and the
MYSTICAL CHRIST/THE MYSTICAL MAN!
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 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 Tim. 3:15-16).
1 Timothy 3:15-16 is about the Mystery of Godliness. The Mystery of Godliness is about God (the Lord Jesus Christ) living and working through the “Church of the Living God” (the Body of Christ). This is “the pillar and ground of the truth.” It is a “great mystery” – one that was never before revealed until revealed to and through the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:9-10). This passage is often used as a proof text for the incarnation of Christ into the world and an explanation of His subsequent ministry. This is not correct! It is, rather, a description of the incarnation of Christ into the believer during the Dispensation of Grace. This is the mystical Christ (Eph. 2:13-22; 1 Cor. 12:12-13)!
- “God manifest in the flesh” was not a mystery (Isa. 7:14; Jn. 1:1, 14). But God the Son is manifested in the Body. The union of the believer with Christ as “Head” and “Body” was a mystery as described in Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 4:7, and 10-11).
- “Justified in the Spirit.” Did Christ, who is God, need to be justified? No! But, that Body Believers would be justified through their union with Christ was a mystery as revealed through Paul (1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:30).
- “Seen of Angels.” This was not a mystery (Lk. 2:10-15; Mt. 4:6-11). But, that the unsearchable riches and wisdom of God should be seen of angels was a mystery according to the revelation given to the Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:10).
- “Preached unto the Gentiles.” Not so! With only a couple of exceptions, Christ and the Apostles limited their ministry to Israel (Mt. 10:5-6; 15:24; Rom. 15:8). What was a mystery was that Christ should be preached to the Gentiles as a result of Israel’s unbelief (Acts 13:46; 18:6; 28:28), and that the Body of Christ would be ambassadors of Christ to the Gentiles (Rom. 15:16; 1 Cor. 15:1, 3).
- “Believed on in the world.” Israel was sent to preach Christ to all the world but didn’t go (Acts 11:19). But the Body of Christ Church was commissioned and went (2 Cor. 5:14-21; Eph. 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:1)!
- “Received up into Glory.” Yes, indeed, Christ ascended into Heaven all according to God’s plan for Israel (Jn. 14:1-3). But according to the Mystery, it is the Body of Christ that was given the “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27; 1 Cor. 15:51) and the “blessed hope” (1 Thess. 4:16; Titus 2:13).
These are all applicable to the members of the Church of the Living God and can be classified under the heading of the Mystery of Godliness. (Note: #6 is out of order if it doesn’t mean the Body of Christ.)
“Without controversy, great is the Mystery of Godliness,” but Christ’s incarnation and His work and ministry wasn’t a mystery. The great Mystery of Godliness is that Jesus Christ is alive and lives out His life in and through the Mystical Christ; i.e., believers and Christ joined together in one Body as the “one new man,” filled and empowered by God the Holy Spirit. They are: manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into Glory.