“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 Tim 3:16

Paul here in 1st Timothy teaches the young man whom he was mentoring what the secret  (or mystery) of “godliness” is. Simply put it is comprised of six graduating things. Paul starts by telling Timothy that the path of godliness is an expansion of elements which are integral parts that are necessary and comprise godliness as a whole. In reaching to this ultimate spiritual height, it establishes the validity and truth of godliness, that it can reside and live actively in the soul of a human being, and that when it is established it transcends all controversy, spiritual or rational, or otherwise – and that the person in which it now lives in all practical and spiritual reality can not be overturned or confused by any debate, it is invincible before the sophistries of religion or humanism or science. It becomes salt within the soul, it is a fruitful tree within the spirit, it is now universally true with the body, soul, and spirit of the individual in which it is able to find expression from act to act. This does not mean that this victory of godliness won by the soul takes over the ‘will of conduct’ which still lives and has the power to make the call within an individual. It can only rule when it is given authority of concession within the ‘will of conduct’.

This is precisely why the Holy Spirit within Paul noted to Timothy that when the pursuit of godliness is settled within the individual then a contented resolution to defer to each element of godliness in a succession of continual choices can occur naturally. When this is not only done as a dutiful concession but lived as an opportunity of delight, eagerly inviting the greatest one of all to lead, even command our soul into the just and hallowed ground by His gentle spirit; then that enthusiastic soul has gained a spiritual crown Which cannot be bought or won.  It is not a glory of a crown to wear but one that becomes part of the makeup of the person. But it is also glory to wear, which has not been earned as a reward or purchased by one paying a price, but because a person has given overall will in this greatest of matters of God’s godliness; the soul has bowed, yet has done nothing, the greatest thing to do before God – nothing – nothing but stand in awe for no one can look upon Him in this time and live. Yes the person who has godliness ruling over them has truly done, has worked, has conceded, to do nothing, that thing which we humans cannot abide. But the contented can walk in godliness because they have stumbled upon the Word, they have learned that we do nothing, but let live in us, to be our friend and direct us to all ‘will of action’.Can a person truly do nothing and do godliness in all actuality? Allow oneself to be led, to acquiesce, defer, sit down, quit putting in their own two-cents worth, walk within the Holy Ghost, listened to Him, be led, relish His thought like a younger brother might do, eat of His advice, trust that He will take care, cover his back and confidently allow godliness to save the day, be acted out in its own time and place, unfolding in action and faith in the ethereal – and – the material world simultaneously, and let the Spirit of God conduct the business of godliness without interference from our clumsy way and miserably inferior vision.

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Elements of the Composition of Godliness: 

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Manifest
1. God was manifest in the flesh.
Jesus came in the flesh. So we too must in this flesh become godly. It must be proven and lived out.

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It is Justified:
2. Justified in and by The Holy Spirit.
Not by what men say to do but by what the Holy Ghost declares and teaches without regard for the knowledge of approval of Man. It is the Holy Ghost that justifies all that we do. So if we are to walk in a godly manner we need to be following and relying on him, the one and only HOLY Spirit.

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It will be: actual and evident
3. Seen of Angels.
My life has to be lived out in the open, in the light for all to see. There is nothing hidden. It is not done in our heart or secretly or privately, but openly. No man lights a candle or turns on a light only to have it put under a can or to have it shaded so that it does not enlighten its purpose. There is no deception. No one is left in the dark, wondering about what is really meant or being recommended.

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It is stated intelligibly and imparted with understanding:
4. Preached unto the Gentiles.
Godliness will be delivered to all men. It has to be preached through a vessel that conforms to godliness. It’s not our own message but God’s message that is preached. It is delivered by who and what we are as well as what we teach and proclaim. It is done by the Spirit within us who justifies what we say and who we say it to and when and where. It is given, communicated in word and deed.

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It will be undeniable because it lives in a person:
THEN THE TRUTH CAN BE BELIEVED
5. Believed on in the world.
The first 4 parts of godliness are so that when it is preached it can be accepted and believed. The only way for it to be accepted is when someone can see someone that is godly and believe that they too can become godly.

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It is then acceptable:
GOD WILL THEN BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE WORK IN ETERNITY
6. Received up into glory.
That God can give his approval when the true gospel has been received by the people. This is the kind of work that is acceptable to God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

If your outlook and hope of life’s work finds this worthy of consideration and you are inclined to trust Christ that he can build this character of heart and spirit in you then it is possible that godliness can find a home in you, and its works will be able to be accomplished within another human being around you. God, then can and will be reassuring you that you are walking in a godly path according to the Will of God in heaven.

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim 4:8

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Tim. 6:6