The Mystery Of Godliness

A Meditation by A. W. Tozer

“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 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

   “Let’s remember that angels and prophets and even Paul said, ‘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.’  Many serious-minded, worthy scholars are ready to say that Paul’s mind was the greatest that ever was known in the human race, except of course for the perfect mind of Christ.  But this mighty mind never tried to understand it.  He said, ‘Great is the mystery of godliness,’ and that’s all.

   We’re saved by His blood, but how are we saved by His blood?  We’re alive by His death, but why are we alive by His death?  Atonement was made in His death, but how was atonement made in His death?  Let’s not vulgarize it by trying to understand it.  But let’s stand and gaze at the cross and say, ‘Oh Lord God, Thou knowest!  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.’”