The Mystery Continues (1 Tim 3:15b-16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-04-04

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  The mystery continues

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 3:15b-16

 

            Message of the verse:  The mystery that Paul is writing about here is of course the Church.  As probably stated before in this journal the word mystery when spoken of in the New Testament means that something has been revealed that was not revealed in the Old Testament.  Paul speaks of the church having “pillars and ground on the truth,” in the last part of verse 16.  He could have gotten his imagery from the temple Diana, which was in Ephesus and has 127 pillars surrounding it.  The word for ground use here is the only time that word is used in the New Testament. (1477 edraiwma hedraioma hed-rah'-yo-mah

from a derivative of 1476; TDNT-2:362,200; n n- AV-ground 1; 1 -1) a stay, prop, support)  This is the word as given from the Strongs concordance.  This word denotes the foundation on which a building rests.  The church upholds the truth of God’s revealed Word.

            In verse sixteen it has been stated by more than one author that Paul is quoting from an early Church hymn.  “16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.  These six lines speak of the truth of the gospel.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This is a wonderful way to remember the truth of the gospel in a way that brings about more meaning to it because of the truth of it stated here in verse 16 of the passage.  I certainly need to take this more seriously.

The Word of God was enlightening and very refreshing to me today:

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to continue to step out in faith and believe that it is God doing the work in my father-in-law.  I want to continue to draw my strength from the Lord as I play these tapes for him and believe that the Lord will open up his heart and pour into it faith to believe His Word of Truth.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Romans 1:16-17

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”