The Mystery of God Manifest in the Flesh
Orientation
We can mistakenly think of God as distant and unknowable, defined only by abstract power and majesty.
- This creates a chasm between the divine and the human.
- It leaves us without a clear, personal revelation of God's character.
- It obscures the path to salvation and assurance.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9)
— John 14:9
Clarification
The incarnation is not a metaphor or a temporary visit, but God's ultimate self-revelation in human flesh.
- Jesus did not merely resemble the Father; He expressed God's attributes through human virtues.
- This revelation was so profound it astonished even the angels.
- It bridges the divine-human gap without diminishing God's nature.
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)
— 1 Timothy 3:16
Structure
In Christ, divine glory is translated into human experience, revealing God's character and accomplishing salvation.
- Virtues like lowliness, mercy, and compassion are the tools of divine revelation.
- The cross displays the ultimate depth of divine humility and love.
- This is the foundational mystery of godliness and the only path to knowing God.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
— Colossians 2:9
Weight-Bearing Prose
The incarnation is the heart of the gospel, the definitive revelation of God. In Jesus Christ, God was manifest in the flesh. This is not a secondary doctrine but the means by which the invisible God became visible, approachable, and knowable. He expressed the attributes of God through human virtues—lowliness, meekness, mercy, compassion, intimacy—which were previously unseen in the divine nature as displayed to angels. This unveiling is the great mystery of godliness Paul describes. The cross is its ultimate demonstration, where surrender, obedience, and suffering reveal the depths of divine humility and love. This work bridges the chasm: Christ, fully God and fully man, is the only path to salvation. To lose the incarnation is to lose the revelation of the Father and the power of the finished work. It severs the connection between God’s character and His redemptive purpose. The Pauline category of ‘mystery’ finds its zenith here—God’s hidden wisdom, now revealed in Christ, for our glory.
Integration
God has chosen to reveal Himself. He is not hidden in abstraction, but fully displayed in the person of Jesus Christ. Your assurance does not rest on your ability to ascend to a distant God, but on receiving the One who descended to you. To see Him is to see the Father. To know Him is to possess eternal life. This revelation is complete and given. There is no pressure to uncover a deeper secret; the mystery is unveiled in Christ. Rest in this: the God who saved you is the God who made Himself known in flesh, in love, and on the cross. Your inheritance, your sonship, and your cleansing are anchored in this finished revelation. Christ is your path, your assurance, and your peace.