1 Timothy 3:14-16

Introduction

The climax of 1 Timothy is the pastoral and deacon qualifications

Looking back to the first 2 chapters, we discovered the church at Ephesus had:

Unfit and unqualified teachers.

The famous author Mark Twain said, Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.

Inappropriate praying

False theology

Understanding the qualifications of the two important positions within the church would have purged these positions of disqualified people, and replenished with qualified people.

That would have been instrumental in correcting these three problem areas.

This morning, we will see the importance of the qualifications as we move forward in 1 Timothy.

Why were these qualifications given?

1 Timothy 3:14–15 “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Paul wrote these qualifications so that the church in Ephesus could have proper behavior as they assembled to worship God.

This would mean that the opposite was true: unqualified and unfit people produced poor behavior in this church that impacted their teaching, The famous author Mark Twain said, Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God public praying, and responsibilities.

There are 4 key parts to 1 Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Thou mayest know

Know - Paul wanted them to have information.

Paul did not want them to be uniformed about their behavior within the assembly.

From the first 13 verses, Paul understood the best way for the church in Ephesus to have good behavior was to have a plurality of Biblical bishops, elders or pastors and deacons within her assembly.

2 specific reasons related to Timothy:

A church can have many critics. What can help the pastor in the face of critics is a plurality of pastors. If you have a plurality of pastors saying the same thing, this would quash much of the critical spirit in the church.

Similarly, what will quash deacons from criticism of not performing their duties as a deacon is a plurality of biblically minded deacons performing their responsibilities as a deacon to the church.

Pastors and deacons are more than figure heads within the church. They have responsibilities to the church in line with their qualifications that ensures the church will properly behave herself.

In the 21st century, I have heard of deacons handcuffing pastors and pastors doing deacon duties. When these two offices are not being fulfilled Biblically, chaos - not order- ensues.

Another thing, instead of being a critic on the sideline become a difference maker.

Meet the qualifications of being an elder or deacon.

Desire the offices and pray that God directs.

Ought to Behave - There are three parts to this phrase:

Ought to behave - Means of lifestyle conduct.

Even though the word speaks of lifestyle. The main thrust of the word describes a person’s relationship with others.

Within the context of 1 Timothy the others represents the church in Ephesus.

Therefore the focus is , how we are to behave ourselves within our local assembly.

The phrase “thou oughtest” focuses on necessity not optional.

God’s word does not provide options as much as directives and direction.

The implication in the phrase deals with the assembly having personal and intimate relationships.

Unfortunately, today, more and more people are separating themselves from their relationships with the assembly.

Instead of doing what Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” We are doing the opposite.

This assembly is called the House of God

The house that belongs to God. He is the architect, contractor, and owner of the house.

House:

Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

Galatians 6:10 “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

These two passages reflects the Christian community.

1 Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Is a local assembly that reflects the whole family of God.

The idea of a house speaks of an intimate family. An intimate family that God is the architect in building, providing and is honored.

The church of the living God

Two parts:

Church - a called out assembly - The Term was a secular term more than religious.

A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

An assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

In a Christian sense:

An assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting or a company of Christian.

The first part - The Church of God is a purposed place.

Our purpose is others - first God then our neighbor next to us.

To worship, to love, to be selfless.

Living God

There are multiple reasons Paul inserted living before God:

Place of power

Martin Luther said, “At home in my own house there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through.

John Stott: When the members of the congregation are scattered during most of the week it is difficult to remain aware of this reality. But when we come together as the church (ekklēsia, ‘assembly’) of the living God, every aspect of our common life is enriched by the knowledge of his presence in our midst. In our worship we bow down before the living God. Through the reading and exposition of his Word we hear his voice addressing us. We meet him at his table, when he makes himself known to us through the breaking of bread. In our fellowship we love each other as he has loved us. And our witness becomes bolder and more urgent. Indeed, unbelievers coming in may confess that ‘God is really among you’.4

The church is the pillar and ground of truth. The image is of a temple. Unlike the Temples dedicated to Greek and Roman gods, the Christian’s God is alive.

God is triune. Most often when we read of God in the NT the reference is God the Father. But, here, the reference is God the Son.

What is at stake

1 Timothy 3:15–16 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 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.”

The pillar and ground of truth has the image of a temple. Each church that belongs to Jesus Christ must be the pillar and ground of truth.

Paul narrowly paraphrases what he meant by the pillar and ground of truth - The mystery of godliness.

Paul used the term “mystery” in a way to unveil a truth that was once hidden or shaded.

The message of the church is the Pillar and Ground of truth, which is the mystery of godliness.

A reason the qualifications in v.1-13 are important is so that the church has proper behavior towards one another. This is important because the assembly belongs to God’s house and is the church of the living God. God’s house, which is the church of the living God is the pillar and ground of truth - that is the House of God and the church of the living God has the ultimate truth God. If the church is not corresponding with one another in Biblically appropriate ways then she will likely project a faulty view of God!

John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

The pillar and ground of truth and the mystery of godliness has identifiers that provides us a consecutive stage in the life and ministry of Jesus. One pastor noted that we should read these six identifiers as 2 stanzas: the first 3 the life of the historical incarnate Jesus on earth, and the second, the life of the exalted Lord.

God was manifested in the flesh

God, in the person of Jesus Christ became a complete man.

Jesus incarnation allowed a different nature to come into existence for Him. He was always God. There was never a time in His existence when He was not God. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

However, He was not always a man. In His incarnation, He permanently became a man. Thus, He is completely God and completely man.

The difference between Him and a Christian who receives the divine nature is sin.

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

Jesus had total harmony between His two natures.

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Justified in the Spirit

Justified - To be declared righteous

Romans 1:4 “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

We needed the incarnated to be righteous:

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

1 Peter 2:21–22 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

Seen of angels- Throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus there was angels:

At His birth - Announcing to both Joseph and the Shepherds

After Satan’s temptations, they ministered unto Him.

An angel strengthened him at Gethsemane.

In His death, He visited incarcerated fallen angels to proclaim His triumph over them.

They were there at His resurrection and ascension into Heaven.

Preached unto the Gentiles - Carries 2 ideas

Jesus is preached throughout the world

Jesus is preached to the undesirables

Believed on in the world

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Received up into glory.

Conclusion

If you were to ask the person in the street, “Why is the church important?” you would probably get a wide range of answers. Some would laugh at the question, because for them the church is not important in any way. Others might see the church in the same category as museums: They both preserve things from the past. They’re a nice place to visit on rainy days, where you can observe how quaintly people used to live, but they’re out of touch with our modern world.

Others might couch their answer in political terms: They view the church as a powerful voting block to oppose the erosion of morality and to preserve the family. Or, some might respond to our question by saying that they see the church’s importance as a social institution. It helps meet the physical needs of the poor and the emotional needs of the lonely and distraught. It ministers to people at the pivotal times of life: birth, marriage, death, and times of crisis.

For many American churchgoers, the church is important because it meets many of their personal needs. They shop around for a church that makes them feel good each week. They get a weekly boost that enables them to cope with life.

As we continue our man-on-the-street interviews, we come to a short, balding man with a beard, who looks decidedly Jewish. Somewhat hesitantly, we ask him, “Sir, we’re asking people the question, ‘Why is the church important?’ Would you care to comment?” We’re hardly prepared for his answer.

He says, “I believe the church of Jesus Christ is the most important force in the world today. Its task is more important than all the governments and universities of the world combined. There is nothing to compare with it!”

We reply, “That’s a pretty strong statement, sir! Why do you say that?” He responds, “Because the most significant event in human history was when the living God took on human flesh and lived among us as the Lord Jesus Christ to bear our sins. And since He ascended into heaven, His church now reveals Him on earth, even as He revealed God when He was on earth.” So,

The church is important because it reveals Christ, even as Christ reveals God in human flesh.

That is essentially what our Jewish friend, the Apostle Paul, is saying in 1 Timothy 3:14-16. The church is the continuing incarnation of God incarnate.

Why is this Great? John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”