Christ is Without Controversy

"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."

1 Timothy 3:16

The world is full of controversy, but these basic tenets of godliness are not numbered among them.  Paul plainly says the mystery of godliness - something once hidden that has now been revealed - is without any controversy, beyond any doubt or factually-founded opposition:  God has been manifested through the person of Jesus Christ, justified in the Holy Spirit through His bodily resurrection, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.  Paul speaks of these as ironclad facts.

Most of the attacks of scripture or Christianity do not come against these aspects, nor could they.  It is easier to point out the flaws or hypocrisy of His followers than to lay such claims against Christ.  Should someone try to debunk Christ's existence, His claims, deeds, resurrection, or ascension from even a secular historical basis, it is a futile exercise.  Ask Josh McDowell about that approach!  It is easier to try to create controversy through "oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Timothy 6:20) than to refute the authenticity of Christ's words and deeds.  These truths are made plain and evident through scripture for those who have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what the Spirit is saying.  But the reality is, many people have strong reasons not to believe.  When the "reasons" not to believe are stripped bare, the aforementioned proofs are not the issue.  As much as we humans love to tout our logical approach and emotional detachment in making decisions, and our ability to make an objective choice based solely on the facts, we have an inner bias favouring ourselves we cannot shake.  Nearly every single thing we have learned through our senses, and our senses or ill-informed sources have failed us more than we know.

If we want to understand truth from God, we must be born again.  We need the Holy Spirit to make new our minds, hearts, and will.  We must lay down our prejudices and biases, and choose to bring God's Word to bear upon the parts of our lives that naturally oppose His rule.  God became a man to relate to us, personally enduring rejection, physical pain, and hatred.  He did not come to visit for the experience alone, however, because He came with the express purpose to seek and save the lost.  He came to sacrifice Himself for man's redemption.  Jesus came with great wisdom and the words of life, but people sought to trip Him up or trap Him with His own words.  They questioned Christ and disputed with Him, and ultimately Jesus was accused and killed.  But without controversy is the fact the Messiah Jesus Christ has come in fulfillment of scripture.  Jesus rose from the dead, and it has been documented the great pains the Romans and Jewish leaders went through to make sure He was dead, buried, sealed in a tomb, and guarded.  In doing so, they only furthered proved the validity of Christ's resurrection, and His ascension was viewed by eye-witnesses who went to their deaths professing the truth of it all.  The man who wrote this passage inspired by the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul, was one of them.

This is the beauty of Christ and His Word.  The world may ridicule and scorn; we will face unfounded personal attacks on our character; but regardless of whatever state we find ourselves or wherever we may be, we can be assured of these truths upon which our lives are founded.  Our bodies will grow old and fail, yet our inner man is renewed day by day.  The world can dissolve, but our faith will wax stronger through the Spirit's revelation.  We know and are assured that our souls have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and He has reconciled us to God.  The words of Jude 1:24-25 are our daily benediction and praise:  "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen."  Let us hold the high ground, looking to and rejoicing in our Saviour and Messiah Jesus Christ!