Guardians of the Gospel

Your Truth

We hear this a lot in our world today. Well, it’s my truth. Today you are going to be challenged by “THE TRUTH” to evaluate, “your truth”.

In the Church of God we believe that he is the Truth. Truth comes from him. It is an outworking of who he is. It is not an arbitrary idea, but an unchanging reality based in and born out of the very nature of God.

John 14:6 ESV

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

Today, we are going to look at the important roll that the church plays in guarding and proclaiming this very truth.

PRAY

READ

1 Timothy 3:14–16 (ESV)

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.

These Things

What are the things that Paul refers to?

Paul is pointing back to what he has taught Timothy and ultimately the church in chapters 2 and 3. What were those key teachings?

Pray for everyone especially authorities.

Live a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Men are to come to worship with a right spirit and not a spirit of conflict.

Women are to come to worship with a right spirit and not with a desire for recognition of their beauty or status.

Women are to be learners and active disciples.

Women are not to teach or have authority over a man in the gathering of the church.

Men and women are to step into and value their God given, God designed roles.

Godly, qualified men are to serve as overseers in the church, shepherding and teaching the flock of God.

Godly, tested men and women are to serve as Deacons in the church as an example to all.

This list of teachings is given to Timothy and the church from God, via Paul. These are to be upheld as standards for all churches, for all times, in all places. Why are these practices so important?

We are the Household of God

Our right attitudes toward worship shows that God is our first love and that we love our neighbors.

Men don’t quarrel because it destroys this love.

Women don’t act in a worldly manner because it destroys this love.

The Church must maintain Godly order in worship and function as a testimony to the world.

Our worship says that our hearts belong to God.

Our obedience to God given roles shows our submission to His will and belief that has way is best.

The Church should never forget that it represents the living God.

He is no dumb idol

He is not powerless but his power is limitless.

The Church must take seriously the disciplines of studying, training, teaching, and equipping in the truth of the Gospel.

Elder must teach

Deacons must serve

The body must submit to godly leadership and grow.

When all the world is changed by the waves of sin, the church remains anchored to the truth.

The mission of the church is to represent the clear and essential truths of the Gospel.

The Mystery of Godliness

1 Timothy 3:16 ESV

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.

What is the mystery of godliness?

1. The Incarnation

He was manifested in the flesh.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

What’s the mystery?

That Christ would choose to be one of us.

2. The Resurrection

The Vindication of the Spirit.

Romans 1:3–4 ESV

3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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,

What is the Mystery?

Christ lived sinless as a human.

3. Revelation in the Spiritual Realm

Seen by angels.

The angels at the tomb

The angels at the ascension

What is the Mystery?

That the heavenly realm was also shook by Jesus resurrection and angels bore witness of this truth.

4. Revelation to mankind

Proclaimed among the nations.

The Gospel had gone from the Jews to the Gentiles.

At the time of Paul’s writing this letter, much of the known world had not only heard the Gospel but had responded to it.

What is the Mystery?

That the Gospel which is rooted in the Messianic teaching of the Jewish faith would change the world.

5. Redemption of mankind

Believed on in the World.

What is the Mystery?

The fact that the life, death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus has changed lives. People of every race, creed, and tongue . . . every economic level, education level, and philosophical belief have turned to Jesus and proclaimed him to be their Lord and Savior.

6. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Taken up in glory.

Jesus has been glorified.

Jesus Reigns on high

Jesus has defeated sin and death.

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What is the Mystery?

We serve a living, loving, triumphant God, who entered into our world as one of us to save us from ourselves. We preach a message of victory and hope that the world desperately needs.

What should the church do?

You are not here by accident. Ask yourself these questions:

Because the church is only made up of those who have accepted the mystery of the Gospel, have I made the personal choice to believe it and to live it?

Because I am a child of God and a part of his church, I have been given spiritual gifts, where can I connect with my church in order to serve and use my gifts?

Because the mystery of the Gospel changes lives, who am I sharing it with?