A Mature Church Preaches the Truth

On Friday morning I was reading John 18. It is a fascinating passage that deals with an interesting exchange between Jesus and the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. It is just before the crucifixion of Jesus. I want to read it to you and want you to notice Pilate’s profound question at the end.

John 18:33–38 (ESV)

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

What is truth?

This question obviously has been around for a while. It is a question we people still grapple with today.

I would humbly submit to you that of all people on the face of this planet, Christians have the answer. We know the truth because we know Jesus.

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

And because we know the truth, we have a profound responsibility regarding the truth and that is the point of this sermon this morning.

Main Idea: A Mature Church Advances the Truth

How can we, as a church, ensure we protect and advance the truth of God’s Word in a world full of distractions and falsehoods?

A mature church not only advances the truth but also avoids anything that detracts from it, and always remembers that it is by grace we stand firm in the truth.

Paul, in his conclusion to this letter, lays out three concepts to help the church in Ephesus and us to hold high the truth of God’s word.

And in order to advance the truth, we must…

1. Guard the Truth (vs. 20a)

1 Timothy 6:20 (ESV)

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you…

Can you hear the voice of the Apostle in this verse?

O Timothy! I envision great passion in this personal expression to his son in the faith.

What would he be passionate about?

The severity and the importance regarding what he instructs Timothy to do in this verse

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you!”

In order to advance the truth, one must guard it!

Paul uses the word “deposit” which is interesting.

What does he mean by this?

In actuality this one word in Greek (παραθήκην) is the English phrase “deposit entrusted to you.”

So what is this deposit entrusted to Timothy?

Well, we get the answer way back in chapter 1. Take a look…

1 Timothy 1:11 (ESV)

in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Paul was entrusted with the gospel and he, in turn entrusted Timothy with the gospel.

This is the pattern that we see in 2 Timothy 2:2!

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

The gospel doesn’t come from humanity. The gospel comes from God Himself.

He is the one who instituted the good news that He desires to rescue sinners from eternal Hell.

This isn’t some idea humans came up with. This is God’s idea.

But, we are ENTRUSTED with this idea. It has been deposited to us for safe keeping!

We must not only get the gospel correct, we have a sacred responsibility to communicate the gospel correctly.

This is how we guard it.

We must know it!

In a broad sense, we must know the Scriptures. If cut we must bleed bible.

And in a more narrow sense, we must know the gospel and we MUST have the ability, when presented with the opportunity, to share it competently.

So, what is the gospel?

In his book, What Is the Gospel?, Greg Gilbert describes the shocking general confusion among evangelical leaders and their variety of answers regarding this question.

Here’s the kind of range based on Gilbert’s account and common themes that come up when people try to define the gospel:

Social Gospel Emphasis: Some leaders described the gospel as “the good news that God wants us to work toward justice and peace in the world, caring for the poor and oppressed.” This response emphasizes social action and compassion as central to the gospel message.

Personal Transformation Focus: Others defined the gospel primarily in terms of personal change, saying something like, “The gospel is about becoming a better person, experiencing God’s love, and living a more fulfilled life.” This perspective highlights the effects of the gospel on personal well-being and moral improvement.

The Kingdom of God: Some responses focused on the idea of the kingdom of God, such as “The gospel is about bringing God’s kingdom to earth, where love and justice reign.” This view underscores the gospel’s role in establishing God’s rule and creating a better world.

Relationship with God: Another response centered on personal relationship, suggesting, “The gospel is the good news that we can have a personal relationship with Jesus.” This view emphasizes reconciliation and intimacy with God.

Jesus as an Example: Others defined the gospel as “the good news that Jesus showed us how to live a life of love and sacrifice.” This approach focuses on Jesus’ teachings and example as the primary aspects of the gospel.

In the book, Gilbert argues that these interpretations, while sometimes containing elements of truth, often miss the core of the gospel message as presented in Scripture.

So, what is the gospel?

The the faithfully biblical gospel must contain and focus on:

The Holiness of God: Acknowledging God's perfect holiness and justice.

Human Sinfulness: Recognizing humanity's sin and separation from God.

Christ’s Work: Emphasizing Jesus' life, death, and resurrection as the remedy for sin.

Faith and Repentance: Calling for a response of faith and repentance to receive forgiveness and salvation.

Gilbert’s point in recounting the story is that even respected leaders can diverge from this biblical core, underscoring the need to return to a scriptural foundation for defining and understanding the gospel.

Hence, our responsibility to GUARD the truth of the gospel!

O, Allendale! Guard the deposit that has been entrusted to you!

Friends, certainly I as the pastor, and the elders and all of the congregation have a tremendous responsibility to guard the truth and know the truth!

It is our primary responsibility.

We cannot grow slack on this at all. We cannot allow for any slack in the rope.

Just as Timothy was entrusted with the gospel, so I am and we are! You are!

Obviously there is biblical rationale for those entrusted with the gospel to do something with it - namely, Guard it! Protect it!

When we do, we keep the message pure.

And in the purity of the message is the power of the message.

Lives will not change with an adulterated and perverted gospel.

When the ingredients are not there or changed, the results lack power

Each week on The Great British Baking Show, the contestants face a daunting Technical Challenge. They’re handed a recipe they’ve never seen before—often with unfamiliar techniques—and are given only a limited amount of time to execute it. The recipe comes with precise instructions, and any deviation can lead to disaster. The contestants know that if they don’t follow the recipe exactly, they’ll face harsh judgment from Paul and Prue. A little too much flour, a minute too long in the oven, or a shortcut on technique, and the bake falls apart.

This is a perfect picture of what it means for us to “guard the truth” of the gospel. God has given us the gospel like a precise recipe, with everything we need to know spelled out in His Word. When we’re tempted to add our own ideas or take shortcuts, we’re like contestants who risk ruining the bake. Just as Paul and Prue expect precision and faithfulness to the recipe, God calls us to faithfully guard the truth, following it as He has given it, without alteration.

The stakes are high: we’re not just baking a cake, but stewarding the life-changing truth of the gospel. Guarding the truth means holding firmly to the gospel as it’s been entrusted to us, knowing that it alone has the power to save.

Jeremiah 26:2 (NET)

The Lord said, “Go stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. Speak out to all the people who are coming from the towns of Judah to worship in the Lord’s temple. Tell them everything I command you to tell them. Do not leave out a single word!

Do you know the gospel? Can you clearly and confidently articulate the gospel. You can’t guard something you don’t know.

If you don’t know the gospel, make it a goal this week to memorize the four components of the true gospel along with one verse for each section.

The Holiness of God - “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” – Isaiah 6:3

Human Sinfulness - “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23

Christ’s Work - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Faith and Repentance - “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” – Acts 20:21

Review - A Mature Church Advances the Truth

Guard the Truth

2. Avoid the Irreverent (vs. 20b-21a)

1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV)

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith…

In order for Timothy to guard the truth, he must avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions that can easily get one off track.

First, I want you to think about this phrase, irreverent babble.

Irreverent = profane, the opposite of holy, righteous, and sacred.

Babble = Empty or fruitless speaking; discussions on useless subjects.

So Paul tells Timothy to steer clear of unholy, empty discussions on useless subjects.

Christians are not to be caught up in and spend all their energy on useless debates.

2 Timothy 2:16 (ESV)

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

Instead, believers are to…

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

In other words, we speak the Bible because the bible is the truth.

In particular, Paul is concerned about Pastor Timothy keeping his focus on Biblical truth in his ministry rather than foolishness that can distract him from his main task.

What is pastor Timothy’s main task?

2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV)

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And anything that keeps him from that task is irreverent babble and…

1 Timothy 6:20 (ESV)

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

What does Paul mean by this?

Most people think that Paul is referring to the embryonic stages of Gnosticism.

And you are like, Gnosti-what?

Gnosticism comes from the greek word γνώσεως, which means knowledge.

Gnosticism philosophy came to full bloom in the second century, but Paul is dealing with the beginning stages in Ephesus.

Gnosticism is an ancient belief system that teaches that salvation comes through secret knowledge ("gnosis") of spiritual truths. It often views the material world as inherently evil, created by a lesser deity, while true divinity and goodness are found in the spiritual realm. Gnosticism generally emphasizes the soul’s need to escape the physical world to reunite with a higher spiritual reality.

In Gnosticism, it was believed that salvation required special, hidden knowledge ("gnosis") that only certain enlightened individuals or teachers possessed. Followers had to seek out these spiritual leaders or "gnostic teachers" to gain access to this secret knowledge.

Think of the implications here.

Truth was left up to the enlightened individual.

Which means truth was malleable, flexible, and up to the individual.

This is a dangerous road.

The truth of God is fixed in His Book. Sure there are some interpretive challenges along the way, but when a proper process of interpretation is consistently used, a consistent interpretation will inevitably result.

What do I mean?

The author of a letter has the right of determining the meaning of the letter. The authors intention is the authority over the letter.

God is the author of the Bible (66 letters) and He has the right to determine its meaning. We do not. We discover His meaning, we do not create the meaning.

This is so important for you to understand because there is power in a proper understanding of the Bible.

I cannot go to the Bible, read a passage and say, “What does this verse mean to me.” It doesn’t matter what it means to you until you understand what it means.

For example -

3 John 2 (ESV)

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Misinterpretation: This is sometimes cited as a promise of health and wealth for Christians.

Context: This is a greeting from John to Gaius, expressing a personal wish for his well-being, not a universal guarantee for all believers. It is a kind-hearted prayer, not a doctrinal promise.

This is why Paul warns Timothy to…

1 Timothy 6:20 (ESV)

…Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

So the charge so far is to guard the truth of the gospel and avoid foolishness.

What are some of the things pastors focus on rather than the truth?

Entertainment-Driven Worship: Prioritizing performance, elaborate productions, or concert-like services over heartfelt worship can overshadow the gospel message.

Therapeutic Focus Instead of Repentance: Emphasizing emotional comfort and self-care while avoiding topics like sin and repentance can water down the call to transformation.

Hyper-Focus on Church Growth Metrics: When attendance numbers and expansion become primary goals, it can divert attention from nurturing genuine discipleship and spiritual maturity.

Legalism and Rule-Making: Adding extra-biblical rules and traditions as markers of faithfulness can shift focus from grace to a works-based mindset.

Self-Promotion and Brand-Building: Focusing on personal branding, social media following, or a celebrity pastor image risks turning ministry into self-promotion rather than pointing to Christ.

Do you see the result of this kind of focus?

1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV)

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

The pastor’s job, the elder’s job, your job is to bring people to the faith not cause them to deviate from it!

It is profoundly easy to get focused on the wrong stuff.

We might be focused even on good stuff, but our main focus has to be God’s stuff! God’s truth! God’s way!

Because if we are not focused on His truth and avoiding error, we will lead people away from the faith.

Isn’t it interesting that as Paul has focused on what it means to be a mature church, his last focus is protecting and promoting God’s truth!

Think of a dietitian whose role is to help people eat healthily. If they start recommending junk food and fad diets simply because they’re popular or taste good, their clients’ health would suffer. A dietitian must guide others toward nutritious food, not empty calories.

Point: Just as a dietitian avoids “junk” to prioritize what’s healthy, pastors must avoid “empty” teachings that sound appealing but lack spiritual nourishment. When we focus on God’s truth, we give people what truly feeds their souls.

God’s Word must be the lens by which you view all of life.

If you hear something on a podcast - does it square with scripture? Check!

If you read something in a book - does it square with Scripture? Check!

Movies, conversations, whatever! - Where does scripture fit in this?

My wife used to do this with our kids when they watched movies.

She would stop the movie and ask, How does that action or attitude fit with what God says. Brilliant!

We must do this all the time! The Scriptures must be the lens by which we view life. If we do this, it will protect us from swerving from the faith.

Review - A Mature Church Advances the Truth

Guard the Truth

Avoid the Irreverent

3. Grace, Always Grace! (vs. 21b)

1 Timothy 6:21 (ESV)

Grace be with you.

Paul ends his letter the way he started it. With grace.

1 Timothy 1:1–2 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Grace is such an important element when dealing with the truth of the Word of God.

What is grace?

"In biblical terms, grace is understood as the undeserved favor and kindness of God toward humanity. It is the unmerited and generous gift of God's love, culminating in salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Grace is not something we can earn or achieve; it is freely given by God as an act of His goodness and mercy."

(Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001.)

And Paul wishes for God’s grace to be a central part of Timothy’s pastoral ministry.

Think of it this way. Grace and truth are to be in perfect harmony within gospel ministry.

All truth and no grace is harsh and unforgiving.

All grace and no truth can be enabling and not helpful.

But grace and truth perfectly represent the heart of God in His desire to rescue sinners and still satisfy His just and holy nature.

How does this work?

Explain the gospel…

And it is at the cross of Christ where Justice and Grace meet as God satisfies His wrath on the only innocent person to ever walk this earth so you would not have to endure His wrath in Hell for eternity.

Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!

The Symphony of Grace and Truth

Imagine an orchestra where each musician is playing a different melody with no conductor to unify the sound. It would be chaotic and disjointed. But with a conductor leading in harmony, each musician follows the score perfectly, blending into a beautiful piece of music.

Point: Grace and truth are like the musicians in a symphony. If either element is missing, the harmony of ministry falls apart. Grace without truth or truth without grace sounds discordant. Just as Timothy’s ministry needed both, so do we, as our lives should be a symphony where grace and truth blend to reflect God’s heart.

Ladies and gentlemen, we must be people of the truth.

We can not waver - lives depend on us telling the truth of the gospel.

But we must equally be people of grace. The message of the gospel can be harsh.

As we deliver this message we must have a compassionate heart and a windsome spirit.

The gospel that comes from a gracious heart is far more likely to be embraced than from an angry spirit.

Review - A Mature Church Advances the Truth

Guard the Truth

Avoid the Irreverent

Grace, Always Grace!

Conclusion

What is truth? This is a question Pontius Pilate asked some 2000 years ago, and is still being asked today by billions around the world.

God, by His grace has given us the answer in the person of Christ.

You and I have the amazing privilege to share the truth about Jesus to those in our lives - this is why we are here.

“The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” - C.S. Lewis