The Crucifixion in I Timothy 3:16

The inspired summary of truth Paul gave Timothy for the apostolic churches has six glorious phrases. Where is the crucifixion? It is found in each of the six events, if you stop to consider the richness and depth of the summary list. Hallelujah!

 

 

 

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.

I Timothy 3:16

 

 

Introduction:

  1. Let me slow down, be quite simple compared to Isaiah, and show the sweetness of Christ in the gospel.
  2. Paul made it clear that our Lord is the important object of faith and churches (I Cor 3:11; Col 1:18).
  3. He chose to dumb down his ability and content to Jesus Christ crucified (I Corinthians 2:2; Gal 6:14).
  4. This past Wednesday night, we as a church reviewed Paul’s great summary of our faith (I Tim 3:16).
  5. Its six events/facts are glorious views of the nature, life, character, and works of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  6. The context before says this summary of our religion is the truth churches must defend (I Tim 3:15).
  7. The context after has two of the RCC’s devilish doctrines against revealed truth of God (I Tim 4:1-3).
  8. There can be no doubt about the greatness of this summary verse. It is beyond controversy or debate.
  9. There is no greater content known to man, for here are stupendous secrets revealed by God to a few.
  10. This verse ought to be memorized by children and used by adults to summarize a church’s purpose.
  11. A question arises from Paul’s inspired list – where is the crucifixion? – the death and burial of Jesus?
  12. This sermon has two chief goals – (1) see the richness of God’s list by (2) learning how to read deeper.
  13. Can we take the mission statement for our church and draw some water out of this well of salvation?
  14. The crucifixion, burial, and resurrection are clearly very important events of the N.T. gospel of Jesus.
  15. With a little thinking … you can find the assumed death and resurrection in this list easily and richly.
  16. Great Mystery of Godliness (slides) … https://letgodbetrue.com/sermons/index/year-2020/christ-of-i-timothy-316/.
  17. Great Mystery of Godliness (outline) … https://letgodbetrue.com/sermons/index/year-2003/mystery-of-godliness/.

 

 

GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH

 

  1. Jesus needed a flesh and blood body in order to die for our sins as our grand Substitute.
  2. The incarnation was God the Word being made flesh for a body (John 1:14; Luke 1:35).
  3. Jesus was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death (Hebrews 2:9).
  4. Jesus took on human nature, Abraham’s seed, not that of angels, to die (Heb 2:14-16).
  5. God gave Him a body to die as a sacrifice far better than O.T. animals (Heb 10:1-14).

 

JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT

 

  1. The Holy Spirit justified, or proved, Jesus as God’s Son at His death and resurrection.
  2. Jesus was not a sinner needing justification like us, so it means to declare (Luke 7:29).
  3. The Holy Spirit, operative God in the Trinity, convinced the centurion (Matthew 27:54).
  4. The Holy Spirit, operative God in the Trinity, quickened a dying thief (Luke 23:40-43).
  5. The Holy Spirit, operative God in the Trinity, raised Him from the dead (Rom 1:3-4).

 

SEEN OF ANGELS

 

  1. The angels witnessed Jesus during His life and were much more involved than just that.
  2. The great host of elect and holy angels was involved in His ministry for Him and others.
  3. An angel saw and strengthened Jesus while He prayed in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42-44).
  4. Jesus knew His whole life and at His arrest the angels were ready (Jn 1:51; Matt 26:53).
  5. They blinded Roman guards, rolled the stone away, and told the women (Matt 28:5-6).

 

PREACHED UNTO THE GENTILES

 

  1. We learned in a recent study of Isaiah that this glorious event is prophesied throughout.
  2. Jesus charged it to the twelve and especially to Paul (Matt 28:19; Acts 1:8; 26:16-18).
  3. What was preached? Jesus’ crucifixion from the content of Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:26-35).
  4. What was preached? Jesus’ crucifixion – His death, burial, and resurrection (I Cor 1:23).
  5. What was preached? Jesus’ crucifixion – His death, burial, resurrection (I Cor 15:1-4).

 

BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD

 

  1. For 4000 years God had left idolatrous and pagan Gentiles in darkness (Acts 17:29-30).
  2. Peter and Paul declared to a council many Gentiles believed on Christ (Acts 15:7-12).
  3. What was believed? Jesus’ crucifixion from the content of Isaiah 53 (Acts 8:36-40).
  4. What was believed? Jesus’ crucifixion – His death, burial, resurrection (Acts 10:39-43).
  5. What was believed? Jesus’ crucifixion – His death, burial, resurrection (Acts 13:28-48).

 

RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY

 

  1. Jesus was carried from earth and ascended bodily into heaven from earth (Acts 1:9-11).
  2. Jesus ascended all the way to the throne room of God and His right hand (Eph 4:8-10).
  3. When we see Him arrive in heaven, it is all about His crucifixion (Rev 5:6; 5:9; 5:12).
  4. His exalted position and name in heaven is for humiliation in crucifixion (Phil 2:5-11).
  5. His seat at God’s right hand is for His willingness to die for us (Hebrews 1:3; 2:9; 12:2).

 

Conclusion:

  1. The crucifixion, burial, and resurrection are surely very important events of the N.T. gospel of Jesus.
  2. With a little thinking … you can find them clearly assumed, implied, or proven by the six listed events.
  3. If you will meditate on I Timothy 3:16, trusting God’s emphasis on the list, you can see Christ’s glory.
  4. If a person does not think, speak, live passionately for Christ, he/she is Christ’s enemy (Phil 3:18-19).
  5. If a person does not love Jesus Christ, He faces God’s curse for His profane rebellion (I Cor 16:22).
  6. Great Mystery of Godliness (slides) … https://letgodbetrue.com/sermons/index/year-2020/christ-of-i-timothy-316/.
  7. Great Mystery of Godliness (outline) … https://letgodbetrue.com/sermons/index/year-2003/mystery-of-godliness/.