Pictures of the Church (1 Timothy 3:14-16)
Big Idea: The church is God's family, possession, and a pillar of truth, which means we must maintain good conduct, defend biblical teachings, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tonight we come to the very heart of this letter. As we look at these verses, we're dead center in this epistle. The first three chapters have provided Timothy with valuable guidance. The final three chapters issue stark warnings. And here we have the very purpose of the letter – the reason for Paul's concern. He is writing to instruct on how believers are to act within the church.
You've probably heard of Vince Lombardi, the Hall of Fame coach of the Green Bay Packers football team. He focused on mastering the fundamentals. Once, after a very bad game, he stood in the locker room, held up a football, and said, "Gentlemen, this is a football." We need to be reminded of the fundamentals. We need to be reminded why we're here. And this passage tells us.
"These instructions" can be taken in two ways. He could be referring to the things he's just written about church leadership. Or he could be referring to the entire epistle. It seems likely that here Paul is speaking of the entire purpose of his letter. He's giving his reason for writing. Paul wrote this letter to support Timothy in leading the church since he couldn't arrive as planned.
This passage not only gives the reason for the letter, but it also gives the theological basis for it. Its basic message is that order is necessary for the church, precisely because of what the church is. God's church is his chosen instrument to proclaim the saving truth about Jesus Christ.
Now, this is what gets me. The church in Ephesus was far from being in perfect condition. Timothy, the leader in that church, didn't always have the chutzpah necessary to confront those who needed confronting. There were false teachers within the church. It was far from the place it should have been. And yet it still was the church.
So here Paul presents three pictures of the church. Let's explore these pictures to understand why Paul cares about the church. You see, if you have a low opinion of the church, you won't care how people conduct themselves. You won't care about its leaders or its worship. If you hold the church in high regard, as Paul suggests, you will be concerned about its conduct and organization.
The Church Is God's Family
"I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God..." (1 Timothy 3:14-15).
Some, including the King James Bible, translate "God's household" as a house or building. That is possible, especially in light of what Paul is about to say about the church being a pillar. But I don't think that's what he's talking about. I think Paul is getting at the fact that the church is God's family. Each congregation is a part of the church of the living God. We are members of God's household, and must conduct ourselves accordingly.
That's who we are. The Bible doesn't say we're like a family; the Bible says that we are a family. In fact, your spiritual family is going to outlast your physical family. Now, the Bible says that you are a member of God's family. It's not optional. Every Christian needs to be part of a church family.
A Christian without a church family is like someone wanting to play NFL football but not join a team, or wanting to be in the army without serving in a platoon, or wanting to be a bee without being part of a hive, or wanting to play an instrument but not being in an orchestra. The fact is, we need each other to be strong in our Christian faith.
When you are saved, you join the universal church, which includes all believers throughout history. Just like when you were born, you were born into the human race. But when you were born, you were born into a family. And when you were born again, you were born into a church family. There are over thirty commands in Scripture that you can't obey unless you're part of a church community.
This obviously means a lot of things. It means that diversity is healthy, just as in your family there's a great deal of diversity. It means that we need to get together for more than just a sermon every Sunday. As a family we need community and support. It means that we support each other when needed. It means that we exercise discipline as necessary. It means that we aren't just an organization. We are a family.
The Church Is God's Possession
"....which is the church of the living God..." (1 Timothy 3:15).
The emphasis here is on the character. The church, by its very nature, belongs to the living God. Paul called the church in Ephesus "God's own possession, to the praise of his glory." Timothy was leading the Ephesian church – one that was located in a center of pagan worship. In a place where there were assemblies of dead idols, what a difference to be part of the church of the living God.
The Church Is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth
"...a pillar and buttress of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
The temple of the goddess Diana, also known as Artemis, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, located in Ephesus. It had one hundred and twenty-seven pillars around it, each a gift of a king. All of them were made of marble, and some were studded with jewels and overlaid with gold. The function of the pillars was not just decoration, but to hold up the immense roof.
Here, Paul says that the church is the pillar which supports or holds up God's truth. Every church, he is saying, is responsible to support and bolster up the teaching that has been delivered to us. Every church is to be a strong bulwark of the gospel against the assaults of false teachers. Doctrine isn't very popular these days, but it's what we're called to defend. It's the deposit that's been given to us for safeguarding.
John MacArthur writes, "Churches that tamper with, misrepresent, depreciate, relegate to secondary place, or abandon biblical truth destroy their only reason for existing and experience impotence and judgment." What is the truth we're called to safeguard? What should we major in? I heard of a pastor this week who is getting squeezed in his denomination over a relatively minor theological point. But what should be our focus?
In verse 16, we have an early hymn that contains the gospel in a nutshell. It's about Jesus Christ.
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.
How do we know it's a hymn? It has the style of a hymn – it's uniformity, rhythm, and parallelism. It contains six truths about Jesus Christ. By the way, Paul emphasizes the person and work of Christ a lot in Timothy. Why? Probably because it was a doctrine under great attack.
You'll notice in verse 16 that what is about to be said is "without question." In other words, it's the unanimous agreement of believers that these things are true. They are indisputable. It's called "the mystery of godliness." A mystery isn't something that is all mysterious and mystical. It really means something that was once hidden and has now been revealed. Jesus is the true revelation of godliness – and he has been revealed to us.
First, Jesus Christ appeared in the flesh. God became man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. You can go today to Bethlehem, and visit what is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Scholars remain uncertain about many locations in Israel, but ancient accounts suggest that this one is accurately identified. You can actually go to the very probable location where Jesus Christ was born. Many cults and world religions challenge the faith at this very point. But what a remarkable fact: the personhood of Christ; that he is the living, eternal God in human flesh.
Second, Jesus Christ was vindicated in the Spirit. What does this mean? It suggests that the Holy Spirit confirmed him as the sinless Son of God, affirming his true identity. How? By bringing him back to life. The ultimate vindication of Jesus took place when he was raised from the dead. Jesus may have been vindicated in his spiritual nature. That his spiritual nature vindicated him. Although he was fully man, he was sinless and perfect. Which view is right? Was it the Holy Spirit vindicating him, or his spiritual nature? We don't know, and in any case, both are right. Perhaps a double meaning was intended.
Third, Jesus was seen by angels. Throughout his ministry, angels ministered to him. They announced his birth. They ministered to him during his temptation; they strengthened him in Gethsemane. And they observed him during his death and resurrection. The angels rolled away the stone at the door of his tomb. And they announced his ascension. Angels were involved with his ministry from beginning to end. This statement could even have in mind the worship given to the ascended Christ in heaven.
Fourth, Jesus was preached among the nations. Jesus commissioned us to preach to the entire world. This is taking place. The gospel is being preached; this is our mandate.
Fifth, believed on in the world. At the first public preaching after the resurrection, three thousand people were saved. In the days that followed, thousands more believed. The gospel is spreading.
Sixth, was taken up in glory. This shows that God was satisfied with his work. This is the Gospel in a nutshell. God became man, died for our sins, overcame death, was honored by angels, feared by demons, and ascended to heaven. This message has been preached all over the world, and many have believed and been saved. This is why I regard the church—God's family, the living God’s church, the cornerstone and bedrock of truth—with such utmost seriousness.
