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THE ESSENTIAL OF THE GOSPEL 1 TIMOTHY 3:14-16 Pastor Stephen Muncherian February 14, 2010 |
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Please turn with me to 1 Timothy
3 - starting at verse 14. We
are looking at The Essentials of the Church - what is
essential for us as a congregation if we’re to fulfill God’s mission
for us of living and sharing the Gospel in the world - beginning right
here in Merced. Together we have looked at
the essentials of love, faith, Godly men, Godly women, Godly leadership. This morning we’re coming to The Essential of The Gospel. Let’s
say that together, “The
essential of the Gospel.” In 1 Timothy Paul is writing to
Timothy who is the pastor of the church of Ephesus.
About 500 BC - Heraclitus - the great Greek philosopher -
who a native of Ephesus - where Timothy is pastoring - Heraclitus once
said, “The only constant is change.” Have you heard that? To get us focused this morning
on the essential of the Gospel and the relevance of all this for us -
I’d like to have us think about that word “change.”
To do that we’ve got a short quiz to see how observant you
all are. These are pictures that have a
slight change. The question is, “What has
been changed?” See how many of these you can
get. What’s changed here? Right. President
Kennedy was assassinated so he probably wasn’t at the swearing in of
President Johnson. How about this?
Right. As far as we know Mick
Jagger was never a Beetle. This one should be easier? Right. No Snakes
at In-N-Out. Unless its one of those off
the menu items. Next. Right. The Canadian Flag. As far as we know we're still part of the United States. This is
pretty easy. Right? Its
a watch for left handed people. Change. Remember
this? We want change.
Transformers. Change
into a truck. What word are we thinking about? Change. A while back I read this
statement about change: “When you
understand that you can change the world, your life will never be the
same again.” Let’s try that together: “When you
understand that you can change the world, your life will never be the
same again.” Keep that statement in mind as
we go through what Paul writes here. 1 Timothy
3 - starting at
verse 14: 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. Let’s pause and understand the
significance of what Paul is saying. Paul is in Macedonia. Timothy is in Ephesus. As
much as Paul would like to go to Ephesus - it may be a while until he
gets there. He wants to go there. He
has deep feelings for the believers there. These
are people that he’s spent a lot of life and ministry with. But, he’s been hung up in Macedonia. So, Paul writes this letter to
Timothy. “I may not
make it to Ephesus. But, in the mean
time it’s essential that you know how you’re to be conducting
yourselves in the church. You need to
understand how essential it is - how crucial it is - that you live out
what it means to be the church there in Ephesus.” In verses 14 and 15 Paul focuses Who We Are. Let’s say that together, “Who we are.” Who we are as God’s church - God’s congregation. Three truths:
First, We
are the household of God. Let’s try that together, “We are the
household of God.” In Hebrews 3 - it says that
Moses served in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Have you ever thought about how
impressive that would have been? 2 million
plus people in a massive spread out camp - arranged by tribe. Imagine
the area that would have covered - the logistics involved - the
organization necessary. In the center of this huge mass of God’s
people - in the center is the Tabernacle - an enclosure with its altar for blood
sacrifice and the Holy of Holies with its veil and mystique. An ornate - holy - complex for worship and
intercession between God and His people. A
cloud showing the presence of God by day and a fire at night. As this huge mass of people
would look towards the center of their camp there was to be a realization of awe and respect. God dwells there in that place. The
presence of the Holy Almighty God - Yahweh - Elohim - God is there - in
that Tabernacle. God’s tent.
In a sense - God’s house. In Hebrews 3 - verse 6 - it says that while Moses
served in the Tabernacle - in Jesus, “we are His
house.” (Hebrews 3:1-6) We are the household God. That’s
incredible. Isn’t it?
God
dwells with us. We dwell with God. That’s not about location.
Its about relationship. There’s
an astounding intimacy in that truth. Paul wrote about that truth to
the Ephesians - in Ephesians 1:4 - Paul writes: Just as He - God - chose us in
Him - Jesus - before the
foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons
through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His
will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed
on us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:4-6)
Before the foundation of the
world - God chose you. That’s a mind
stretcher isn’t it? Before anything in this universe
was a universe God chose you to be His - to send Jesus to the cross for
you - for you to have a relationship with Him - even - as Paul writes -
that we should be holy and blameless before Him. We’re not second class citizens
in God’s creation. We’re not accidental
members of Jesus’ church. We didn’t just
happen to be here this morning. We have
the privilege of being chosen by the sovereign God of creation to be
His - to be one in Christ - all of us together - to live out God’s
great purposes for each one of us. Hang on to that. And it gets better.
In Ephesians Paul writes that God - our Heavenly Father -
because He loves us - God has determined that we should be His children.
God adopts us.
Places us into the position of being His sons and
daughters. The Greek and
Roman understanding of “adoption” was much more that just
a legality - placing a child into a home. To
the people Paul is writing to “adoption” means that you are made to be
a son or daughter without any distinction from those who are natural
born sons or daughters. Our family
relationship with God is that close. Hang on to that. Because God - our Heavenly
Father - loves you - He has determined that you should be his child. Isn’t that incredible? The church isn’t an organization - or a building - or a religion - its a people - a
household - a family. God is our Father. We’re
siblings in Jesus. Made to be intimately
and integrally related to each other by our Father who dwells with us. Second: We
are the Church of the living God. Let’s say that together, “We are the Church of the
living God.” Solomon - was chosen by God to
build the great Temple - immense - impressive. On
the day that Temple was dedicated - Solomon stood before the altar of
the Lord - before all the people - the assembly of Israel.
Solomon spread out his hands towards heaven - and he said,
“O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in
heaven above or on earth beneath… Behold
heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this
house which I have built.” (1 Kings 8:22,23,27)
What can contain the living God? What
could ever limit Him? God is not some impersonal -
powerless - deity of our creation. We’re
not curators of a museum built in Christ’s honor. We’re
not guardians of a tradition or perpetuators of a philosophy. Paul said to the people in
Athens, “In Him we live and move and exist…” (Acts 17:28) Ever
sing the song “breathe”? “This is the
air I breathe. Your very presence living
in me.” Every human being has life
because God has graciously given it to us. God
is at the heart of life. He reigns over it. That’s the God that we serve. We’ve been touched by the living
God - indwelt by Him who is life. We live
because Jesus lives. We’re a Divine
fellowship whose birth and sustenance is the life of our Savior and
Lord. When we gather on Sundays -
we’re here to celebrate the presence of the living God in our lives. God Who permeates us and is transforming us -
healing us - restoring us - empowering and enlivening us.
God Who is using us in His world. We’re here to celebrate and
worship Him To lift up His name in praise. To glorify Him. To
testify of Who He is and what He is about doing in His world. We are the church of the living
God. Third: We
are the pillar and support of the truth. Let’s
try that together, “We are the pillar and
support of the truth.” Years before Paul wrote to Timothy a meteor had fallen
in the area near what became the city of Ephesus. The
meteor seemed to have the form of a woman so the people called the meteor
Diana. This
meteor that looked like a women became an object of worship. Then the
Ephesians built the Temple of Diana which looked something like this. The Temple of Diana was this immense structure
that is considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Its listed along with famous places like the
Great Pyramid of Giza and The Colossus of Rhodes. The Temple of Diana was immense. It was impressive - something to
see - a tourist destination. Pilgrims from
all over the world came to worship - to engage in sexual immorality
with the prostitutes there - male and female - to spend their money on souvenirs and idols to take
home. The temple was a repository for the greatest
works of art It was integral to the life blood of the city. The
priests of the temple controlled the wealth of the city.
Seven
times it had been destroyed by fire. Each
time it had been rebuilt - larger - more imposing than before. Holding up this massive complex were huge - prominent - ornate - stone
pillars. That image of the Temple of
Diana was probably an image that Paul had in mind as he wrote to
Timothy. An image that would have been very familiar to
the Ephesians. Paul contrasting what was supporting an immoral empty pagan religion and Ephesian culture -
contrasting all that with
the church. Paul writes that we are “the pillar” that upholds the
truth of the Gospel
in the world. Second - Paul writes that we are
the “support of the
truth.” That word
“support” in Greek is a word that means “a bulwark” - a solid wall
built for defense - to provide security. Think immovable permanence. Surrounding the city of Ephesus
was a wall - 10½
feet thick with six fortified gates. An
impenatrable fortress. An army coming
against that fortress
- that bulwark - would
have had to change direction - change
plans - lay seige - go around - admit defeat. The Gospel is not politically
correct. It’s offensive.
Some have tried to soften the Gospel to make it more
politically correct - less offensive - another of the world’s “faith
traditions.” But, the Gospel is not
something that adds to the world’s knowledge. It’s
not a part of the world’s continuing enlightenment.
It’s not the best of many religious paths.
Its not a supplement to other faiths. The Gospel is the truth. The truth that mankind is desperate to hear. The truth about who we are and who God is. It demands change - rejection or acceptance of
Jesus. We are the
church - the household of the living God - the pillar and support of
the truth. When the household of God - when the Church of the living God - boldly stands immovable
upholding the truth of the Gospel then the world must change. We are God’s instrument of
change in the world. Say that with me, “We are
God’s instrument of change in the world.” Who are we?
“We are God’s instrument of change in the world.” Verse 16 focuses on What We Confess. Let’s say that together, “What we
confess.” What is the truth that we pillar and bulwark? Verse 16 - Paul writes, By common
confession, great is the mystery of godliness. There are great mysteries in
life. Is there a purpose to life? Is this all there is? People
spends lifetimes and fortunes trying to come to grips with all that. In the Old Testament people wondered where God
was going in history. With all the
sacrifices and prophecies they knew God had something better coming. But it was mystery to them. In Scripture - a mystery is
something that only God knows and only God understands.
We can take all the theology classes - earn umpteen
degrees - philosophize and analyze and look crosswise - and yet we’ll
never figure out what God knows unless God reveals to us what He knows. As a believer in Jesus we know
that history is “His-story” - right? - Jesus’ story.
God at work using all of His creation to focus on Jesus. God is at work using all the events of history
- past - present - future - working all that together - to focus on
Jesus. To offer to us His gift of a
restored relationship - salvation - which comes only through Jesus
Christ. That godliness only comes through
Jesus Christ. God has revealed all that to us
- His people - His church. God has made known to us what it
means to live out that relationship - in Jesus - what it means to live
in godliness. His wisdom - His
perspective on life - and His insight - how God’s wisdom applies to the
circumstance of our lives - how life works and where God is going in
life - all of which is a mystery to those who don’t know God. They may see it or hear it.
But they don’t understand it. Paul writes that this is our
common confession. Common because we - the
church - we all agree on this. Confession
because Who Jesus is and what it means to have life in Him - His Gospel
- is what we together believe and declare to the world. Verse 16 is probably one of the
earliest belief statements of the Church - the Gospel in a nutshell. A first century declaration written by our brothers and sisters in Christ that was probably circulating
around the different congregations and read out loud as a common
confession of faith. That’s common.
Here we are some 2,000 years later making the same
confession of our faith - believing the same Gospel that they did. Walk with me through what’s
being confessed here. There’s a depth of truth contained in just these
few brief words. We’ll just hit the highlights. He - Jesus - who was
revealed in the flesh - meaning that Jesus was born. God
came to be in
the flesh and live among men. He was
vindicated in the Spirit - which took place at Jesus’ baptism. You’ll
recall that the Holy Spirit came down as a dove and God said, “This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
God declaring that Jesus is the Messiah - the Christ - the Savior of mankind. Jesus was seen by
angels - the angels
that were at the empty tomb. We believe
that Jesus was crucified to death - taking our place - paying the
penalty for our sins - and Jesus is resurrected - alive. He was proclaimed
among the nations -
at Pentecost - the Gospel was shared with men and women from all over
the Roman world. The Gospel spread out from there - to Jews and
Greeks - like the Greeks here in Ephesus - and beyond - even to some
far off places like Armenia - or Merced. We believe that Gospel is for
everyone. The purpose of the church is to
take Gospel - by how we live and what we say - to take that Gospel to
all peoples. Jesus was believed on
in the world -
which is the response to the Gospel. People didn’t just hear - they
responded. People are coming to salvation. Which is to say that knowing
Jesus should change how we do life. We’re
not just hearers of the word. But doers. Responders who’s lives are being changed by
God. And we’re followers of Jesus who are
teaching others to follow Jesus.
Jesus is the Savior - crucified
- resurrected - returning. Jesus Whom we
need to trust as our Savior - giving all of who we are to Him. Before we go on let’s read this
confession out loud together - joining our siblings from the household
of the living God - pillaring and bulwarking the truth.
Can we commonly confess this together? 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. Who are we?
“We are God’s instrument of change in the world.” What
do we confess? God’s message of change. God’s truth - the gospel of Jesus Christ. Live as the Church - confess the Gospel - and
the world must change. Taking
what Paul writes one step further I’d like to have us go back and
think about that one word we started with. Remember
what that word was? Change.
As you’re watching this short
video clip think about the essential of the Gospel and change. (Video: “Change”) Heraclitus of Ephesus said, “The only
constant in change.” The world is constantly changing. Our need for the Gospel does not.
The Gospel causes change. People
need to know the essential of the Gospel - that they change towards
God. Sin is a horror - a bondage and
corruption in this life which weighs down our hearts - burdens our
souls - tears at the fabric of humanity - destroys our homes and
society - corrupts the Church - robs us of the ability to be whom God
has created us to be. And, waiting ahead
is judgment and eternal separation from God. But,
we have the opportunity - the privilege - of sharing the one message
that can bring real change to all that. When Paul writes about the
“mystery of godliness” he’s talking about being able to live life in
wholeness - living life as God intends for us to live it.
That’s what all this is about. The
secret of living life with God - drawing on His wisdom and power and
forgiveness. Living in purity and calmness
and courage and confidence in the midst of whatever comes. Not another faltering religion
to lead us in hopeless darkness. But real
answers found in the person of Jesus Christ. That’s
what’s offered to us even today. Offered
to us to receive as we respond to the Gospel. Given
to us to share with others - so that God can bring real change in their
lives. God used dust to form Adam. A rib to form Eve. When
the Israelites were trapped with their backs to the sea Moses stretched
out his staff and the waters parted. Samson
struck down a thousand oppressors of Israel with the jawbone of a
donkey. At the blast of trumpets and a war
cry Joshua watched the walls of Jericho crumble. With
torches and empty jars Gideon and 300 men defeated an army of 100,000. David chose 5 smooth stones from a stream and
with them struck down Goliath. 5,000 were
fed with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. If God can
use such small things to change the course of history certainly He can
use us. What was that statement we were
keeping in mind? “When you
understand that you can change the world, your life will never be the
same again.” You are God’s instrument of
change in the world. That realization
should change how you conduct yourself as a member of the household of
the living God. You may be changing diapers -
answering the phone - teaching a class - driving a car - listening to a
teacher drone on and on - hassling with a landlord - cutting a lawn -
shopping at Save Mart - Frolfing - or any other of hundreds of the
routine daily things of life. You are
God’s instrument of change in the world. Say this with me, “I am God’s
instrument of change in the world.” Hang onto that.
Let it sink into the core of how you see yourself. We exist here together - not as
an organization - not out of obligation - not as a building. We are the church. You
are the church. People who are flawed -
imperfect - broken - bruised. People are
the church. We are united - relentless - on
a mission to be second. Second to what God
has planned for us. A mission to
grow - to grow into the person God wants us to be - to reach beyond
these walls - beyond clichés - beyond stereotypes - a mission to
love everyone regardless - a mission to go make disciples of all
nations. That’s why we’re here. Our church doesn’t exist for us.
God’s congregation exists for the world.
After all, it is His Gospel that is the essential. We exist to change the world because He is
changing us. _________________________ Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. |