1 Timothy 3:16 -- The secret to becoming godly, part 6

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."

We finish looking at this 6-line hymn that Paul uses to outline the secret to godliness.

Line 6: He "was taken up in glory."

This last line again shows the divinity of Christ as we see Him taken up in His Ascension.

Ephesians 4:10 (NIV) :

"He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe."

So to sum up 1 Timothy 3:16, Paul says that the secret to living a godly life is huge! It's because of the humanity and the divinity of Christ that we can be godly. It's because Christ came to the earth as a human, was resurrected from the dead, was (and will be) glorified among the angels (and the demons), was (and will be) preached and believed on all over the world, and was taken up into glory where He fills the entire universe...in short, because of the Gospel of Christ that we say we believe...it's because of this that we can live godly, joyful, victorious, overcoming lives! We do it not in our own weak human power, but because of the incredible resurrection power of Christ...because Christ lives in and through us.

Ephesians 1:18-23 (NIV) :

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, [21] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. [22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."