Great Godliness

 

“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


Like General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the coalition forces in the gulf war of 1991, said “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy “. Little wonder Apostle Paul spent tremendous spiritual resources in mentoring young Timothy on leadership by the transformation of character by the grace of God. Using the model of Jesus Christ, “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”, it implies that the original plan of the godhead in making man in the image of God is actualized by the redemptive plan through the great godliness. Without the formation of the character of God in man by the grace of God, no one can escape the deplorable use of strategy in faking godliness at home, churches, workplaces, and in society. Godliness is absolutely impossible without the redemptive plan of the great God by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Therefore, great godliness is never based on perfect adoption of the strategy of godliness or simply goodness, it is attained by pure adoption of the character of God by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.


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