Why Godliness Is a Mystery to Many

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed onin the world, taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 3:16

Godliness—a God-centered life—is not a system or a programme. It is a person. The mystery of a fully God-centered life lies in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. The mysteryof godliness is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is godliness in the flesh. He has lived the God-centered life. And our hope of living a godly life is in Him. Jesus Christ is the object of our faith and the sourceof our life.

Most of us get the first part of that. But let’s focus on the second. Being a Christian is more than believing in Jesus. It is the life of Jesus Christ in you by the Holy Spirit.

Paul speaks about “the word of God fully known”—that is, everything God has for you—“the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints… Christ inyou, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:25-27).

Christ in you! Faith is more than believing Christ. Faith unites us with Christ so that we are in Him and His life is in us. Faith possesses Christ. Faith receives Christ (Jn. 1:12).Faith feeds on Christ (Jn. 6:54). Christ is your life, and “your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3-4).

Jesus gave us a wonderful illustration of this: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (Jn. 15:5). Godliness is in Him and godliness flows from Him. It grows in us as we grow in Him.

Jesus Christ is the mystery of godliness. That means your hope of godliness is found in Jesus Christ.

How would you explain in your own words that Jesus Christ is the source of your godliness?