Great is the Mystery of Godliness Part 10
Received up in Glory Part 1
God was manifested in the (our) flesh. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was justified in the Spirit. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was seen of angels. The God Who was manifested in (our) the flesh was preached among the Gentiles. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was believed on in the world. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was received (taken) up in glory! Take careful note: It is the God Who was manifested in our flesh Who was taken up into Glory, our flesh (with no sin). Our flesh wedded for Eternity to Deity! That is what being made One in Him means! Carefully consider Hebrews 2:10-18, 10:5-13, and Revelation 1:1-18.
While the cross of Christ is understood in all that Paul is laying before Timothy (and us), it is not openly mentioned in this statement of the Mystery of Godliness. Though the shedding of blood and the tasting of death were absolutely essential for the Sacrifice prepared by God for us (This God manifested in our flesh) (Heb.10:5-10), Godliness or God-ward-ness, seems to grow out of the “soil of the cross”, watered by the Blood of the Lamb. Given the emphasis of the Apostolic Gospel in the book of Acts on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (the Justification of the Spirit), and now this phrase of completion, “received up in Glory”, it would appear that our contemporary gospel is imbalanced, its fruit of God-ward-ness stunted. It would be as though the old testament worshiper brought his sacrifice to the brazen altar and that was it! The rest of the sacrificial ordinances were not necessary, or at least subservient to the altar! No! No! The Goal/end of the sacrifice slaughtered for sin on that altar was the once a year blood applied to the Mercy Seat, assuring the communion, protection, and direction of the Most High God!
This truth, as Hebrews 2:14 puts it, “inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same”, this blessed truth, now sealed by His being taken up to the throne at the Father’s Right Hand–still sharing in the same, that is our flesh, that is our assurance of the inheritance as adopted sons and daughters. We live on this fallen earth by faith in the will of the Father to “bring many sons to glory because He who sets us apart is so completely one with us that He is not ashamed to call us brethren. (Heb. 12:10-13)
Received/Taken: #353 analambano- translated “to take up” (4x); “receive up” (3x)
Mark 16:19 “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received (taken KJV) up into heaven and sat down at the Right Hand of God.”
Acts 1:2 Luke’s gospel account to Theophilus was of “all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which He was taken up.”
Acts 1:8 “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received them out of their sight.
Acts 1:11 The two men in white apparel, after asking the disciples why they are gazing up into heaven, probably with stunned unbelieving expressions, assure them with these words, “This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:23 Peter, in giving the criterion for choosing a 12th apostle, says that he “must have accompanied them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to the day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Acts 7:55 Stephen attests to Jesus being taken up when Luke records, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus sanding at the Right Hand of God.” Also vs 56.
Acts 26:15-16 Paul recounts his conversion to Agrippa, after being struck down and seeing a bright light, He continues, “So I said ‘Who are you Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness of the things which you have seen and the things which I will yet reveal to you.”
As you can see, this fact, our Lord Jesus ascending to the Father’s Right Hand, is supported by the same Witnesses who saw His resurrection.
John 17:4-5 “ I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which you have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Jesus is praying that the Father would manifest the Glory that He had from the beginning, before He humbled Himself on the earth and on the cross. His prayer is a request for the Glorious return to the full radiance of His Office (as the Son of God), His full Power (as God), and open evidence of His Pre-existence. That His coming in the flesh clouded these things cannot be denied, for the Jews did not recognize nor acknowledge Him as the Son of God (John 19:7). It wasn’t that his disciples were merely slow to catch on, faith was required to see through the veil of His human flesh, perfect though it was! He did not manifest His Power in that He went to the cross, as a lamb before his shearers is dumb. But in His being “taken up” (note the Father does the taking or receiving, whichever word you choose), the Father restores the fullness of Glory to Him. Jesus being taken up into the Presence, as Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God FOR US,” This is the “hope anchor” of our soul.
Hebrews 6:18b-20 “that we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the PRESENCE BEHIND THE VEIL, where the FORERUNNER HAS ENTERED FOR US, EVEN JESUS, HAVING BECOME High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Philippians 2:5–11 Notice, from humility to glory!!! Here is the Father’s Answer to our Jesus’ prayer. Vs 9, “Therefore God also has highly exalted (glorified) Him and given Him the name which is above every name ( The Eternal Son of God in Whom the Father is well pleased), that at the NAME of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.!!!”
The Eternal Plan–Isaiah 45:18-25 God has a Plan and He is working His Plan. He doesn’t do any thing “in vain”. Vss 18 & 19
Vs 19 God has spoken plainly, He may be into mysteries, but not into secrets.
Vs 20 The nations are vain in their idolatry
Vs 21 Like it or not, He is the Only Savior!!! “There is none beside Me.”
Vs 22 Just in case you missed vs 21, to the ends of the earth, “I am God, and there is no other.”
Vs 23a This verse brings us to Philippians 2–“I have sworn by Myself, the Word has gone out of My Mouth in Righteousness, and shall not return.
This phrase recorded by the Prophet Isaiah is fulfilled in Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1-2, 14-18, I John 1:1-3 for starters! Our Jesus is the Word that has Gone out of God’s Mouth!!!
Vs 23b Here is the quote we find in Philippians 2:9-11, enfleshed in our Glorious Jesus!!! It is at the Name of Jesus, Who is the Word gone out of the Mouth of God in Righteousness (Heb. 1:3; John 1:1-3), this God manifest in the flesh (I John 1:1-4) that every knee shall fall before, those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father!!!
In our next study, we will look at the historical working of our God manifested in our flesh from His exalted Throne of Glory, the culmination of His being taken up.
Received up in Glory Part 1
God was manifested in the (our) flesh. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was justified in the Spirit. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was seen of angels. The God Who was manifested in (our) the flesh was preached among the Gentiles. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was believed on in the world. The God Who was manifested in the (our) flesh was received (taken) up in glory! Take careful note: It is the God Who was manifested in our flesh Who was taken up into Glory, our flesh (with no sin). Our flesh wedded for Eternity to Deity! That is what being made One in Him means! Carefully consider Hebrews 2:10-18, 10:5-13, and Revelation 1:1-18.
While the cross of Christ is understood in all that Paul is laying before Timothy (and us), it is not openly mentioned in this statement of the Mystery of Godliness. Though the shedding of blood and the tasting of death were absolutely essential for the Sacrifice prepared by God for us (This God manifested in our flesh) (Heb.10:5-10), Godliness or God-ward-ness, seems to grow out of the “soil of the cross”, watered by the Blood of the Lamb. Given the emphasis of the Apostolic Gospel in the book of Acts on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (the Justification of the Spirit), and now this phrase of completion, “received up in Glory”, it would appear that our contemporary gospel is imbalanced, its fruit of God-ward-ness stunted. It would be as though the old testament worshiper brought his sacrifice to the brazen altar and that was it! The rest of the sacrificial ordinances were not necessary, or at least subservient to the altar! No! No! The Goal/end of the sacrifice slaughtered for sin on that altar was the once a year blood applied to the Mercy Seat, assuring the communion, protection, and direction of the Most High God!
This truth, as Hebrews 2:14 puts it, “inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same”, this blessed truth, now sealed by His being taken up to the throne at the Father’s Right Hand–still sharing in the same, that is our flesh, that is our assurance of the inheritance as adopted sons and daughters. We live on this fallen earth by faith in the will of the Father to “bring many sons to glory because He who sets us apart is so completely one with us that He is not ashamed to call us brethren. (Heb. 12:10-13)
Received/Taken: #353 analambano- translated “to take up” (4x); “receive up” (3x)
Mark 16:19 “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received (taken KJV) up into heaven and sat down at the Right Hand of God.”
Acts 1:2 Luke’s gospel account to Theophilus was of “all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which He was taken up.”
Acts 1:8 “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received them out of their sight.
Acts 1:11 The two men in white apparel, after asking the disciples why they are gazing up into heaven, probably with stunned unbelieving expressions, assure them with these words, “This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:23 Peter, in giving the criterion for choosing a 12th apostle, says that he “must have accompanied them all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to the day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Acts 7:55 Stephen attests to Jesus being taken up when Luke records, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus sanding at the Right Hand of God.” Also vs 56.
Acts 26:15-16 Paul recounts his conversion to Agrippa, after being struck down and seeing a bright light, He continues, “So I said ‘Who are you Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness of the things which you have seen and the things which I will yet reveal to you.”
As you can see, this fact, our Lord Jesus ascending to the Father’s Right Hand, is supported by the same Witnesses who saw His resurrection.
John 17:4-5 “ I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which you have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Jesus is praying that the Father would manifest the Glory that He had from the beginning, before He humbled Himself on the earth and on the cross. His prayer is a request for the Glorious return to the full radiance of His Office (as the Son of God), His full Power (as God), and open evidence of His Pre-existence. That His coming in the flesh clouded these things cannot be denied, for the Jews did not recognize nor acknowledge Him as the Son of God (John 19:7). It wasn’t that his disciples were merely slow to catch on, faith was required to see through the veil of His human flesh, perfect though it was! He did not manifest His Power in that He went to the cross, as a lamb before his shearers is dumb. But in His being “taken up” (note the Father does the taking or receiving, whichever word you choose), the Father restores the fullness of Glory to Him. Jesus being taken up into the Presence, as Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the Presence of God FOR US,” This is the “hope anchor” of our soul.
Hebrews 6:18b-20 “that we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the PRESENCE BEHIND THE VEIL, where the FORERUNNER HAS ENTERED FOR US, EVEN JESUS, HAVING BECOME High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Philippians 2:5–11 Notice, from humility to glory!!! Here is the Father’s Answer to our Jesus’ prayer. Vs 9, “Therefore God also has highly exalted (glorified) Him and given Him the name which is above every name ( The Eternal Son of God in Whom the Father is well pleased), that at the NAME of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.!!!”
The Eternal Plan–Isaiah 45:18-25 God has a Plan and He is working His Plan. He doesn’t do any thing “in vain”. Vss 18 & 19
Vs 19 God has spoken plainly, He may be into mysteries, but not into secrets.
Vs 20 The nations are vain in their idolatry
Vs 21 Like it or not, He is the Only Savior!!! “There is none beside Me.”
Vs 22 Just in case you missed vs 21, to the ends of the earth, “I am God, and there is no other.”
Vs 23a This verse brings us to Philippians 2–“I have sworn by Myself, the Word has gone out of My Mouth in Righteousness, and shall not return.
This phrase recorded by the Prophet Isaiah is fulfilled in Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1-2, 14-18, I John 1:1-3 for starters! Our Jesus is the Word that has Gone out of God’s Mouth!!!
Vs 23b Here is the quote we find in Philippians 2:9-11, enfleshed in our Glorious Jesus!!! It is at the Name of Jesus, Who is the Word gone out of the Mouth of God in Righteousness (Heb. 1:3; John 1:1-3), this God manifest in the flesh (I John 1:1-4) that every knee shall fall before, those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father!!!
In our next study, we will look at the historical working of our God manifested in our flesh from His exalted Throne of Glory, the culmination of His being taken up.