1 Timothy 3:14-16 says,...
Today's verses are 1 Timothy 3:14-16, which reads,
v.14, 15 - 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.
Paul is finishing up a section of this letter to Timothy about the structure of the church in Ephesus. He will go from instruction to warning in the next section. Paul longs to see Timothy and the church personally but in his stead is this letter of how to conduct oneself in the household of God, the church, the local church body.
The church is called the household of God, the church of the living God, and the pillar and support of the truth. The church is the family of God; the church's identity is linked to the living God who is active and not passive; and the church's purpose is given as the necessary structures of the society to hold onto the truth given to us by God. We as a church exist to be a family to those who are members of it giving care and support; we as a church exist to identify the one true living God; and we as a church exist to uphold truth of God in the society that we live in. This could make a great vision statement of any Christian church. We are the household of the living God of truth.
v.16 - 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.
Paul gives us a very early creed like the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed that the early Christians would have recited together. Creeds were created to keep proper doctrinal truth alive and on point. The mystery of the gospel is kept from straying to being another gospel by holding to these phrases.
We are given in this creed the work of Jesus in a metered form to recite as Christians when we gather together to uphold the truth about Jesus. Each phrase is important to uphold the true Gospel message. He came; He came as righteous; He rose; His risen state was witnessed by angels and humans; His resurrection is proclaimed and to be proclaimed and believed around the world; and He ascended into glory to return again. This may be a great verse to recite in our gatherings as the family of the living God of truth. Let's pray.
"Lord, thank You for the family of God and that it is family of care and fellowship. Thank You that the family of God is worshiping and serving a living and active You. You are not passive in our lives but interacting with us through Your Word and Your people caring for one another in response to Your Word. Thank You that the family of the living God has been given the truth to hold unto and stand firm upon in no matter what type of culture we live in, hostile or friendly. We have a purpose to exist until we ascend to be with You in heaven someday. May we be that pillar and support of the truth here at Union. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.14, 15 - 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.
Paul is finishing up a section of this letter to Timothy about the structure of the church in Ephesus. He will go from instruction to warning in the next section. Paul longs to see Timothy and the church personally but in his stead is this letter of how to conduct oneself in the household of God, the church, the local church body.
The church is called the household of God, the church of the living God, and the pillar and support of the truth. The church is the family of God; the church's identity is linked to the living God who is active and not passive; and the church's purpose is given as the necessary structures of the society to hold onto the truth given to us by God. We as a church exist to be a family to those who are members of it giving care and support; we as a church exist to identify the one true living God; and we as a church exist to uphold truth of God in the society that we live in. This could make a great vision statement of any Christian church. We are the household of the living God of truth.
v.16 - 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.
Paul gives us a very early creed like the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed that the early Christians would have recited together. Creeds were created to keep proper doctrinal truth alive and on point. The mystery of the gospel is kept from straying to being another gospel by holding to these phrases.
- He who was revealed in the flesh,... - Emmanuel, meaning God with us, came in the flesh as a baby in the manger.
- ...was vindicated in the Spirit,... - He was righteous, sinless, and validated to all at His baptism when the Spirit, like a dove, descended from heaven and God spoke of His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased.
- ...seen by angels,... - Jesus would be seen by good angels, Luke 24:4-7, reporting of His resurrection at the tomb to the women gathered there and by fallen angels, demons, 1 Peter 3:18-20, as He descended after His resurrection to proclaim victory over death.
- ...proclaimed among the nations,... - Jesus was seen also by Jews and Gentiles, not just heavenly bodies as angels but also earthly bodies after the resurrection to identify Him as risen from the grave.
- ...believed on in the world,... - This witness of the risen Lord would be proclaimed with a belief that would endure persecution to the death and not denounce the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus gave the Great Commission to the church to fulfill to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit as so on found in Matthew 28:19 and 20.
- ...taken up in glory. - Jesus then ascended into heaven to sit in glory at the right hand of God until He returns again.
We are given in this creed the work of Jesus in a metered form to recite as Christians when we gather together to uphold the truth about Jesus. Each phrase is important to uphold the true Gospel message. He came; He came as righteous; He rose; His risen state was witnessed by angels and humans; His resurrection is proclaimed and to be proclaimed and believed around the world; and He ascended into glory to return again. This may be a great verse to recite in our gatherings as the family of the living God of truth. Let's pray.
"Lord, thank You for the family of God and that it is family of care and fellowship. Thank You that the family of God is worshiping and serving a living and active You. You are not passive in our lives but interacting with us through Your Word and Your people caring for one another in response to Your Word. Thank You that the family of the living God has been given the truth to hold unto and stand firm upon in no matter what type of culture we live in, hostile or friendly. We have a purpose to exist until we ascend to be with You in heaven someday. May we be that pillar and support of the truth here at Union. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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