The Christ & His Church!
1 Timothy 3:14-16, Matthew 16:13-20, Ephesians 2:19-22 - Part 1
Introduction
Everyone has an ‘opinion’ about what the pastor should preach and what the church should do and how it should be done. YHWH has His opinion about those things too. And it is His opinion that matters. We are studying His ‘opinions’ in 1 Timothy. Let’s get to it!
Purpose of the Letter (Vv. 14-15a)
Paul was unsure he’d get to Ephesus again, but he wanted to be sure that everyone knew ‘how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God…”
“House of God” is clearly a figure of speech for the Local Church &/or the Universal Church
The “Church” – is extremely important to Jesus, The Christ. She is His ‘bride”!
2. Pillar of the Truth (V. 15b)
The “one” thing Paul (& the Holy Spirit) say to describe the role and function of the CHURCH!
3. Profound Mystery of Godliness (Summation of Christology) (V. 16)
Timeless Truth
“…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.” (1 Timothy 3:15) “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). These two verses together form a solid and powerful case for calling every pastor and every local church to CLEARLY understand and establish the church’s purpose and its reason for existing.
Living Lesson
Every pastor, every church leader, every member of the congregation of every local church ought to embrace the truth that YHWH expects every Local Church to teach the TRUTH of the Word of YHWH and hold fast to that truth. Churches can do many different kinds of ministries, but if being the “pillar and ground of truth” is not the CENTRAL FOCUS, the church is not properly focused.