Order in the House of God (1 Timothy 3)

1 Timothy 3

Order in the House of God

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Intro

“Attitude reflects leadership, captain.” -Remember the Titans quote

Recap

We continue our study of Paul’s 1st letter to Timothy. In this letter, Paul continues to encourage and instruct Timothy to help him restore right order in the church, especially how to conduct themselves. For over the last 3 weeks, we have seen how Paul has focused greatly on the fact that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. And that reality is what grounds, that is to bring about the call to godliness, the call to holy living. And that is what we will look at this morning, along with the two offices of the church that God has given to help in this call to right order.

Main Point

Godly elders and godly deacons are God’s means of grace to help God’s household, the local church, to remain a pillar and foundation of truth.

Points

The Confession of the Church (3:16)

The Conduct of the Church (3:14-15)

The Offices of the Church (3:1-13)

Point #1: The Confession of the Church (3:16)

There is a mystery to godliness. For while the call to godliness is there for the people of God. There must be great humility in the pursuit of godliness. For godliness is the call for our lives if we are a Christian, but we do not get there out of our own strength and our own efforts. The root to godliness is found in the mystery of Christ. This is why Paul writes there in verse 16, Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness. But what Paul does next is needed for the heart of young Timothy, it is needed for our own hearts in considering the call to a right and godly living. And that is pointing us to this great mystery of Christ and the length he has gone to in order to come and save us. As well as pointing our hearts to the assurance of that salvation!

For much like the song, Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery that we sang earlier in the service, the hymn here in verse 16 points us to Jesus as the one who defines and is the root of all godliness. For it is he who is the mystery of godliness. Godliness will not be won apart from a vibrant, trusting faith in Jesus. For godliness is rooted in him. For it is he who came to rescue the ungodly and make them godly as we are united to him by faith.

And so, we like Paul, like Timothy, like the church has for 2,000 years we too want to confess this mystery of godliness that is found in Christ Jesus!

To start with, in this confession, we remember the incarnation of Christ. For it says, He was manifested in the flesh. Jesus, the Son of God, left the Father’s side to come and be born in the flesh. God himself came to dwell among us. Immanuel, God with us was revealed as the Word became flesh. Philippians 2:5-7 tells us:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

The mystery of godliness is that God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son to dwell with us in becoming one of us, fully human, though he was still fully God.

But, not only did Jesus appear in the flesh, he lived, died, buried, and was resurrected. And in this resurrection, we see that he was vindicated by the Spirit. To vindicate means clear, it acquits Christ of any guilt by the power of his resurrection. So, it can be said of him in Romans 1:4, “and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.” And then Romans 8:11 adds, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

The implications of this truth are astonishing. Jesus is acquitted by the Spirit of any guilt in the resurrection, and therefore, by our union with Christ, we too are acquitted of any guilt. For to be united to Christ is to be one with him by our faith in him. And all that is his is ours. We have the hope we do, because Jesus himself was vindicated by the Spirit. It is this that is the mystery of godliness.

However, Jesus wasn’t just manifested in the flesh or vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and proclaimed among the nations. In other words, those nearest to God who were with him in heaven and those who are furthest and the least likely to know God have heard God’s means of salvation in Jesus. For in his incarnation, they sang in his coming (Luke 1:26-38), they ministered to Jesus in need (Matthew 4:11), they were present at the resurrection (Luke 24:4,23), they comforted the disciples in Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:10-11), and they sing around the throne of Jesus for all eternity as they shout “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Revelation 5:12)! The angels saw Jesus become flesh and welcomed him back in glory. Kent Hughes says, ‘He was indeed “seen by angels.’ They could not get enough of him, and never will.” Those who had been with God from eternity past and will be with him for eternity future saw God’s plan of salvation unfold in Jesus.

Likewise, as the angels saw this revelation, the news of this truth was also proclaimed among the nations. To those who did not have the law of God. To a people foreign from God. Jesus was proclaimed to the Gentiles. The gospel, the revelation of this mystery was preached and is still being proclaimed, told, preached to the ends of the earth, so that all may hear.

And as this news goes out, Jesus is being believed on in the world. For many declared that they believed in the name of Jesus for salvation in his day. In the book of Acts, we see the Apostles take the gospel out, and many were repenting and believing. As we look throughout the 2,000 years of church history, as the gospel was proclaimed, as it was verbally told to others, people were coming to believe in Jesus! Where the gospel of Jesus goes, there will be those who repent and believe. This is the confession we hold, this is why we continue to preach the good news of Jesus! So that the lost may hear and the people believe!

And too, in our confession, we believe that Jesus was taken up in glory, where he is now seated at the right hand of the Father. The one who was manifested, vindicated, seen, proclaimed, believed on is in glory. And as he is in glory, he is at work in continuing to make all things new, interceding for us, advocating for us who are in Christ.

Such a hymn, a confession like this must be the driving force in our pursuit of godliness. We can preach godliness all day long. But if we fail to look to the means of godliness in Christ, we can never achieve it. Yet, as we see the beauty of this mystery of godliness in Christ, it should stir our hearts to a right worship of the LORD our God, marveling at his never ending, never stopping love for us in Jesus. And this should fuel our mission to be godly, to walk rightly. For it is to flow from seeing that God has first loved us in Jesus!

Even you too, friend, if you have not yet come to faith in Jesus. See the extent that God has gone to to save sinners, such as me, such as you. Your need in pursuing godliness starts with a confession of your sin and your need in Jesus to save you from those sins. Your journey towards godliness must start in first coming to Jesus, the great mystery of godliness. I’d love to talk with you more about what that looks like after the service. Come find me or give me a call this week. I want you to know the joy of salvation in Christ!

Point #2: The Conduct of the Church (3:14-15)

Having now seen the confession of the church in Christ and the mystery of godliness, what now? And that is where we turn in our second point this morning, the conduct of the church. Amid these false teachings, Paul wants Timothy, and therefore us, to know how we are to conduct ourselves. This is Paul’s main point, his thesis for the entire letter if we shall describe it that way that is revealed in verses 14 and 15. For while Paul hopes to come in person, he doesn’t want Timothy to be unaware of how he is to help the church refocus for purpose in conducting themselves together. And Paul’s choice of descriptions for the church are not by accident, nor or they to be swept over quickly without thought to what we are being called to in our conduct.

The Church is the household of God

First, notice what he says first. He says, how one ought to behave in the household of God. This same phrase of household is used two other times in 1 Timothy 3. It is used in both instances as it looks at the household of those who would be elders and those who would be deacons. But here in verse 15, it is making the comparison that the church is the household of God. The household of God is a call to being a family. The church is not to be seen as a group of random people gathered. The church is to be family; brothers and sisters who gather as one body because of our one God and one Mediator in Jesus Christ. It is our mutual confession of Jesus that is to make us one. And therefore, as we are called to be a family, we are to act as a family together. This is one reason that quarrels are called out in the previous part on men lifting holy hands. The church is to be a well-ordered, united family!

The Church of the living God

The second description Paul gives is that the household of God is the church of the living God. This phrase of the living God is a phrase combatting that of dead and wooden idols. A reminder that God, YHWH, is the only true God. And that the church belongs to him. For while the church is to conduct herself according to who we are in Christ, the call to godliness comes because God is holy and he has called his people to holiness. That is to be distinct from the world. The church is to be set apart from worldliness. It is to reflect the LORD, our God, the only true God.

Likewise, the church belongs to that of the Living God. The church is his idea, and therefore to be structured and ordered according to his purposes, to his word! For in so doing, Jesus himself has promised in Matthew 16:18, And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock (that is his confession that Jesus is the Christ) I will build by church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The church will stand and last! Therefore, let us not lose our way, let us re-focus on the glory of Christ and the mission we have been given, ensuring we stay focused and fit for purpose!

The Church is a pillar and buttress (foundation) of the truth

And we stay fit for purpose as we as the church are a pillar and buttress of the truth. For this is our purpose, to be built on the truth of God’s word and to hold it up for the world to see and to hear.

Charles Spurgeon writes on this verse saying, “They mean nothing more or less than is wrapped up within the two covers of the Bible. What is the truth? I might say that it is the counsels of heaven revealed on earth, the mind of God made known to men, all the precepts, statutes, and testimonies of the Most High.”

To be a pillar and buttress of the truth, we are to hold to the truth of God’s word and to champion it in the world. Denny Burk in his commentary on 1 Timothy says, “God has called every single local church to be a pillar and support of the truth in a world running away from the truth.”

How can we expect to be a light to the world if we are living lives that go against the truth of scripture? How can we conduct ourselves rightly if we are living according to mere speculations rather than the revealed truth of Jesus? How are we to live accordingly if we live without self-control in holding to the truth?

The culture will continue to shift. The sexual revolution led to the demise of marriage. The demise of marriage led to the abortion crisis. And all of this led to the current struggle for identity and the throwing off of gender norms according to science. Each step was the forsaking of a little truth. But we, the household of God, the church of the living God are not to cave on what is true. We are to hold firmly to God’s word, his truth in calling sin just that. We do not give way to culture on what it does and doesn’t call sin. We look to the holy and living God and affirm what he says is sin as sin.

But part of that championing of that truth is a call to humility ourselves. Remembering that we too are great sinners in need of a great savior. So when we are a light in the midst of darkness, pointing out our own ongoing need in Jesus as we aim to persuade others to that very same need. For our call to be the pillar and buttress of the truth is to hold the truth out to the world in a loving manner to point them to the one who defines truth, God himself.

Point #3: The Offices of the Church (May shorten or abbreviate when get here)

And as we labor to champion truth, we are not left without a means in ensuring we are doing that. For the LORD has saw fit to give us two offices in the church to carry out the mission of God. And that is where we turn in our final point this morning, the offices of the church. These offices being that of Overseer (Elder) and Deacon.

Both offices are similar in that both offices are to be filled by those with godly character. Brian Croft says, “Pastors and deacons are to live honest, authentic lives before the church and the world. A blameless reputation does not in any way demand perfectionism, but a transparent life of a faithful person who is above accusation.” And this is the quality of leaders needed to guide the church to help her remain fit for purpose in making much of Christ.

Elders (3:1-7)

A Noble Task (Work) (3:1)

First, the office of overseer. Now, the titles, Overseer, Bishop, Elder, Pastor are all interchangeable. Some traditions argue differently, but when we look at this passage of 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-5, and Acts 20:28, we see these are all referring to the same office, the same position. This office is a role that is responsible for the care of the church. Hence the use of the word overseer used here by Paul. You will hear me most often use the term pastor or elders in reference to this position though.

What makes the offices of elder and deacon most distinct is that elders must be able to teach as seen there in verse 2. Or as Titus 1:9 adds, one who can give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it. And because of this responsibility to teach, the role of elder is a noble task, a noble work for any to desire. Paul even states, this is a trustworthy saying that this is the case. For as great as the qualifications are, the pursuit of such is a desire for a noble and great work. Elders have the great duty of helping teach the body of Christ, in guarding the church from false teachers and holding to sound doctrine. It is the elders who are to lead the charge in helping the church champion the truth to the watching world. So, indeed it is a noble work to pursue. But with such a noble work, it is very clear that this noble work calls for one with noble qualifications.

A Noble Task calls for Noble Qualifications (3:2-7)

Elders must have a good reputation, a good marriage, a self-mastery of themselves, able to minister, good temperance, a well-ordered family, maturity, and a good reputation to those on the outside.

For any man who desires to seek the office of elder must be above reproach. This doesn’t mean that he is to be perfect, but that no substantiated charge can be brought against him in regards to the list of qualities the elder is to have. One should be able to look at a potential elder’s marriage and home life and see that it is good, godly, and well managed. That above all, the elder shepherds and leads his own home with good order and in godliness. For as noted in verse 5, if one doesn’t know how to manage his household well, he can’t care for God’s church in managing her well either. It says there in verse 2 that an elder is to be the husband of one wife.

Now, some have taken this to be that one who has been previously divorced cannot become an elder. Or worse, others that one who has never married could not be an elder. But on that second, I urge any who hold that view to reconsider. For in holding that view they would disqualify the Apostle Paul from the noble work of being an elder. To the best of our knowledge, Paul was never married. And we should urge caution in making such boastful claims to say more than Paul meant here. Likewise, in making that claim we would disqualify Jesus from being an elder. And that would be a grave mistake. To be the husband of one wife means to be faithful to that one wife if he is married. And if any be single, that he is preparing and caring for himself in sexual purity to be a one-woman kind of husband. Meaning that he is not given to pornography, he is respectful and caring to his sisters around him now. That he is pursuing godliness in his singleness. Too, for the one who has been divorced. There is not a clear-cut answer. But the when, the reason, the situation would all play into the decision of qualification. Therefore, we should be careful in such brash assumptions before disqualifying a man for either of these. We should examine their lives and testimonies carefully against the Scriptures to see how they walk and live their lives.

Elders are to have a self-mastery of themselves in not being a drunkard or violent. Instead, they must be gentle. An elder must not be quarrelsome. For if men are to lift holy hands without anger and quarreling, it must start from the men leading and overseeing as elders. Too, a man desiring to be an elder must master himself and not be a lover of money. For one cannot lead others to love God and not money if they are given to a love of money. Even a potential elder’s reputation among outsiders matters. For he is to be well thought of by them, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. In other words, the testimony of the elder is to be seen as beautiful to the outsider, even if they fail to agree.

And finally, elders are to be hospitable and able to teach. To be hospitable, they are to pursue others to do life with them. Pursuing to have them in their home, pursuing the opportunity to care for them in various ways. Pursuing to love them. And in bringing up able to teach once more, this calling doesn’t mean that all elders must be able to preach sermons. The call to be able to teach is a call to rightly handle and divide the word of truth. This means that men who are able to faithful counsel through the word, able to faithfully teach the Bible in Bible Studies in deeply understanding it, those who are able to minister and rightly apply the word, they are gifted with the ability to teach. And these too meet the requirement to be able to teach the word.

With such a noble work and such noble qualifications. It is my prayer to God to help me in this work. For I too am a great sinner in need of a great Savior. And I must continue to keep a close watch on my life and my teaching to save both myself and others as we will see next week in chapter 4.

Deacons (3:8-13)

But, as God called elders to lead the church in godliness, God has called deacons to serve the church in godliness. The term deacon, though not seemingly defined here in this section, they are by the title itself. For the word, deacon comes from the Greek word, Διακονους. This term means to serve another, a servant. Elders lead by teaching, deacons lead by serving.

A call to Godliness, like that of the elders

But like elders, they too, hence the likewise, are called to godly qualifications. Deacons are to be those who are dignified, not double-tongued, that is hypocritical. They are to be who you see, not one thing in front of you and another when your back is turned. Deacons are not be addicted to much wine or greedy for dishonest gain. They are to have a self-mastery of self in other words.

Yet, what should stand out most to us in this list is in verse 9. Deacons are must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Deacons are to hold to the gospel with a clear conscience. For we have already seen that mystery is referring to the revealing of Jesus, the gospel. Deacons, while they are not required to be able to teach, they are required to know their Bibles, to have a good understanding of the gospel. For even in the proto-type of deacon from Acts 6, one of those, Stephen, gave a clear and beautiful defense of the gospel in Acts 7 before he was stoned to death. Deacons aren’t to be chosen simply because they are good handymen, excellent with spreadsheets and budgets, or because they know their way around Lowes. Deacons are to be chosen by those who champion the gospel and lead in serving others. By those who prove themselves blameless as they are tested as seen there in verse 10.

Deacons serve the church best and most clearly when they champion the gospel. For when they champion the gospel, they can best come alongside the elders and help serve them when they understand the gospel and what is at stake. Deacons best serve when they help stay focused on the gospel and help carry out the mission of the gospel in their service. You show me a church with deacons who champion the gospel, and I will show you a church that is staying on mission. You show me a church in which deacons are only selected by being handymen, spreadsheet experts, and chosen by popularity, and I will show you a church that is distracted from the mission of God, for the deacons serving aren’t championing the gospel of King Jesus. The gospel matters and is to be held to with a clear conscience by any who would be a deacon.

Now, there here is a controversial verse in verse 11. In our translations, it reads their wives likewise or something along those lines. But, the underlying Greek word, Γθμναζε, can mean either wives or women in general. So, there is much debate as to whether or not women can be deacons or not. Some would argue that there is a strong case here that the wives of deacons are called out here to a high standard as they help their husbands serve as deacons. Others still would point to Phoebe in Romans 16 and her being called a servant, a deaconess of the church.

Personally, if deacons are rightly set up as servants of the church. If they are there to aid in carrying out the ministries of the church, I think women deaconesses are a good thing. For they are not usurping authority over men, they are serving our body. However, if deacons are seen as pseudo elders, where the deacons are set up with greater authority, then deaconesses are not to be had. Although, the church has a greater issue in dismissing the beauty of deacons and their call to lead in service.

But, regardless of where you land, we must still see the godliness called for in deacons. They too are to be the husband of one wife, managing their children and households well. For if they cannot serve their house, how can they lead in serving the church well?

The role of deacons is glorious and is to be reserved for those who walk in godliness and who hold the gospel with a clear conscience. It is reserved for those who joyfully and willingly serve the body of Christ in service as it aims to stay on focus in the task of making disciples.

A Good Standing

But, as the role of service is taken on, deacons gain for themselves a good standing. And they do so before the church and God.

Before the Family of God

As deacons serve the body well, they can gain the love and respect of their fellow members in the way they eagerly serve the body. They can minister to the needs of those members and the church, being able to encourage them in the midst of those needs.

Before God

Likewise, as deacons serve, they gain and grow in great confidence in the faith. For as they serve and lead the way of godly service, their faith is strengthened. They grow all the bolder, just as Stephen did in Acts 7. For they grow even more secure in the gospel they believe in and hold to.

Conclusion

The church is a pillar and buttress of the truth, holding that truth out to the world. And as we hold to this truth, and champion walking distinctly in godliness, elders and deacons help lead the way in this. Elders lead the way by championing the faith by teaching, rebuking, and correcting with gentleness as they unfold the word. Deacons lead the way by championing the faith through serving the body of Christ. And the two offices work together seamlessly to build up the Kingdom of Christ our King! Church, let’s behave accordingly as the family of the Living God by walking in godliness as we love God and love others!

Let’s pray…