The Mystery Of Godliness

 In this verse, Paul gives a potted history of the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, covering the foundational doctrines upon which our eternal salvation rests. Jesus was the eternal Word of God Who laid aside His glory and took upon Himself mortal flesh. He identified with sinful man and become sin for us. He died on the Cross for our salvation and destroyed the evil work of the devil so that by faith in Him, we might be identified with His godliness, covered in His righteousness, and become a part of His mystical Body which is the Church.
 Christ was the perfect Man, and His legitimacy was endorsed or justified at His baptism, His transfiguration, His resurrection, and His ascension. He was vindicated as the beloved Son of God by both the Father and the Spirit. Angels ministered to His human needs, not only at His birth and resurrection but during His terrible agony in the garden of Gethsemane as He faced the looming Cross.
 The Mystery Of Godliness, where the resurrected life of Christ is manifested in the life of godly leaders and spiritual believers, will always stand secure on the glorious truths of the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and glorification of Jesus Christ. Paul equates correct doctrine and godly behavior as two vital components in the life of all Christian leaders and spiritual believers. Godliness is not something that we conjure up ourselves. Godliness is the spiritual fruit of a life that is lived in willing submission to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. 
1 Timothy 3:16 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.

Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that we are in Christ and that through His death and Resurrection, we have been made new creations and have received His life within. Thank You that the Word of God became incarnate and was manifest in the flesh in the person of Christ. Thank You for revealing the truth of the glorious gospel in the written Word of God, and thank You for bestowing on all Your children, the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: "Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." We pray that we may show forth the love of Christ in all we say and do, to His praise and glory, AMEN.