I have not yet preached on this text, and this text ends up at the ascension of Christ, "received up into glory."
1 Timothy is the first of three epistles called 'pastoral epistles'. They are called that because they are written to pastors. In this 3rd chapter Paul deals with the qualifications of pastors and deacons. Having laid out those qualifications, this chapter closes with verses 14-16 (read). Paul is instructing them on various things though he hopes to come to them shortly. But, probably realizing that this may not happen, he feels it best to send the letter on ahead. I am so glad he did, otherwise we would not have it either.
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