PILLAR & GROUND – 1 Timothy 3:14-16
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on May 5, 2013 under 2013 |
Preached Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 1 Timothy 3:14-16
Theme: The local church is to play the vital role of preserving the truth in an unbelieving world.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
That’s a lot to try to convince you of this morning. But I’m confident that God’s word is sufficient for the task. And so, I ask that you turn with me to 1 Timothy 3:14-16. It’s there that we read these words from the apostle Paul to his dear co-laborer Pastor Timothy:
These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And 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 (1 Timothy 3:14-16).
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I was attracted to this morning’s passage because it deals with the subject of truth—ultimate and absolute truth. I had read it, one morning not long ago, just after having turned on the television to watch the morning news. And I felt that this particular passage made a bold affirmation about something that—it seems to me at the time—the world around us is in increasing denial of; and that is that there is such a thing as absolute, unchanging ‘truth’; and that this truth can be known, articulated, and conformed to.
By the way; have you ever tried to come up with a definition of ‘truth’? Most people resort to saying that truth is ‘that which is true’. But that’s cheating—and it doesn’t really help much either. Let me share with you a definition that has proven to be very helpful to me. Truth is best defined as ‘conformity to that which ultimate’—the ‘ultimate’, of course, being God Himself. Something is ‘true’, then, to the degree that it conforms to what really is in an ultimate sense—and ‘what really is’—above all else—is God our Creator.
Do you remember that amazing conversation that the Lord Jesus had with Pontius Pilate? As Jesus stood before Him, Pilate asked Him if He was a king—just as people were saying that He was. Jesus said that He indeed was a king; and then He said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). And do you remember Pilate’s cynical response? “What is truth?” (v. 38). I think that when Pilate asked this, he spoke like a thorough-going post-modernist. His attitude was like the attitude of many people in our unbelieving age today—”Who’s to say what ‘truth’ is? What is ‘truth’ anyway? No one can know. Ultimately, there is no absolute. There is no standard. One claim of truth is just as valid as another; because, in the final analysis, nothing is really ‘true’ in any ultimate sense anyway.” Remove God from the equation, and there is no absolute. Nothing can be said to be ultimately ‘true’.
And yet; what an ironic question it was that Pilate asked; because there, standing before him, was the answer to his question—’truth’ in human flesh! The Bible tells us this about Jesus: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). It says, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (v. 18). As ‘the brightness’ of God’s glory and ‘the express image’ of His person (Hebrews 1:3), Jesus was once able to declare, “I am the way, the truth, and the life . . .” (John 14:6). He once prayed to the Father about His followers and said, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17)—and He Himself is the main subject matter of that word. Peter declared the gospel of Jesus to his fellow believers and said, “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand” (1 Peter 1:12). The apostle John wrote, “and we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 5:20).
When Pilate asked, “What is truth?”, the answer was standing right in front of him in bodily form! And the world desperately needs to hear of this truth and be confronted by it! The people of the world all around us are in denial of the very existence of ‘truth’; and is living increasingly with the terrible consequences of that denial. If you think carefully about the major cultural and ethical battle that are being waged in our world today, you’ll soon realize that every one of them stems from a denial of the God of the Bible as the source of ultimate truth; and a denial that He has sent His Son into this world to show us the way of truth.
And as I thought about this passage and reflected on all this, I thought about the role that the church plays in this fallen and unbelieving world. One of the reasons that God has left us on this earth is so that—in spite of the denial of truth that prevails in this present age—we, as the church, ensure that the truth is preserved; and that the people of this world constantly have a testimony of that truth declared to them.
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Look at how the apostle Paul begins. He wrote to his co-laborer in the gospel, Pastor Timothy, and told him; “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly . . .” (v. 14).
What are the things that he wrote about? If you go back to the beginning of this letter, you can see. He began in the first few verses of the first chapter by saying,
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk . . . (1 Timothy 1:3-6).
In other words, He wanted Timothy to stay in the city of Ephesus and put a stop to all the false teaching and spiritual fables that were being spread there. Those things were causing some people to turn away from the truth. This was a very serious matter; because, as he goes on later to say,
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck . . . (vv. 18-19).
He goes on in the second chapter to instruct Timothy to get the people in the church to work together in prayer. He wanted Timothy to make sure that there was proper order in the church—that the men behave as they should and the women behave as they should—that there be a sense of propriety in the worship of the church when it gathers together. He also went on to instruct that godly leadership be established in the church. In the first seven verses of chapter three, he gives instructions concerning the kind of men that should be entrusted with the pastoral care and spiritual oversight of the church. And in verses 8-13, he goes on to describe the kind of men and women who should be placed in positions of practical ministry.
Paul wrote all these things to Timothy with the intention that he himself would soon come and help minister to the church. But he wrote them down for Timothy because he didn’t want anything to be missed in the event that he might not be able to come right away. The role of the church was too important for things to be allowed to get out of control and undisciplined. Paul told Timothy; “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God” (v. 15a).
And this leads us to the first thing I’d like to draw your attention to from this morning’s passage; and that is . . .
1. WHY THE LOCAL CHURCH IS THE BEARER OF THE TRUTH.
Look at what Paul said it is—”the house of God, which is the church of the living God”.
First, notice that he called it “the house of God”. And when he said this, he didn’t mean ‘the church building’. Churches didn’t meet in special ‘church buildings’ in those days. Rather, Paul was speaking figuratively to show that God indwells His redeemed people. They together are God’s dwelling place on earth—His “house”. The apostle Paul had put it this way in his letter to the Ephesians;
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22).
And dear brothers and sisters; I hope you understand that that’s what we are! We’re not merely a quaint little building out in the country. When someone pulls up the driveway, they might think that that’s all that they’re coming to. But this building isn’t the “church”. That’s just the place in which the church meets. Wherever we meet together, whether here or somewhere else—and for that matter, wherever any gathering of God’s genuinely redeemed people meet—we are the ‘house of God’! We are the dwelling place on earth of Him who is absolute truth! We are His household! We aren’t our own house; we are His house—right in the midst of this fallen world!
And notice that Paul also goes on to call us “the church of the living God”. The word “church” here simply means “a called-out assembly”; “a sacred congregation”. But it’s not just any old ‘assembly’. We don’t just gathered together to commemorate a religious leader who is dead and no longer relevant. We aren’t some ‘congregation’ that meets to perform pointless ceremonies in the vain worship of a distant god who can’t hear and isn’t involved. I like what it says in Hebrews 12:22-24;
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; we are the church of the living God! He isn’t far away and distant, and dead to our prayers. He is alive, and active, and awesome in His holiness and majesty, and powerful in His mighty works! And because He is alive and relevant, we—as His church—are as alive and as relevant as He Himself is!
And when it comes to a declaration of the truth in this world, I hope you can see why it was so important to the apostle Paul that the church be properly protected, and properly taught, and properly lead. The God who is the source of all truth, and His Son who is truth incarnate, and His word which is the propositional declaration of that truth, all make their home on earth here—in us!
What a precious thing the church on earth is! Don’t let anyone bad-mouth it! Don’t let anyone get away with saying that the day of ‘the local church’ has come and gone; and that it’s not needed any more—like many are trying to say today! The local church is the God-appointed bearer of truth in this dark and fallen world—and will be until the day Jesus returns!
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Next, consider with me . . .
2. WHAT ROLE THE CHURCH FULFILLS ON EARTH
IN RELATION TO THE TRUTH.
Paul calls the church, “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Those are both metaphors from the world of architecture. But it’s quite a mix of metaphors, when you think of it! The church is being described as both the pillar and the foundation of the truth at the same time.
Now; it’s important to understand that the church is not being described here as the source of truth. We don’t ‘invent’ the truth and then try to force it on people. Sometimes Christians are accused of believing that they alone have the truth. And of course, we don’t believe that we alone have it. But we do affirm that the truth exists; and that it can be known; and that it’s available to whoever wishes to believe it and humble themselves to it; and that God has given the church the role of being the “pillar” of it, and the “ground” or “mainstay” of it on this earth.
Think for a moment of what a ‘pillar’ is. I’m no architect; but I understand that a pillar is a long, relatively-strong and stable thing that holds something else up high. And that’s what we are in this world in relation to the truth. We hold it up high—so that all can see it. We handle it in such a way as to protect and preserve God’s written record of it—so that it stays pure and reliable. We also contend for it when it is being attacked by those who wish to deny it, or who seek to change it, or who attempt to silence it altogether. And most of all, we proclaim it faithfully to the world through preaching and teaching and missions in the power of the Holy Spirit.
But we’re not just to hold it up high for display. We’re also to keep it down on ground level in practical action. We’re not only called by God to be the “pillar” of the truth, but also the “ground” or “foundation” or “solid footing” of it. We’re to so live as to intentionally keep the truth established on earth in the daily, practical areas of life—so that it isn’t just kept in the realm of theory where it can be easily ignored. We’re not just to lift the truth up, but also live it out!
The world needs for us to faithfully fulfill both of our God-given roles in relation to the truth—to be both the pillar and ground of it on earth. The Lord Jesus hinted at both of these roles when He told us;
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16).
The apostle Paul similarly hinted at both of these vital roles when He told the Philippian believers;
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain (Philippians 2:12-16).
There is nothing else like the church on earth, dear brothers and sisters. It is both the pillar and the ground of truth! May God help us to play our vital role in this world faithfully!
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And finally, notice . . .
3. WHAT MESSAGE THE CHURCH PRESERVES IN THE WORLD
AS ‘THE TRUTH’.
Paul goes on to say in verse 16,
And 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.
Did you know that many Bible scholars consider this to have been an early church hymn? No one is absolutely sure whether it was a church hymn that Paul used in his writing, or that it became a church hymn after Paul wrote these words. But they are wonderful words; because they expresses the message of truth for which we are to serve as pillar and ground in this world.
Paul begins by declaring our message a “mystery”—that is, something that would not be known by human understanding unless it had first been revealed by God. And it’s a mystery “of godliness”—that is, a mystery that when rightly understood and believed, would lead a man or woman to a genuine state of holiness and reverence and rightness toward God. It’s what Paul called “the mystery of faith” in verse 9.
And it’s a confessedly and incontestably “great” mystery, because it is about a wonderful Person. Some of our Bible’s begin this great hymn by saying that it’s about God. Other translations have it simply beginning with the word “He”. But either way, it’s clear that it is a message about our Lord Jesus Christ—He who is Himself “truth” from God in human flesh—He who is the very truth that we proclaim.
We’re told that this great “mystery” that has been entrusted to us to preserve in this world is about Him who “was manifested in the flesh”. This, of course speaks of our Lord’s incarnation. He eternally existed as God the Son; but as John writes in John 1:14; “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . .” Just think of the glorious truth that we preserve in this world! God—the ultimate standard of what is true—is not far away, and distant, and unknowable! He came into this world as one of us and walked among us in human flesh!
Then, we’re told that He was “Justified in the Spirit”. To be “justified” ordinarily means to be declared righteous. But Jesus didn’t need to be justified. He already was righteous. But He did need to be “vindicated” as righteous in the sight of the world in which He walked. And He was vindicated—that is, “justified”—by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit “justified” Him at His conception; because it was by the Holy Spirit that He was conceived in the womb of the virgin. And the Holy Spirit “justified” Him at His baptism—coming down upon Him in the form of a dove. But most of all, the Spirit “justified” Him by raising Him from the dead. As Paul wrote in Romans 1:4, He was “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul goes on to say that Jesus was “Seen by angels.” Now; I need to tell you that most Bible scholars believe that this refers to the angels of heaven. And indeed, Jesus was beheld by the angles. But I don’t believe that’s what Paul means. The Greek word from which we get the word “angel” also means “messenger”; and this can refer to messengers who were human. I believe that what Paul is talking about here is that our Lord Jesus was “seen” by His apostles who then went out into the world as His messengers and testified of Him. As the apostle John wrote;
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1-3).
Fourth, we’re told that He was “Preached among the Gentiles”; or, as some translations have it, “among the nations”. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to the Jewish people; but “His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). And so, the message about Him was taken beyond the realm of the Jewish people and out into the Gentile world. As Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .” (Matthew 28:19).
They did as Jesus commanded. The apostle Paul himself was a great instrument of this. And so, he goes on to say that Jesus was “Believed on in the world”. The message of the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done for us has gone forth and transformed the lives of all who have believed on Him over the past two-thousand years! Everywhere we go, we’re to take this truth with us. We’re to be the pillar and the ground of it wherever God places us, and tell people what Paul said in Acts 16:31; “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved . . .”
And finally, a part of the truth that we’re to preserve in this world is that this same Jesus is “Received up in glory”. He ascended back again to the Father a few days after His resurrection. This testifies to the fact that His work of atonement for our salvation is completed. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, He “when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3b). And I would suggest to you that, implied in the fact that He is received up in glory is the additional promise that He will one day return to this earth in power and great glory. When He ascended to the Father—as the disciples stood watching—they were told, ““Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
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And can you see from all this that the “truth” for which we serve as pillar and ground in this world—the saving truth that is the “mystery of godliness”—is nothing other than the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ itself? That gospel is what is to be declared as “the truth”! And it has been entrusted by God to no one else to declare to this world but us—His house—the church of the living God.
Dear brothers and sisters; don’t listen to those who tell you that there is no such thing as “truth”. And don’t be afraid of them when they tell you to be silent when you declare the truth that God has entrusted to us. There is no other “mystery of godliness” than the truth of the gospel; and there is no other “pillar and ground” of that truth but the church! And don’t ever come here again thinking that you’re just coming to some quaint little church building! From the eternal standpoint, you’re coming to the most relevant institution on planet earth!
May God help us to do the great work He has given us to preserve the truth in an unbelieving world!
