The Pillar and Ground of Truth

Introduction

God is concerned about His church. The great purpose placed on us is why He desires us to be what He wants.

Eph 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Pet 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

God is concerned about His church, and the image she bears

So then, The tasks placed in the hands of the Evangelist that are based on God’s purpose.

The task of those who lead the church [elders, deacons, evangelist] is encased in vs. 15. This is what God wants the church to be.

God did not simply call us to bless us but to change us.

Rom 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

Gal 4:19 “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—”

Eph 4:24 “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Our exposure to God must impact who we are as His people

Text

PAUL - He is Macedonia* - He is not with Timothy at the moment

TIMOTHY - He is in the Ephesian church

1 Timothy 3:14–16 NASB95

I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

Exegesis

1 Tim 3:14 - Paul expresses a desire to come to Timothy: They were fellow labourers in Colossae, Philippa, Thessalonica, Corinth etc. In these books he is mentioned by name. Rom 16:21 “Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.”

1 Tim 3:15 - “in case I am delayed” - Paul says I wish to be here but if I cannot my presence is not needed for the you to hear this messgae.

“know” - οἶδα ref. to full knowledge (Vines)

In other words, this is not an option, or a suggestion, or an alternative, or a possible course of action. . .this is something I need you to know!

APPL. There are things God wants the church/christians to know (can’t afford to have ‘itching ears’)

“how one ought [highlights a necessity] to conduct himself”

CONDUCT - This does not mean church service etiquette, how to behave during worship. [Though this has it’s place]

As I live as a son of God, and part of His kingdom, this is conduct.

ἀναστρέφω means to turn the insides [this word is not external, it’s internal].

This is why I must “Hold on to God’s word”

APPL. The church is not in a competition with culture/other churches/mega-churches etc.

Jesus already established that it’s what comes out of a man that defiles him. . .his insides. Rom 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Eph 4:23 “and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,”

Col 3:1-3 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

“conduct” (passive voice) is determined by someone outside of you.

APPL. You don’t get to determine what is righteous and godly, only God through the faithful preaching of the word of God. So much of our minsitry involves the word, and it’s so for a reason. That’s becasue God is the one setting the standard, not us.

The description of the church

Conduct yourself in a particular way because of WHO WE ARE.

The household of God [within the framework of conducting oneself] - a dwelling place for a family. Every family has the following:

A name

A code of conduct

This also means that there must be connectivity. There is a false doctrine going around that I can serve Christ apart from His church.

The church is body and He loves it Eph 5:25. One can’t have Christ as my head and want nothing to do with His body.

The church is where one is stirred and encouraged Heb 10:22-24. One of the ways Christ strengthens me is through the encouragement of the church.

The church of the Living God [also within the framework of conducting oneself] - the people that belong to the living God.

We do not serve a dead God but living one [Like the idols the temple of Atremis]

The ‘I Am’ statements point to life and vitality

He came to bring life Jn 10:10 ““The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

What He gives is living (The word Heb 4:12; the hope 1 Pet 1:3-4; we living stones 1 Pet 2:4-5)

APPL. How I respond to something dead is different when I respond to something alive. [I serve one who cares, knows, sees, empathizes, understands, feels HE’S ALIVE]

The Living God is in the Living church and we must show signs of life [praise, growth, Holy Spirit, feeding on the word etc.]

When I worship/serve/walk it’s becasue there is a living God in this church

The “pillar and ground of truth”

A building can’t exist without pillars and a foundation. Neither can the church be hte church without the truth

God the Father/Son/Spirit = Truth. God embodies truth.

Jesus didn’t just bring truth, He is truth.

Truth has a character

It’s opposed to falsehood

It’s absolute (e.g. Gravitational pull)

It’s authoratative (it determines a particular course of action)

Verse 16 is the bridge. This tells us what the truth is.

What precedes this is instruction for men, women and leaders

What follows is a warning against false teaching and malignant behaviour

1 Tim 3:16 a summary of what the Christian relgion/system is a all about. And it is all wrapped up in Jesus Christ.

“the mystery” =truth that was hidden but now revealed 1 Tim 3:9 “but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.”

“the godliness” - the article points to something specific and that is the Christian faith. (the household and church of God)

Great is the mystery in contrast to Acts 19:28 “When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!””

1 Tim 3:16 “By common confession, great is the mystery of (the) godliness, It points to Jesus and it benefits us!!!

He who was revealed in the flesh, Jn 1:1;14;18

Was vindicated in the Spirit, Rom 1:4

Seen by angels, 1 Pet 3:11-13 Gave Daniel a word about the Messiah/announced His birth/ministered to Him in the wilderness/ and in Gethsemane/ present at the empty tomb/ said to the apostles “he is coming back”

Proclaimed among the nations, Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47

Believed on in the world, Acts 2:36-38; Acts 8:12

Taken up in glory.” Acts 1:10-11 and if the church remains the church Paul says Php 3:20-21  “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself”