Introduction Paul has addressed the issue of shepherds in the church (vv.1-13) and now our attention is drawn to the sheep in the church (vv.14-15) and the Savior in the church (v.16). Paul anticipates he might be delayed and desires to give Timothy the necessary instructions concerning conduct in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. How should we behave ourselves in the Church? How serious is this subject? Our attention is drawn to Paul s description of the Church (the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth); and Christ in that Church (the mystery of godliness). We are reminded that the Church is the possession of the living God and the dwelling place of the living God and has been established to display God s truth (v.15). The Church acknowledges that truth. There is no greater proof of the possession of God s truth than our possession of God s Son. Paul provides a summary of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus in six simple statements: Jesus appeared in a body (v.16a) Jesus was vindicated by the Spirit (v.16b) Jesus was seen by angels (v.16c) Jesus was announced to the nations (v.16d) Jesus was believed on in the world (v.16e) Jesus was taken into heaven (v.16f). Conduct In The Church (vv.14-15a) 1 Timothy 3:14 15a (NKJV);14These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself Paul is Macedonia writing to Timothy in Ephesus. Paul hoped to visit Ephesus soon but might have to remain in Macedonia a little longer. This is why Paul decided to spell out in greater detail how Christian believers were to behave towards one another. Was Paul delayed? Where Paul and Timothy ever reunited? We don t know whether Paul rejoined Timothy in Ephesus. In one sense the purpose of the Pastoral epistles is not simply to know the truth about Jesus but how we are to behave in our relationships in the Church. The expression conduct yourself (anastrephesthai) is a reference to walk or behavior or conduct towards others! A large portion of the New Testament describes our conduct toward God, toward believers and unbelievers. Remember the church was plagued by false teachers and false doctrine. Paul knows that a healthy church with healthy believers are going to require believing and living in the truth. 1
These things might be a reference to everything that Paul has written thus far and then continues to write for the remainder of the letter. Character Of The Church (v.15b) in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Paul uses the phrase the house of God (oikos) but this phrase in this context more probably means household (NIV) a reference to the family rather than the building. In that simple descriptor we discover that the Church of Jesus is like a family; our focus as a family is on the Lord Jesus Christ. Our focus is on the God of the Bible and on His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is a family of people who both believe and trust the Lord Jesus Christ. The church consists of born again believers those who have committed their lives to Christ and live their lives based on the promises of God given in the Bible. In the simplest terms possible we are a family; brothers and sisters committed to obeying our Heavenly Father. We love the Father, obey the Father and learn from our Father. In Matthew 12:50 Jesus said, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother (Matt.12:50). Paul gives some brief descriptors which are by no means exhaustive but provide plenty to think about. The church of the living God. A pillar and ground of the truth. The word church translates the word ekklesia or ecclesia which means an assembly; a company or a gathering. The church is a group of called out people called by the Living God. the Lord is not the product of people s imaginations or the conjured images of people who desperately want to believe there is a God. He is the living God who is vitally concerned about His people. And because He is alive He can speak to the human heart. Paul when he wrote to the Thessalonians (in Macedonia) For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (I Thess. 1:9-10). In the New Testament the term ekklesia is used in at least four different ways: 1. The term described a secular assembly the freemen of Ephesus gathered together for civil business (Acts 19:32, 39, 41). 2. Stephen uses the term and equates Israel in her wilderness wanderings as an assembly (church... Acts 7:38). 2
3. The local church that is a group of believers who gather in a specific place; organized under the leadership of elders, pastors, deacons, to teach, edify, exhort, worship, perpetuate the ordinances of baptism and the Lord s Supper and to propagate the gospel (see Romans 16:5). 4. A reference to the Church universal all believers born again by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to the return of the Lord Jesus for His own (see Ephesians 1:22-23). Jesus predicted He would build His church upon His redemptive death and glorious resurrection (Matt. 16:18-21). The Church is also called a building and a body but it includes the spiritual union of Christ with the Saints. When we are born again we are placed in the Body of Christ sinners saved by grace washed redeemed and then carefully assigned a position in the Church. The Church of the living God includes the local and universal church. The church is a family. The church is a family with a living Father. The church supports the truth. Paul uses the image of a pillar and a fortified embankment. The church props and supports the truth. You don t hide pillars. Whether short or large massive or mangable pillars speak of support but we are also drawn to them. Pillars attract attention. Since the Church is a pillar it is not simply to draw attention to itself but rather to the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. The church the family of God the company of the Saints proclaim the truth to the world. And what truth is that? The truth about Jesus! The truth of the incarnation the truth that God sent His Son into the World because God loves the world. The word translated ground is found only here in the Greek New Testament and is a construction term hedraioma it means support or bulwark. It was used to fortify and protect a building and so means to protect and defend the truth. The church does not invent truth. The church is not the source of truth but rather the protector and custodian of the truth. Some suggest that the Church is more important than the truth entrusted to it. But that can t be true. The truth remains the truth even if it is denied or left unprotected or undefended. The church was expected to believe and trust and act on the truth. In the Old Testament the Lord dwelt in the Tabernacle and in the Temple. He appeared to the Children of Israel as a pillar by day and column of fire by night in the Wilderness. Now the Lord is said to dwell among His people the Church. Christ In The Church (v.16) 3
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. This passage points to both the source of truth we believe and the source of power to live our lives in Jesus and for Jesus. What is the mystery of godliness? This is the only reference to this phrase in the Bible. Paul says that it is without controversy not something to argue or dispute or neglect or deny or ignore! It would appear that the mystery of godliness is something that all believers confess, believe, uphold, affirm! It is the truth that all believers in Christ Jesus affirm and uphold. This really happened. The mystery of godliness also seems to include the idea that in the heart of the gospel is the key to godliness in both our belief and behavior. The secret of being godly, of pleasing God by our lives, was hidden but is now revealed. To the godly, Christ is the mystery revealed (1 Corinthians 2:7-14; Colossians 1:27). This is a great mystery that is profoundly significant, overwhelmingly important. We can t please God on our own; we must depend upon Christ. As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life, and so he is a perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible, to live a godly life through following Christ (see Life Application Commentary; 1&2 Timothy & Titus p. 71). Paul provides six simple statements revealed to all mankind. We accept these as true. Some scholars believe that this may have been a hymn that was sung in the congregation or an early creedal confession. God was manifested in the flesh Jesus appeared in a body. The oldest manuscripts read; [he] who was manifest in the flesh. The Greek language reads; hos and this was later changed to Theos the King James reads; God was manifest in the flesh. Does this present a problem? Not really. The subject is Jesus. God becomes a human being. The very fact that God assumes another nature a human nature must mean that it is God who is manifest (made known). This is confirmed in John s gospel; And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The incarnation provides the basis where sinful human beings can be reconciled to God. Scholars and theologians call this the incarnation. Os Guinness writes; The fact is that the greatest mystery of all the incarnation comes at the very beginning and is the central reason why we believe in God. We cannot explain it: there is the beginning of the 4
mystery of faith. But because of the evidence neither can we explain it away: there is the beginning of the rationality of faith. One of the early church fathers Gregory of Nazianzus spells out the mystery: The Self-Existent comes into being, the Uncreate is created. That which cannot be contained is contained. The living God becomes a man; acquires a second nature a human nature. God becomes a human being. Jesus was a real human being with flesh and blood. In His humanity Jesus participates in all that it means to be human; trials, sufferings. The writer of Hebrews says that For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in all things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted (Heb.2:16-18). How important is the incarnation? How important is the virgin birth? How important is it to believe that God became a human being? According to the Bible Jesus took on a human nature to take away sins, to destroy him who had the power of death that is Satan. Again the writer of Hebrews says, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb.2:14-15). Justified in the Spirit What does it mean that Jesus was justified or vindicated in the Spirit? When the Lord Jesus walked on the earth He spoke the truth. He came to the earth to save everyone who would believe in Him. But the vast majority did not believe Him. He came to His own but His own received Him not. The majority of people did not receive Christ, did not believe Christ. Not only did they not receive Him, some where threatened by Him, and enemies decided to arrest Him, beat Him, kill Him. But He was the Son of God and the Spirit of God vindicated Him. How did the Spirit do that? The Spirit of God insured that Jesus would live a sinless holy life. The Spirit of God vindicated Jesus by giving Him the power to perform miracles and display the mighty works of God. The Spirit of God vindicated Jesus by raising Him from the dead. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4). In 1Peter 3:18; For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit. 5
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear (Acts 2:32-33 NRSV). The Holy Spirit vindicated (justified) Jesus by raising Him from the dead! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you! Seen by Angels The earthly ministry of Jesus was accompanied by spirit beings! Supernatural spirit beings sent by God created by God to carry out God s will. Angels are seen in preparation for Christ s birth and at His birth (see Luke 1:26). Angels were present at His temptation (Mark 1:12); His trials (Luke 22:43) and His resurrection (Matt.28:2) and His ascension into Heaven (Acts 1:10-11). Angels witnessed the earthly ministry of Jesus. The early church reflected on the fact that the whole drama unfolded before the angel s eyes! Preached Among The Gentiles The Lord Jesus was preached to the nations. So that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man s foundation, but as it is written: To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand (see Rom.15:19b-21). The word gentiles can also mean nations. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant (Colossians 1:23 NIV). Believed On In The World This is the reason Jesus comes into the world so that the world by believing may be saved. After the painful death of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead a small group of believers shared the Good News. The resurrected Jesus was seen by upwards of 500 witnesses! Belief about Jesus is not the same as believing on Jesus. Believing on Jesus means trusting Him. It means turning from sin repenting of sin and trusting Jesus for forgiveness of sin. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life (John 5:24). 6
Jesus continues to be both preached and believed in the world. Received Up In Glory This is a reference to the bodily ascension of Jesus into Heaven. This is a reference to what theologians call the exaltation of Jesus. Jesus is the Supreme Majesty in the Universe. This is the Jesus that Paul refers to when he says, every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:7-10). In Mark 16:19 we read So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Paul reflecting on that great truth wrote; He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things (Ephesians 4:10 NKJV). Jesus returned to the place where He came from. Jesus is seated at the right of the Father where He will remain until that moment established by God that Jesus will return to the earth and bring all of human history to a close and eventually usher in the eternal state. Conclusion There is an old hymn by Charles H. Marsh that was revived for a new generation; Living, He loved me; dying He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever: One day He s coming oh, glorious day! 7