The Gospel: The Foundation of the Church
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
As we continue with our Worship of the Lord this morning, I want to invite you to turn with me to 1 Timothy 3:14-16. This is the heart of the letter to Timothy. This is the central point… or it is what gives us the main purpose of Paul’s writing in the midst of the problems the church is facing. We need to listen up here to what is being said because although this is a rather short passage, there is so much truth that is wrapped up here.
Let’s read this passage together. Hear the Word of the Lord this morning...
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 1 Ti 3:14–16.
Let’s pray together.
Up to this point in our study, we have been talking about… What Is a Healthy Church?
And in our study, we have said this so far...
A Healthy Church Must Understand the Gospel Rightly.
A Healthy Church Has Members Who Are Committed to Prayer.
A Healthy Church Has Members Who Respect and Honor Their Roles in the Local Church.
And in chapter 3 of the letter, we started talking about not just the members of the church, but rather we started talking about the leadership of the church.
So, we added this to our understanding of what it means to be a healthy church...
A Healthy Church Has Godly Leaders.
We spent 1 week talking about the overseers or Pastors of the church, and Phil did an excellent job talking about deacons. We have to see these things, are not just good recommendations for Timothy or us to think about. All of these things, if the church in America is going to get healthy, are things that we need to really spend some time thinking about and praying about.
And don’t get me wrong, Paul is not done yet with his instruction to Timothy, but our passage this morning acts as a bridge between chapters 1-3 and chapters 4-6.
But what I want us to notice from this passage is that we are going to change the question ever so slightly. Instead of asking what is a Healthy Church, we are going to ask... What Is the Church?
This seems like something so foundational and simple for many of us. We hear this and we think, really, this question? We are going to talk about “church?” Like, we are going to discuss what makes a church a church.
I know this sounds silly to think about or to even consider but trust me there is nothing more foundational than seeing what makes the church special and different in the midst of a culture that is turning so hard away from the things of God.
Body:
But before we start defining the church, let's look at how Paul sets this up in this letter.
Look at verse 14 with me.
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that... 1 Ti 3:14.
Paul is starting off here with his hope and desire. Paul is hoping to come to Timothy… and apparently, he wants to go to him sooner rather than later. Which is not a bad thing. Paul cares for Timothy as his own son in the faith. Paul cares for the church at Ephesus because he was the one who planted it. He knows that there are some problems inside the church. There are people who are causing some confusion about what it means to be a Christian… and with all of these things… Paul’s desire is to be with this young Pastor as he walks through this with the church.
However, we see that contrast there in the verse. The word “BUT” shows a contrast with what is being said. Paul wants to come to Timothy… BUT.... just in case.... Paul says that I am writing these things to you, meaning Timothy… and we see the words “SO THAT”.... this is a purpose clause here in the verse. These words tell us something important is about to follow. Paul is saying to Timothy.... Look, I want to come… that is my desire… but just in case I don’t get to come, I am writing these things to you SO THAT.... and look at verse 15 with me so that we can see the purpose of Paul’s writing...15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Ti 3:15).
Ahhhhh, there it is. There is the purpose of Paul’s writing to Timothy. He is writing, just in case he is delayed… he still plans on coming, but he is writing these things, and we need to ask, what things are in mind here when Paul says that, but he is writing these things SO THAT one would know how they are to behave in the household of God.
I think that we see a few principles that speak to our hearts and minds here from these two verses. I think that they are supporting points here, as the greatest thrust of what Paul says to Timothy has to do with the makeup of the Church or giving a right understanding of what the Church is, but I do think that these points are important for us to think about.
I also think that they aid in our understanding of why understanding what the Church truly is so vitally important for our lives.
What are some principles that we can see from these verses?
Christians Need People Who Look After Their Welfare.
When I say welfare, I do not mean your money… although talking about money and finances is certainly not off of the table for a discussion, as we will see in chapter 6 of this letter. What I mean by welfare is your well-being. Your growth in godliness. This is what we see Paul doing with his instructions to Timothy.
Paul is not writing this letter just because he feels like it or because he thinks that it is a good idea for him to do so. NO. Paul is writing this letter because for 1. He has a deep concern for the health of this church. And 2. because he knows that as Christians, we need others in our lives who are going to look out for our spiritual growth.
We see this idea all over Scripture. Let me give you 2 examples.
Hebrews 10:23-25. Listen to these words
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Heb 10:23–25.
Part of the gathering together has to deal with the relationships that occur when the church is gathered together… and part of that relationship is not to talk about how great the game was or what the latest headlines are.... and don’t get me wrong, it is not wrong to talk about those things. I enjoy talking about those things too..... but if our conversations never get down to talking about the heart issues, then we are not going to see growth take place. If we never take the opportunity to encourage one another, to stir up one another to love and good works, then we will remain stagnant in our walks with the Lord.... and being stagnant does not result in health.
We also see this idea in Galatians 6:1-2. Hear these words... 6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Ga 6:1–2.
We see again the need for others to be close enough to speak into our lives. We need to be close enough to other Christians that they are able to see sin in our lives and call us out on it.... in a spirit of gentleness.
We live in such a culture where we do want to do this kind of work… nor do we want others to do it to us. What business is it of theirs if I am struggling in this way? What business is it of mine if they are struggling this way? That is the mindset that we take sometimes, is it not?
And, now listen to me, and I mean listen carefully here, this is not an excuse or a reason for you to go and be a bully to someone who you know is doing wrong. Nor is this an open door for you to point out the faults of everyone around you. That is not what we are talking about here. What we are talking about here is someone who is “caught” in a sin pattern... you notice this pattern in their life and they are seemly unaware of it. You go to them in gentleness and humility to speak to them about the issues. Notice the warning there if you are following along... be careful lest you too fall into temptation… don’t think that it could ever happen to you.... but what are you to do? Carry this burden with them. You walk with them through the process. You help them overcome it.
The second principle that we see at play here in verses 14-15 is...
We Need Written Instruction for the Christian Life.
Think about this for just a moment with me. I don’t think that Timothy went to the Ephesus not having a clue about church ministry. Timothy had served alongside Paul for years. He had first-hand experience in knowing what Paul was teaching and how he was establishing churches… but isn’t it interesting that Paul still finds it necessary to write to Timothy?
The Christian life is not based on our own thoughts or opinions on matters. It really doesn’t matter what we think about an issue, what matters at the end of the day is what God thinks about. And what is amazing is that God has given us a book. He has given us His word.
Our thoughts and feelings can change at the drop of a hat. What we think should be done and what we think is right and wrong can change with whatever we find to be easiest. This is the way of the world. This is why culture change can take place so fast… there is no guideline for what is being done. Everyone is just doing what is right in their own eyes. To the World there is no objective truth. That is not what we find in the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads ....16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work 2 Ti 3:16–17.
And in Hebrews 4:12-13 we read...12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account Heb 4:12–13.
Don’t miss the overwhelming testimony of the Bible. God has given us a book so that we can know His great deeds in the World. The Bible answers all of life's basic questions: Where did we come from? What is wrong with the World? How can it be fixed? Where is the world heading?
This is what makes up a person’s worldview… how they see the world. Everyone is trying to answer these questions… and Christians, we are not left to our own devices on answering them… God has provided them for us. But not only does He answer these questions for us… He provides us with details on how we can lives in right relationship with HIM. He restores us to HIM. By His word we grow in godliness as we walk with Him in obedience to His word.
Because God gave us His word, we should always be quick to run back to it time and time again as we walk through this life. Everything that we think, we need to filter through the Word of God to make sure that it is in line with what is said in this book.
As I said, thoughts, feelings, our own understanding of right and wrong can change at the drop of a hat… but God’s word will remain forever! That is the truth of the matter.
This leads me to the third principle that we see here in these verses.
The Christian Life Should Look Different Than the World.
I am getting this from verse 15 when it says....you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God.
There is a Christian ethic that, if we claim to follow Christ, we must seek to follow. When a person places their faith and trust in Jesus, the Bible says that God takes that person's heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh… a heart that no longer beats in rebellion against God but rather a heart that longs for the things of God. Your life is changed forever. That does not mean that you will no longer struggle with sin. You are going to fail daily... and probably multiple times a day… that is not what I am saying. However, when you do sin… your eyes are going to be open to what you are doing is sin. You will have conviction of heart. God will bring you back to the cross for repentance. God does not want us to live in that sin.
Let me put it this way. Let’s look at how Scripture describes this going on in our lives.
Colossians 3:1-17. It is a longer passage but stay with me. We see what we are talking about here in found in these verses.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him Col 3:1–17.
Do you see the language there? Put to death what is earthly… that is to fight against the fleshly desires… but not only put to death… or put off… we are told to Put on what is godly.
The Christian life results in a changing life. James 2 tells us that faith without works is a dead faith that cannot save anyone. Don’t hear what the Bible is not saying with those words though. We are not talking about you working to earn God’s love. We are not talking about you trying to make yourself clean. We are talking about, once God had done a work in your life.... Your life is changed. That is just what He just. He regenerates your heart. He makes you alive to Him. And because Christians are called to be part of God’s family.... There is a right way and a wrong way for people to act. Does that make sense?
Once we have these three things in place… we can address the heart of the issue here…and if you remember… let me put it back on the screen for us...... What Is the Church?
That is what we want to get to this morning. Those three principles feed into this question. Look at the how Paul describes the church in verse 15…
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth 1 Ti 3:15.
We see these three things said about the church in this verse....
Household of God
The Church of the Living God
It is a Pillar and Buttress of Truth.
When the Bible talks about the church… what is being referred to is not a physical building. The word for “church” comes from the Greek word meaning “the called out ones” and it often was referring to a group that had assembled together for a purpose.
This is why, when you read through the New Testament, you read things like “To the Church at Ephesus....” or “Greet the church that meets in her house.” The physical space of their meeting was not the main focus in the Bible.... It was about the gathering together.
Let me put it this way… If our building burned down and we had to meet in the parking lot, would we still be a church? Yes! The building is not the church. The church is the people of God.
In fact, when Paul talks about the church being the household of God, he is talking about the family aspects of the church and not the home. We will see this later in 1 Timothy… but think about it this way… when you become a Christain… you get adopted into God’s family. He takes you in as a son or daughter of the King… how awesome is that? But not only that, you become part of God’s family. You get brothers and sisters who walk alongside you and with you through this journey of life. That is what we are talking about here.
And this family of God, is the family of the living God… that is who we serve. The God of the Bible is not like the gods of this world. Our God is still living and active in the world that He created. He is the one who is making all things work towards their glorious end where He will come back one day!
But not only these things... We see that the church is a pillar and buttress of the truth. As Christians we believe that there is right and there is wrong in this world. We believe that God has given us guidelines and instructions for how life is to be lived. But more than that, we believe that God has given us instructions on how to be made right with Him.
Conclusion:
The Church is tasked with protecting and keeping the truth. What is the truth? What is the church trying to keep and protect?
Look at verse 16 with me. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory 1 Ti 3:16.
The Church is Tasked with Keeping and Protecting the Gospel.
That is what we see here in verse 16. It sounds really strange when you just read it… 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory 1 Ti 3:16.
But when you realize that we are talking about Jesus Christ, it all makes sense. He was the one who stepped out of heaven and became and man... took on flesh. He was the one who was killed and buried for our sins… and was raised by the Spirit… or vindicated by the Spirit because He did no wrong… He was the one seen by angels at His birth and as He sits on the throne… He is the one we proclaim among the nations.... He is the one you must believe in to be saved… and He is the one who ascended into heaven... one day we believe He will come back again.
These are the truths of the Gospel message. These are the truths that the Church stands as a pillar and a foundation for. The church is put together by Jesus Christ and is called to work together to protect and keep the Gospel.
Most people believe that this was part of an early Christian hymn or confession. All Christians believed on these things. As time has gone on, things have become more complicated. There is more confusion over different things in the culture.... but the Church has to realize, we have always been a credal faith. There are certain truths that we hold as completely and totally true and we cannot and will not waiver from them. There are clear Biblical teachings that we cannot run away from…even if the culture wants to… and even if we see other churches turning away from the Bible and its teachings...we must never turn away.
We have to hold onto the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to have a relationship with God. That must never be taken for granted.
We must believe that the Bible is completely and totally the Word of God. That there are no faults or errors in the Scriptures.
We must believe that people are sinful and are in desperate need of a Savior.
We must believe that God knows best when it comes to marriage, the family, and the beginning of life. These are not issues that we can waver in because the Scripture is so clear.
We must never waiver that only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who died in our place on the cross for our sins and rose again, is enough for our forgiveness and reunion with Him.
This really is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the things that make up Biblically Christianity. This is why the study of the Bible is so vitally important for our lives. We must never waver from the truth of Scripture. We must seek to always protect and uphold its teaching. The Church is given this task in this day and age… and boy do we have a task ahead of us.
Let me close with this.... here is what we are seeing from this passage...
Main Point: The Gospel Is the Foundation of the Church.
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mt 16:13–18.
It is upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ that the church is built.
The Gospel has to do with more than just your forgiveness and going to heaven. The Gospel has huge implications for your life in the here and now.
I want to encourage you to take your next step with the Lord this morning. If you are a Christian, I want to encourage you to step towards Christ. What is He calling you to this morning? Is there a particular sin he wants to deal with in your life? Is there an area of godliness where you find yourself weak? Do you just needing to be reminded that you are loved and cared for by your heavenly Father? Press into Him this morning.
And if you are not a follower of Christ this morning, I want you to know that today you can become one. Because of Jesus Christ you can be forgiven today and set free from the power and bondage of sin. You don’t have to do life on your own. Come and give your life to Christ so that you can truly live.
It all starts right here…Main Point: The Gospel Is the Foundation Of the Church.
Let’s pray together.