100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:05,000The rest of the Bible story is really framed around this question,200:00:05,000 –> 00:00:08,000how then can we again become godly?300:00:08,000 –> 00:00:12,000How can godliness be restored?400:00:12,000 –> 00:00:15,000How can we have a genuine love for God?500:00:15,000 –> 00:00:16,000A genuine heart’s desire for God?600:00:16,000 –> 00:00:22,000How can we escape living under the tyranny of self?700:00:22,000 –> 00:00:25,000Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:25,000 –> 00:00:27,000I’m David Pick.900:00:27,000 –> 00:00:32,000And Colin, it’s great to start a broadcast with so many questions.1000:00:32,000 –> 00:00:35,000But my question to you is how do we do that?1100:00:35,000 –> 00:00:38,000Yes, well we spoke about godliness at the top of the program.1200:00:38,000 –> 00:00:43,000And we have a marvellous verse of Scripture as we’re coming in the lead up to Christmas.1300:00:43,000 –> 00:00:47,000It’s in 1st Timothy and in Chapter 3.1400:00:47,000 –> 00:00:48,000And it says here,1500:00:48,000 –> 00:00:54,000Great indeed, we confess is the mystery of godliness.1600:00:54,000 –> 00:00:56,000There’s the question. The mystery.1700:00:56,000 –> 00:00:58,000How in the world am I going to live a godly life?1800:00:58,000 –> 00:01:00,000How can I be set apart for the Lord?1900:01:00,000 –> 00:01:02,000That’s really what the word means.2000:01:02,000 –> 00:01:04,000How can I be different from this world?2100:01:04,000 –> 00:01:06,000So that sets up the question.2200:01:06,000 –> 00:01:07,000You want to know the answer.2300:01:07,000 –> 00:01:09,000The answer’s in the next word.2400:01:09,000 –> 00:01:12,000Great indeed is the mystery of godliness.2500:01:12,000 –> 00:01:16,000He…He was manifest in the flesh.2600:01:16,000 –> 00:01:18,000Now there’s a statement about Jesus being born into the world.2700:01:18,000 –> 00:01:21,000He was manifested in the flesh.2800:01:21,000 –> 00:01:23,000But what’s being said here2900:01:23,000 –> 00:01:26,000is that the mystery of godliness,3000:01:26,000 –> 00:01:28,000the great question,3100:01:28,000 –> 00:01:30,000how can I be the person that God calls me to be?3200:01:30,000 –> 00:01:32,000The answer to that lies in a person.3300:01:32,000 –> 00:01:36,000And it lies in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.3400:01:36,000 –> 00:01:39,000Now that’s Christmas applied to the realities of our life.3500:01:39,000 –> 00:01:41,000And we’re going to spend these next days3600:01:41,000 –> 00:01:43,000looking at these marvelous verses3700:01:43,000 –> 00:01:46,000in 1 Timothy and in chapter 3.3800:01:46,000 –> 00:01:49,000So, let’s jump right into 1 Timothy chapter 33900:01:49,000 –> 00:01:52,000and starting at verses 14 to 16.4000:01:52,000 –> 00:01:54,000As we begin the message,4100:01:54,000 –> 00:01:56,000The Open Secret Of A Godly Life.4200:01:56,000 –> 00:01:57,000Here’s Colin.4300:01:57,000 –> 00:01:59,000Good morning, everyone.4400:01:59,000 –> 00:02:01,000If you would open your Bible at these verses4500:02:01,000 –> 00:02:03,000that have just been read for us4600:02:03,000 –> 00:02:06,000in 1st Timothy and chapter 3.4700:02:06,000 –> 00:02:09,000In the weeks that lead up to Christmas each year,4800:02:09,000 –> 00:02:12,000we try to focus our attention4900:02:12,000 –> 00:02:16,000particularly on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.5000:02:16,000 –> 00:02:18,000Who is he?5100:02:18,000 –> 00:02:20,000What has he done?5200:02:20,000 –> 00:02:22,000Why does it matter?5300:02:22,000 –> 00:02:25,000The whole Bible, of course, is about him.5400:02:25,000 –> 00:02:27,000And he is always at the center5500:02:27,000 –> 00:02:31,000of any true Christian preaching.5600:02:31,000 –> 00:02:34,000This year, I want us to focus on5700:02:34,000 –> 00:02:37,000or camp out on just one verse.5800:02:37,000 –> 00:02:40,000And that is 1st Timothy 3, verse 16.5900:02:40,000 –> 00:02:42,000Let me read it again for you.6000:02:42,000 –> 00:02:45,000Great indeed we confess6100:02:45,000 –> 00:02:48,000is the mystery of godliness.6200:02:48,000 –> 00:02:52,000He was manifested in the flesh6300:02:52,000 –> 00:02:54,000vindicated by the Spirit,6400:02:54,000 –> 00:02:56,000seen by angels,6500:02:56,000 –> 00:02:58,000proclaimed among the nations,6600:02:58,000 –> 00:03:00,000believed on in the world,6700:03:00,000 –> 00:03:03,000taken up in glory.6800:03:03,000 –> 00:03:07,000Now here we have six marvelous statements6900:03:07,000 –> 00:03:10,000about our Lord Jesus Christ.7000:03:10,000 –> 00:03:14,000And you may notice that they come in three pairs.7100:03:14,000 –> 00:03:16,000First, how we know Jesus.7200:03:16,000 –> 00:03:18,000Well, we know Jesus because7300:03:18,000 –> 00:03:20,000he was manifested in the flesh7400:03:20,000 –> 00:03:23,000and vindicated by the Spirit.7500:03:23,000 –> 00:03:26,000That is, we know God through Jesus7600:03:26,000 –> 00:03:30,000because he was manifested in the flesh,7700:03:30,000 –> 00:03:33,000and we know that Jesus is God7800:03:33,000 –> 00:03:38,000because he was vindicated by the Spirit.7900:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,000Here we have the great truth of the Deity8000:03:40,000 –> 00:03:43,000and the humanity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.8100:03:43,000 –> 00:03:45,000He was manifest in the flesh.8200:03:45,000 –> 00:03:49,000He was vindicated by the Spirit.8300:03:49,000 –> 00:03:52,000Then we have two phrases that speak8400:03:52,000 –> 00:03:55,000about how Jesus was made known.8500:03:55,000 –> 00:03:57,000He was seen by angels8600:03:57,000 –> 00:04:00,000and he was proclaimed among the nations.8700:04:00,000 –> 00:04:02,000The contrast here, angels are as near to God8800:04:02,000 –> 00:04:04,000as you can get.8900:04:04,000 –> 00:04:08,000The nations, otherwise translated the Gentiles,9000:04:08,000 –> 00:04:11,000were as far from God as you can get9100:04:11,000 –> 00:04:15,000and Jesus Christ brings those who are furthest away9200:04:15,000 –> 00:04:18,000into proximity with God himself,9300:04:18,000 –> 00:04:22,000this great act of reconciliation for which he came.9400:04:22,000 –> 00:04:25,000Then the third pair of statements9500:04:25,000 –> 00:04:27,000speak about how Christ is received.9600:04:27,000 –> 00:04:29,000He is believed on in the world9700:04:29,000 –> 00:04:31,000and taken up into glory.9800:04:31,000 –> 00:04:34,000Notice that the way in which we know Jesus here on Earth9900:04:34,000 –> 00:04:37,000is by faith, by believing in him.10000:04:37,000 –> 00:04:40,000In heaven, his immediate glory is seen and known10100:04:40,000 –> 00:04:42,000and for those who do believe,10200:04:42,000 –> 00:04:44,000one day our faith will be turned to sight10300:04:44,000 –> 00:04:49,000and we will see the king in his beauty.10400:04:49,000 –> 00:04:51,000Here, then, are six marvelous statements10500:04:51,000 –> 00:04:54,000about our lord Jesus Christ.10600:04:54,000 –> 00:04:57,000Beginning with him coming to us10700:04:57,000 –> 00:04:59,000in his flesh, in his birth,10800:04:59,000 –> 00:05:02,000and ending with him ascending for us10900:05:02,000 –> 00:05:05,000into glory.11000:05:05,000 –> 00:05:09,000Scholars have suggested that these six statements11100:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,000which you may notice if you have the church Bible11200:05:12,000 –> 00:05:16,000are printed in a poetic form11300:05:16,000 –> 00:05:18,000that they may actually be part11400:05:18,000 –> 00:05:21,000of a very early Christian creed11500:05:21,000 –> 00:05:23,000or that they may actually have been part11600:05:23,000 –> 00:05:26,000of a very early Christian hymn11700:05:26,000 –> 00:05:28,000that was sung by congregations.11800:05:28,000 –> 00:05:31,000And since the first line11900:05:31,000 –> 00:05:35,000of what may be a very early Christian hymn12000:05:35,000 –> 00:05:36,000is about the incarnation,12100:05:36,000 –> 00:05:38,000the birth of the lord Jesus Christ,12200:05:38,000 –> 00:05:40,000which was manifest in the flesh,12300:05:40,000 –> 00:05:41,000I think that what we might have here12400:05:41,000 –> 00:05:44,000is actually one of the very earliest,12500:05:44,000 –> 00:05:48,000the very first Christmas carols.12600:05:48,000 –> 00:05:51,000I think that’s what we have here in this verse.12700:05:51,000 –> 00:05:53,000So the plan for these next three weeks,12800:05:53,000 –> 00:05:54,000god willing,12900:05:54,000 –> 00:05:57,000is that we will look together at Jesus13000:05:57,000 –> 00:06:01,000born and raised,13100:06:01,000 –> 00:06:03,000seen and proclaimed,13200:06:03,000 –> 00:06:06,000believed on and glorified.13300:06:06,000 –> 00:06:09,000But today what I want us to do13400:06:09,000 –> 00:06:11,000is to focus in on the introduction13500:06:11,000 –> 00:06:14,000to these six great statements.13600:06:14,000 –> 00:06:15,000For this reason,13700:06:15,000 –> 00:06:18,000I want us to see right from the beginning13800:06:18,000 –> 00:06:22,000why what we’re going to learn about Jesus matters13900:06:22,000 –> 00:06:25,000and how it is of immediate relevance14000:06:25,000 –> 00:06:28,000to every one of us here today.14100:06:28,000 –> 00:06:30,000So I want to focus on these words.14200:06:30,000 –> 00:06:33,000Great indeed we confess14300:06:33,000 –> 00:06:36,000is the mystery of godliness.14400:06:36,000 –> 00:06:39,000And we’ll look at just three words today.14500:06:39,000 –> 00:06:40,000The word godliness,14600:06:40,000 –> 00:06:42,000the word mystery,14700:06:42,000 –> 00:06:44,000and then of course Jesus.14800:06:44,000 –> 00:06:46,000First of all then godliness.14900:06:46,000 –> 00:06:48,000Great indeed we confess15000:06:48,000 –> 00:06:53,000is the mystery of godliness.15100:06:53,000 –> 00:06:55,000Now what is godliness?15200:06:55,000 –> 00:07:01,000How is it different, for example, from holiness?15300:07:01,000 –> 00:07:04,000Well the place to begin is in Psalm 4 and verse 315400:07:04,000 –> 00:07:06,000where we read this,15500:07:06,000 –> 00:07:10,000that the Lord has set apart the godly15600:07:10,000 –> 00:07:13,000for himself.15700:07:13,000 –> 00:07:15,000That’s the key.15800:07:15,000 –> 00:07:20,000To be godly means that you are God’s man15900:07:20,000 –> 00:07:22,000or God’s woman.16000:07:22,000 –> 00:07:25,000To be godly is to love God16100:07:25,000 –> 00:07:28,000more than any other love in your life.16200:07:28,000 –> 00:07:29,000It is to live for God16300:07:29,000 –> 00:07:32,000more than any other thing or person you live for.16400:07:32,000 –> 00:07:37,000It is therefore to become more and more like God himself.16500:07:37,000 –> 00:07:39,000Godliness, in other words,16600:07:39,000 –> 00:07:42,000is what you were made for.16700:07:42,000 –> 00:07:44,000God made you for himself.16800:07:44,000 –> 00:07:48,000You are not your own.16900:07:48,000 –> 00:07:49,000And if you are godly,17000:07:49,000 –> 00:07:51,000you know you are not your own.17100:07:51,000 –> 00:07:56,000You know you belong first of all to him.17200:07:56,000 –> 00:07:59,000Not only did God make you for himself,17300:07:59,000 –> 00:08:02,000he also made you like himself.17400:08:02,000 –> 00:08:05,000Adam and Eve were made in God’s image17500:08:05,000 –> 00:08:07,000and in his likeness.17600:08:07,000 –> 00:08:09,000What that means very simply is17700:08:09,000 –> 00:08:13,000that Adam was made to be God’s man.17800:08:13,000 –> 00:08:16,000Eve was made to be God’s woman,17900:08:16,000 –> 00:08:20,000but they chose not to be godly.18000:08:20,000 –> 00:08:21,000Adam said, in effect,18100:08:21,000 –> 00:08:23,000I want to be my own man.18200:08:23,000 –> 00:08:24,000Eve said in effect,18300:08:24,000 –> 00:08:27,000I want to be my own woman.18400:08:27,000 –> 00:08:29,000And so the image and the likeness of God18500:08:29,000 –> 00:08:32,000was marred and it was defaced.18600:08:32,000 –> 00:08:34,000And instead of being godly,18700:08:34,000 –> 00:08:36,000the man and the woman lived18800:08:36,000 –> 00:08:40,000under the tyranny of self.18900:08:40,000 –> 00:08:42,000Instead of loving God,19000:08:42,000 –> 00:08:43,000we find that they were19100:08:43,000 –> 00:08:46,000very quickly hiding from God.19200:08:46,000 –> 00:08:48,000Instead of knowing God walking with them19300:08:48,000 –> 00:08:50,000as they had once experienced,19400:08:50,000 –> 00:08:52,000now they were far from the God19500:08:52,000 –> 00:08:54,000who had once been near to them.19600:08:54,000 –> 00:08:56,000And there was a great chasm,19700:08:56,000 –> 00:08:59,000a chasm that was filled with guilt19800:08:59,000 –> 00:09:02,000and filled with shame.19900:09:02,000 –> 00:09:05,000Now, from that opening of the Bible story,20000:09:05,000 –> 00:09:06,000the rest of the Bible story20100:09:06,000 –> 00:09:09,000is really framed around this question,20200:09:09,000 –> 00:09:12,000how then can we again become godly?20300:09:12,000 –> 00:09:15,000How can godliness be restored?20400:09:15,000 –> 00:09:18,000How can we have a genuine love for God?20500:09:18,000 –> 00:09:20,000A genuine heart desire for God?20600:09:20,000 –> 00:09:25,000How can we escape living under the tyranny of self?20700:09:25,000 –> 00:09:29,000And let’s face it, even for us who believe,20800:09:29,000 –> 00:09:31,000it is so often the case, is it not,20900:09:31,000 –> 00:09:32,500that we come even21000:09:32,500 –> 00:09:34,000to a place of worship like this21100:09:34,000 –> 00:09:36,000and our minds are distracted21200:09:36,000 –> 00:09:37,000and somehow spiritual things21300:09:37,000 –> 00:09:39,500can seem far from us21400:09:39,500 –> 00:09:42,500and we feel far from being God’s man,21500:09:42,500 –> 00:09:47,000far from being God’s woman.21600:09:47,500 –> 00:09:51,000God made you to reflect His glory,21700:09:51,000 –> 00:09:56,000His purpose is that you should share His joy.21800:09:56,000 –> 00:09:58,000But how can you become the person21900:09:58,000 –> 00:10:01,000of which it would truly be said22000:10:01,000 –> 00:10:03,000she’s God’s woman,22100:10:03,000 –> 00:10:07,000He’s God’s man.22200:10:07,000 –> 00:10:10,000Now that really is the question22300:10:10,000 –> 00:10:13,000that is at the very heart of this chapter,22400:10:13,000 –> 00:10:16,0001 Timothy and Chapter 3.22500:10:17,000 –> 00:10:19,000And just so you get the context here.22600:10:19,000 –> 00:10:21,000Some of you will be well aware22700:10:21,000 –> 00:10:23,000that this very important chapter of the Bible22800:10:23,000 –> 00:10:25,000is one of the places22900:10:25,000 –> 00:10:29,000where God lays out the qualifications23000:10:29,000 –> 00:10:32,000for Christian leaders.23100:10:32,000 –> 00:10:34,000And the reason that23200:10:34,000 –> 00:10:36,000there are these qualifications23300:10:36,000 –> 00:10:39,000which could be summarized as a godly life.23400:10:39,000 –> 00:10:41,000The reason that there are23500:10:41,000 –> 00:10:43,000these qualifications for Christian leaders23600:10:43,000 –> 00:10:45,000is, that23700:10:45,000 –> 00:10:47,000Christian leaders are called to lead23800:10:47,000 –> 00:10:49,000in the life, in which23900:10:49,000 –> 00:10:51,000all Christians are called to follow.24000:10:51,000 –> 00:10:53,000And therefore, these things24100:10:53,000 –> 00:10:55,000must be sought, and must be identifiable24200:10:55,000 –> 00:10:57,000in those who lead.24300:10:57,000 –> 00:10:59,000Look at them with me.24400:10:59,000 –> 00:11:01,000Just to get the sense of the chapter from the beginning.24500:11:01,000 –> 00:11:03,000Therefore24600:11:03,000 –> 00:11:05,000an overseer,24700:11:05,000 –> 00:11:07,000someone who is trusted with responsibility24800:11:07,000 –> 00:11:09,000of leadership in the church, must be24900:11:09,000 –> 00:11:11,000and here it comes25000:11:11,000 –> 00:11:13,000above reproach25100:11:13,000 –> 00:11:15,000The husband of one wife25200:11:15,000 –> 00:11:17,000sober minded25300:11:17,000 –> 00:11:19,000self controlled25400:11:19,000 –> 00:11:21,000respectable, hospitable25500:11:21,000 –> 00:11:23,000able to teach25600:11:23,000 –> 00:11:25,000not a drunkard, not violent25700:11:25,000 –> 00:11:27,000but gentle25800:11:27,000 –> 00:11:29,000not quarrelsome25900:11:29,000 –> 00:11:31,000not a lover of money26000:11:31,000 –> 00:11:33,000he must26100:11:33,000 –> 00:11:35,000manage his own household26200:11:35,000 –> 00:11:37,000well26300:11:37,000 –> 00:11:39,000he must not be a recent convert26400:11:39,000 –> 00:11:41,000or be filled with conceit26500:11:41,000 –> 00:11:43,000moreover he must be26600:11:43,000 –> 00:11:45,000well thought off by26700:11:45,000 –> 00:11:47,000outsiders so that he won’t fall in to26800:11:47,000 –> 00:11:49,000disgrace26900:11:49,000 –> 00:11:51,000Deacons likewise must be27000:11:51,000 –> 00:11:53,000dignified, not27100:11:53,000 –> 00:11:55,000double tongued27200:11:55,000 –> 00:11:57,000not addicted to much wine27300:11:57,000 –> 00:11:59,000not greedy for27400:11:59,000 –> 00:12:01,000dishonest gain well you get the picture don’t you27500:12:01,000 –> 00:12:03,000this is a27600:12:03,000 –> 00:12:05,000list that is laying out27700:12:05,000 –> 00:12:07,000what a godly life27800:12:07,000 –> 00:12:09,000looks like27900:12:09,000 –> 00:12:11,000and the question when you read through28000:12:11,000 –> 00:12:13,000this long list28100:12:13,000 –> 00:12:15,000is28200:12:15,000 –> 00:12:17,000okay how is that possible28300:12:17,000 –> 00:12:19,000is what is being28400:12:19,000 –> 00:12:21,000laid out here, a truly godly life28500:12:21,000 –> 00:12:23,000simply a dream28600:12:23,000 –> 00:12:25,000or is the Apostle actually describing28700:12:25,000 –> 00:12:27,000something that we today28800:12:27,000 –> 00:12:29,000can pursue and if it’s28900:12:29,000 –> 00:12:31,000something we today can really pursue29000:12:31,000 –> 00:12:33,000then how do we go about29100:12:33,000 –> 00:12:35,000doing that29200:12:35,000 –> 00:12:37,000well our verse right at the end29300:12:37,000 –> 00:12:39,000of the chapter 1st Timothy chapter 329400:12:39,000 –> 00:12:41,000and verse 16 gives us29500:12:41,000 –> 00:12:43,000the answer having laid29600:12:43,000 –> 00:12:45,000out this29700:12:45,000 –> 00:12:47,000spectrum of what is involved29800:12:47,000 –> 00:12:49,000in the dimensions of a29900:12:49,000 –> 00:12:51,000godly life to be gods man30000:12:51,000 –> 00:12:53,000to be gods woman30100:12:53,000 –> 00:12:55,000Paul ends the chapter by saying30200:12:55,000 –> 00:12:57,000here is how30300:12:57,000 –> 00:12:59,000the godly life I have30400:12:59,000 –> 00:13:01,000just been describing30500:13:01,000 –> 00:13:03,000is possible30600:13:03,000 –> 00:13:05,000for you30700:13:32,000 –> 00:13:37,000Back in the message where I Timothy 330800:13:37,000 –> 00:13:38,000Here is Colin30900:13:38,000 –> 00:13:40,000Paul ends the chapter by saying31000:13:40,000 –> 00:13:46,000Here is how the godly life I have just been describing31100:13:46,000 –> 00:13:52,000Is Possible For You31200:13:52,000 –> 00:13:54,000And that takes us to the second word31300:13:54,000 –> 00:13:56,000Mystery31400:13:56,000 –> 00:14:00,000Great, indeed we confess31500:14:00,000 –> 00:14:04,000is the mystery of godliness31600:14:04,000 –> 00:14:08,000Now here’s the good news31700:14:08,000 –> 00:14:10,000The word mystery here31800:14:10,000 –> 00:14:14,000doesn’t mean mystery in the sense31900:14:14,000 –> 00:14:16,000that that word is used with Agatha Christy32000:14:16,000 –> 00:14:21,000Or other similar stories in that genre32100:14:21,000 –> 00:14:25,000A mystery, in other words, is not32200:14:25,000 –> 00:14:27,000an unsolved puzzle32300:14:27,000 –> 00:14:29,000that leaves you scratching your head32400:14:29,000 –> 00:14:32,000if that was the meaning, by the way32500:14:32,000 –> 00:14:34,000we would all be in frustration32600:14:34,000 –> 00:14:35,000and we might as well go home32700:14:35,000 –> 00:14:39,000Here is the godly life to which we’re called32800:14:39,000 –> 00:14:41,000how are we to pursue it?32900:14:41,000 –> 00:14:43,000that’s a mystery33000:14:43,000 –> 00:14:45,000that’s not good news33100:14:45,000 –> 00:14:47,000And so you will be very glad to know33200:14:47,000 –> 00:14:51,000that the word mystery in the New Testament33300:14:51,000 –> 00:14:54,000does not mean a puzzle that you cannot solve33400:14:54,000 –> 00:14:56,000and it leaves you scratching your head33500:14:56,000 –> 00:14:58,000What does it mean?33600:14:58,000 –> 00:15:01,000The word mystery is used more than 20 times33700:15:01,000 –> 00:15:03,000in the New Testament33800:15:03,000 –> 00:15:06,000We read about the mystery of Christ33900:15:06,000 –> 00:15:08,000the mystery of God’s will34000:15:08,000 –> 00:15:10,000the mystery of the Jews34100:15:10,000 –> 00:15:12,000the mystery of the Gentiles34200:15:12,000 –> 00:15:15,000the mystery of the Church34300:15:15,000 –> 00:15:17,000the mystery of the Resurrection34400:15:17,000 –> 00:15:20,000the mystery of the Gospel34500:15:20,000 –> 00:15:22,000Right here in this one chapter34600:15:22,000 –> 00:15:24,000there are two occurrences of the word34700:15:24,000 –> 00:15:26,000You may notice in verse 934800:15:26,000 –> 00:15:30,000the Apostle speaks about the mystery of the faith34900:15:30,000 –> 00:15:33,000and then in our verse 1635000:15:33,000 –> 00:15:36,000the mystery of godliness35100:15:36,000 –> 00:15:38,000Now in each of these cases35200:15:38,000 –> 00:15:42,000the word mystery has a very distinct meaning35300:15:42,000 –> 00:15:45,000let me give it to you like this35400:15:45,000 –> 00:15:47,000A mystery in the New Testament is35500:15:47,000 –> 00:15:51,000a secret that God has revealed35600:15:51,000 –> 00:15:56,000though its full wonder is still to be made known35700:15:56,000 –> 00:15:58,000In the New Testament35800:15:58,000 –> 00:16:01,000a mystery is not a riddle that leaves you scratching your head35900:16:01,000 –> 00:16:04,000it is a secret that God has revealed36000:16:04,000 –> 00:16:08,000though its full wonder36100:16:08,000 –> 00:16:11,000still to be made known36200:16:11,000 –> 00:16:14,000now this is repeated many times36300:16:14,000 –> 00:16:17,000for example in Romans and chapter 1636400:16:17,000 –> 00:16:20,000Paul speaks about the revelation of the mystery36500:16:20,000 –> 00:16:23,000that was kept secret for long ages36600:16:23,000 –> 00:16:28,000but now has been disclosed36700:16:28,000 –> 00:16:32,000you see its a secret that God has revealed36800:16:32,000 –> 00:16:35,000we wouldn’t have known what this mystery is36900:16:35,000 –> 00:16:38,000unless God had revealed it37000:16:38,000 –> 00:16:41,000it is a secret that God has revealed37100:16:41,000 –> 00:16:43,000our Colossians and chapter one we have the same thing37200:16:43,000 –> 00:16:46,000the mystery hidden for ages and generations37300:16:46,000 –> 00:16:52,000but now revealed to the saints37400:16:52,000 –> 00:16:56,000so it’s a secret that was hidden for ages and for generations37500:16:56,000 –> 00:16:58,000but now mystery, what does it mean37600:16:58,000 –> 00:17:02,000it’s a secret that God has revealed37700:17:02,000 –> 00:17:05,000let’s apply that for example37800:17:05,000 –> 00:17:09,000a mystery of the resurrection37900:17:09,000 –> 00:17:11,000many of you know this verse well38000:17:11,000 –> 00:17:14,0001 Corinthians 15 verse 5138100:17:14,000 –> 00:17:18,000behold I tell you a mystery38200:17:18,000 –> 00:17:21,000in other words a secret that God has revealed38300:17:21,000 –> 00:17:25,000though its full wonder is still to be made known38400:17:25,000 –> 00:17:29,000we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed38500:17:29,000 –> 00:17:34,000in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet38600:17:34,000 –> 00:17:39,000for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable38700:17:39,000 –> 00:17:45,000and we shall be changed38800:17:45,000 –> 00:17:47,000now you stand38900:17:47,000 –> 00:17:51,000by the graveside of a loved one39000:17:51,000 –> 00:17:55,000and it all seems so bleak39100:17:55,000 –> 00:17:58,000and so final39200:17:58,000 –> 00:18:01,000no-one would guess39300:18:01,000 –> 00:18:06,000from standing at a graveside as the casket is lowered39400:18:06,000 –> 00:18:11,000that a bright morning is coming when your believing loved one will rise39500:18:11,000 –> 00:18:13,000to a new and everlasting life39600:18:13,000 –> 00:18:17,000but God has revealed it39700:18:17,000 –> 00:18:21,000and you know God could have kept it secret39800:18:21,000 –> 00:18:25,000he could have kept it to himself so that on the last day39900:18:25,000 –> 00:18:29,000we who believed in him discover that the greatest part is yet to be40000:18:29,000 –> 00:18:32,000but he has not kept it secret why?40100:18:32,000 –> 00:18:36,000because he wants you now to have the comfort of this hope40200:18:36,000 –> 00:18:38,000in your sorrow40300:18:38,000 –> 00:18:42,000God reveals the secret and he says now comfort one another40400:18:42,000 –> 00:18:46,000with these words40500:18:46,000 –> 00:18:49,000so a mystery is something we could never have worked out ourselves40600:18:49,000 –> 00:18:53,000never have guess it if we were left to our own intuition40700:18:53,000 –> 00:18:56,000it is a secret that God has revealed40800:18:56,000 –> 00:18:59,000but remember there is a second part to the definition40900:18:59,000 –> 00:19:02,000its full wonder is still to be made known41000:19:02,000 –> 00:19:05,000now think about that in relation to the resurrection41100:19:05,000 –> 00:19:08,000God has revealed the secret41200:19:08,000 –> 00:19:11,000oh but its full wonder is still to be made known41300:19:11,000 –> 00:19:14,000what will your resurrection body be like?41400:19:14,000 –> 00:19:21,000What joy will be yours when your whole soul is at peace41500:19:21,000 –> 00:19:24,000and your whole body is made whole41600:19:24,000 –> 00:19:27,000and you are at one41700:19:27,000 –> 00:19:31,000and the likeness of Jesus Christ is fully reflected in you41800:19:31,000 –> 00:19:34,000What wonder will that be41900:19:34,000 –> 00:19:37,000The full wonder of it is yet to be made known42000:19:37,000 –> 00:19:40,000but for our comfort God has revealed to us42100:19:40,000 –> 00:19:44,000the secret that the resurrection day is coming42200:19:44,000 –> 00:19:46,000so that is a mystery42300:19:46,000 –> 00:19:48,000That’s what it means in the New Testament42400:19:48,000 –> 00:19:50,000it is a secret that God has revealed42500:19:50,000 –> 00:19:56,000though its full wonder is still to be made known42600:19:57,000 –> 00:20:00,000now let’s come back to our verse42700:20:00,000 –> 00:20:03,000Great indeed we confess is42800:20:03,000 –> 00:20:08,000the mystery of godliness42900:20:09,000 –> 00:20:13,000So what then is this secret of godliness43000:20:13,000 –> 00:20:17,000the secret of you living the life that God has called you to43100:20:17,000 –> 00:20:18,000and made you for43200:20:18,000 –> 00:20:21,000what is this secret that God has revealed43300:20:21,000 –> 00:20:24,000the full wonder of which is still to be made known43400:20:24,000 –> 00:20:26,000and the answer to that is43500:20:26,000 –> 00:20:28,000Jesus43600:20:28,500 –> 00:20:30,000Jesus43700:20:30,000 –> 00:20:32,000Notice the verse43800:20:32,000 –> 00:20:35,000Great indeed we confess is43900:20:35,000 –> 00:20:38,000is the mystery of godliness44000:20:38,000 –> 00:20:40,000What’s the next word44100:20:40,000 –> 00:20:42,000He44200:20:42,000 –> 00:20:43,000He44300:20:43,000 –> 00:20:48,000and then follow six marvelous statements44400:20:48,000 –> 00:20:51,000about the Lord Jesus Christ44500:20:51,000 –> 00:20:54,000God has revealed44600:20:54,000 –> 00:20:56,000this secret44700:20:56,000 –> 00:20:59,000that a godly life is possible for you44800:20:59,000 –> 00:21:02,000through Jesus Christ44900:21:02,000 –> 00:21:04,000In other words, the secret45000:21:04,000 –> 00:21:06,000of a godly life, of you45100:21:06,000 –> 00:21:08,000pursuing the life to which God45200:21:08,000 –> 00:21:10,000has called you the life for which He has made you45300:21:10,000 –> 00:21:12,000does not lie in some technique45400:21:12,000 –> 00:21:14,000doesn’t lie in some program45500:21:14,000 –> 00:21:16,000or even in some set of disciplines45600:21:16,000 –> 00:21:18,000the open secret that God45700:21:18,000 –> 00:21:20,000has revealed, though its full wonder45800:21:20,000 –> 00:21:22,000is still to be made known is45900:21:22,000 –> 00:21:24,000that through Jesus Christ46000:21:24,000 –> 00:21:26,000you can become the person46100:21:26,000 –> 00:21:28,000God called you to be46200:21:28,000 –> 00:21:30,000the person God created you to be46300:21:30,000 –> 00:21:32,000through Jesus Christ46400:21:32,000 –> 00:21:34,000you can become God’s man46500:21:34,000 –> 00:21:36,000you can become God’s woman46600:21:36,000 –> 00:21:38,000Through Jesus Christ46700:21:38,000 –> 00:21:40,000you can pursue46800:21:40,000 –> 00:21:42,000a godly life46900:23:10,599 –> 00:23:14,579Open the Bible is able to stay on this station and on the internet47000:23:15,079 –> 00:23:20,199Because of the financial support of our listeners, so if you already give thank you for your support47100:23:20,280 –> 00:23:22,119if you don’t already give47200:23:22,119 –> 00:23:25,540But that’s something you’re thinking about doing then this month47300:23:25,540 –> 00:23:27,219We have a special offer for you47400:23:27,219 –> 00:23:32,819If you’re able to set up a direct debit in the amount of five pounds per month or more47500:23:33,099 –> 00:23:36,660Or make a one-off donation of 50 pounds or more47600:23:36,819 –> 00:23:44,479To the work of open the Bible this month we can offer you a book by RC sprawl called the advent of glory47700:23:44,800 –> 00:23:47,619It’s 24 devotions for Christmas47800:23:48,400 –> 00:23:50,819Colin what makes this book so special?47900:23:51,459 –> 00:23:56,380Well first that it is telling the story of Christmas the Son of God coming into the world48000:23:56,380 –> 00:24:00,920What could be more wonderful than that? And second, it’s by RC Sprawl48100:24:01,180 –> 00:24:01,800You know48200:24:01,800 –> 00:24:07,420the most important thing about any book is who wrote it and here is a godly man with48300:24:07,660 –> 00:24:12,599a wonderful mind and a warm heart and great inside48400:24:12,619 –> 00:24:13,680He’s with the Lord now48500:24:13,680 –> 00:24:20,579But the writings that RC sprawl have left behind really are a treasure and this one’s just out48600:24:20,619 –> 00:24:23,839It’s a new devotional for Advent48700:24:24,640 –> 00:24:29,83924 words that are at the heart of the Christmas story. It’s just about 4 pages for each day48800:24:30,500 –> 00:24:37,520Very easy to read full of insight. I’m very excited about it the advent of glory48900:24:38,000 –> 00:24:40,66024 devotionals for Christmas by RC sprawl49000:24:40,680 –> 00:24:45,119Well, we’d love to send you a copy of RC sprawl’s book the advent of glory49100:24:45,439 –> 00:24:49,88024 devotions for Christmas as a way of saying thank you for setting up a new49200:24:50,359 –> 00:24:57,479Direct debit to the work of open the Bible in the amount of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of 5049300:24:57,479 –> 00:25:02,640Pounds further information and full terms and conditions are available on our website49400:25:02,640 –> 00:25:05,219That’s at open the bible.org.uk49500:25:06,640 –> 00:25:12,439For open the Bible and pastor Collin Smith, I’m David pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time49600:25:12,459 –> 00:25:14,459You49700:25:18,839 –> 00:25:24,000The secret of living a godly life does not lie in a technique or discipline49800:25:24,459 –> 00:25:27,420Find out why next time on open the Bible49900:25:35,040 –> 00:25:37,040You