1 Timothy 3:16 -- The secret to becoming godly, part 2

To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.

1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV):

"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
   He appeared in a body,
      was vindicated by the Spirit,
   was seen by angels,
      was preached among the nations,
   was believed on in the world,
      was taken up in glory."

Paul outlines the secret to godliness as embodied in Christ through a 6-line hymn.

Line 2: He "was vindicated by the Spirit."

While the first line of the hymn shows us that Jesus was fully man, these next two lines show us that He was fully God.

The phrase "vindicated by the Spirit" means that, even though Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead, proving that He is Lord and Messiah. (See also Acts 2:24-36.)

Because Christ was "vindicated by the Spirit"...because Christ went from death to life in victory over sin...we can have new life and victory as well! This is the secret to godliness!

That's what Paul means in Romans 8:11 (NIV):

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."