Church Conduct

1 Timothy 3:14–16 NASB95

14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

These verses are in the center of Paul’s letter. 3 Chapters of positive instruction.

Love as the goal of instruction.

The Purpose of the law and our freedom from it.

Fighting the Good Fight of faith.

The preeminence of corporate prayer lead by the men of the church especially for the lost.

Women’s role in the church.

The office of elder.

The office of deacon and their helpers, the deaconesses.

3 Chapters of person instruction.

Our Calling

1 Timothy 3:15 NASB95

15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

household - We Are a Divine Family

the living God’s Church

Joshua 3:10 NASB95

10 Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.

Psalm 42:2 NASB95

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?

Pillar and Support of the Truth.

Temple of Diana in Ephesus 120 pillars that held up the structure.

We do not make the truth. We do not modify it. We support it by holding it up so all can see what God has to say.

This is our mission. To elevate the truth

The truth of God in the Bible is the representation of the God of truth. It is the truth of God that transforms the human heart because Jesus is the truth..

Each individual must live the truth if we are to support the truth.

Each individual must sing the truth if we are to support the truth.

Each individual must teach the truth in Sunday school and at home if we are to support the truth.

Each individual that stands in this pulpit must preach the truth if we are to support the truth.

Each individual who listens to the Word of God preached must hear the truth if we are to support the truth.

Each individual must meditate on the truth if we are to support the truth.

Each individual must memorize the truth if we are to support the truth.

Each individual must live the truth if we are to support the truth.

1 Timothy 1:5 NASB95

5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Our Message

1 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

What do we teach then?

great is the mystery of godliness - a mystery is something that was hidden in the past and now revealed. God’s plan of salvation is now fully revealed. The prophets and godly Jews longed to know Who, what, where, and when the Messiah would come and salvation would be completed.

The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (with Morphology) (Chapter 3)

Ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί,

ἐδικαιώθη ἐν πνεύματι,

ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις,ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν,

ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ,

ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ.

Revealed in the flesh - Jesus eternal God born of a virgin. When He rose, He rose in body for all to see.

Vindicated in the spirit - Jesus performing signs and miracles by the Holy Spirit to prove He was the promised Messiah. That same Holy Spirit being given to each soul who believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ..

Seen by angels - seen by heavenly messengers in the highest of heaven and seen by earthly messengers (the apostles) to prove that He was truly alive.

Proclaimed - this is a message for everyone all over the earth. Not just Israelites.

Believed - It is effective. People do believe!

Taken up in glory - He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Seated because His work is completed for our salvation. Seated so that He can judge the nations. Seated so that He can rule as the King of the Universe.

Seated in glory because that is where He has gone to prepare a place for us when He returns.