The Church's 'ID' & 'Secret' You need for ACTION in God's House
Notes
Transcript
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Final instructions or legacies of great figures, are highly valued in history, especially among God’s people. Think of Jacob leaning on his staff, or Jeremiah in his hard last days when he doesn’t yet see fulfillment of promises in prophesy led into Egypt against God’s will, think of Jesus before the Cross, John 13-17. So too here in 1 Timothy we are tipped off by Paul that he thinks he might be detained (v.14)= 2 Tim), in the this fourth and last missionary journey - visiting established churches after Spain, plans to winter in Neopolis, then maybe go back, but sends Timothy, and what he delivers here ought to be precious, these Pastorals, indeed imprisoned by a now crazed Nero, martyred. On Crete seems setting up elders for the first time, like on first missionary journey, until some mature believers not set to be organized as a congregation yet.
But he is leaving, end of apostolic age, and until Christ returns how are we to be organized and active ass the Church of Christ in this world. And as much as we get the practical instruction on how to organize and behave in the church, we also get some of Paul’s greatest teaching on how this flows out of WHO CHRIST IS. In the Pastorals, we not only get the 5 trustworthy sayings, but also 5 great passage explaining who Christ is. Like this one which is almost and could have been early creed or rhythmic hymn! IN these 3 verses which is the pivot and centre of the book, we have Paul moving from what we do in God’s church - stewarding the gospel, gospeling, worship - prayer and learning Word for Jesus, organized for leadership and service; and he is going to move to more specific moral instructions. But right at the centre, he has this pivot like he does in most of his letters. It show that these are some random arbitrary instructions do this. No, he gives the aim of his letter, and really the Pastoral Epistles:
if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
But he sets your action and mine, and Timothy all the Ephesians, leaders and congregation he sets it all in the context of what, of how God has and is acting in Christ. You have got to see this connection between the command in v.15 his goal, and the grounding in God’s action in that description of Christ’s work v.16b. Why because the church isn’t our house, it’s the house on earth where God dwells, where he acts - the living God is in this church and millions like it scattered across our globe and He is a t work, and any command any direction, any instruction about you and I doing anything in the church are rooted in what God is doing in Christ. That is what means:
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.
Do you feel this MEGA - bigger than anything in your life, in this universe, the big deal in God’s house the church mega - is this mystery, once hidden now revealed of our godliness. That word mega - in Hebrew PELLA - Christ would be what __________, counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Princess of Peace. Our devotion, big deal to Greek philosophy and religion, our response of respect, doing duty to God and man-
Two parts to religion - one was your religious correctness to God - the other was the actual serving in life. Paul is saying that this conduct of what is appropriate for you in God's church - that has to spring not from bare obedience but as a response to this wonder mystery of knowing Christ and what he is doing. The mystery in the NT is the decisive revelation of God’s saving acts, and Paul is saying you can’t really act in God’s house, to Him toward others, you can’t really pray and
Key Truth: We need to keep Christ at the centre of our actions in God’s church and our relationship with each other and the world!
A. Understand your service and behaviour as as supporting God's House which is for Lifting the Treasure of the Gospel for the World
This is the first of the two foundations for Christian service and behaviour. We serve and behave based on the house we are living in. We use this kind of thinking in raising children all the time - say to a kid - hey that is not APPROPRIATE - kids horsing around, maybe potty talk at age of 5 or 6 - we don’t step in and say - what are you doing talking like that, - deemed appropriate not foul language language appropriate to that friendship and task of play, but let’s in that same house investor for family business, or the mayor of the city is coming for dinner - what is appropriate for that task?
Well, so too before we get to appropriate behaviours of Christians in Christ’s church, with money, with serving each other, with gossip, with leadership - you need to really know the situation of the house your living in.
In earlier epistles before this near end of his life, and the apostolic age, the image of a community of believers as God’s house, or God’s temple has been stressed. We, not this building, but we the people are living stones of a dwelling place where God dwells on earth. We are temples of the Holy Spirit.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
In this letter his says, the WHY - is stewarding, householder in charge of the gospel of God, he says in leadership we are to manage the household of God. But if this is true, look who dwells in this house not just you and me: This is the house belonging to and indwelt in special way by GOD Himself:
but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
This pivot is amarked not by first english words in v.14 I am writing, but all these things, are about approrpiate devotion, in the church and then he defines it with two powerful images:
if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
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.
A pillar, in classical culture, a stylla, like a column, it held up the roof. But usually ornate and often erected not just or structural purpose, but as a memorial to great hero in honour of a heroic achievement. The Pillar of TRUTH in God’s household, is the gospel - displayed like treasured stylla, Do you remember what led the Israelites through desert if travelled at night A pillar of fire, shining forth in the night. Is this how we understand the purpose o f the church, the treasure is the gospel truth, hidden now revealed, do people see we hold high - Christ, his answer to death, Christ, his answer of forgiveness, Christ hope of Heaven place he prepared for us. People around us see pillar of light of all this truth in us? Like the Roman stylla - free standing towering sign .of God’s saving purpose.
Similarly, the church that is really indwelt by the living God, is described as a buttress of truth. Ten year old church and the foundational doctrines already being challenged, itching ears want easier, nifiter, novelties in spirituality and ritual, and rigorous disciplines, seem easier and more appealing than the gospel of Christ. But how do we know the word buttress - big stone flying buttresses hold up whole cathedrals. Walls were crumbling in straying congregation, but if true church, and it was, buttress is the gospel - monument in words, our witness to the honourable accomplishments of Christ.
I Howard Marshall says think of God sees the church: The church meets to worship the living God, even as its members have the Spirit of God within them. The church is a gathering of new relationships, a place of protection and refuge. Paul characterized the church as the pillar and foundation of the truth. All that is true comes from God, and he has designated the church as guardian and proclaimer of the truth. No longer is it just God who upholds the truth in this world, like unmovable mountains, now he has entrusted the truth to His church: So that the church gives the faith and thinking of individuals, a sure ground in confession
The church is a gathering of new relationships, a place of protection and refuge. Paul characterized the church as the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Elsewhere Paul had described Christ as the cornerstone, and the apostles through their authoritative teaching from Christ as the foundation; but here the image is the truth of the gospel, having a building erected on top of it, and that truth upholds the structure of the church, and inside that structure, something is going to happen - it becomes the place where Christ is encountered in worship and service. And as you and I experience Christ through his Word here, look how in Paul explains what happens:
All that is true comes from God, and he has designated the church as guardian and proclaimer of the truth
Ethelbert Stauffer, “Ἑδραῖος, Ἑδραίωμα,” ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 364.
Elsewhere Paul had described Christ as the cornerstone, and the apsotles through their autoritiave teaching from Christ as the foundation; but here the image is the truth of the gospel, havbing a building erected on top of it, and that truth upholds the structure of the church, and inside that structure, something is going to happen - it becomes the palce whree Christ is encountered in worship and service. And as you and I experience Christ through his Word here, look how in Paul explains what happens:
But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
So this is the first foundation for Christian behaviour and service in His church, understanding the church as the place Christ is at work by His Word and Where He is proclaimed like a pillar of light and grace to the World. God’s household this society of believers is to be upheld and sustain int he world as God’s truth and His Word to the world. Under this tent here - God’s gospel treasure rests.
So the job of every congregation is to be that unshakable monument for the truth of Christ! That’s why the way we behave and the way we serve here matters so much. It relates to Christ’s living and active work to Christians in need of growing grace, and unbelievers in need of saving grace!
That’s why the way we bahave and the way we serve here matters so much. It realtes to Christ’s living and active wrok to Christians in need of growing grace, and unbelievers in need of saving grace!
But the second part of our passage, is even more important. You have this understanding of God in dwelling us His Church, but what was His work and what is it today? and this is where Paul ties the mystery of our godliness, dutiful response to God in our relationships, to the action of Christ in the world!
B. Understand your service and behaviour as Christ’s Church rooted in and flowing from God’s Ongoing Action in the World!
People’s action in life are flowing in one of two directions. Kind of like our stories have got to be a one of two types of Greek dramas. What are they tragedy or comedy. Now comedy isn’t like ha ha funny. It is an upward direction where everything works out. Like most of W lit and movies - move from difficulty to happily ever after. Wonderful truths fairy tales. Most people think they can make their story a fairy tale. Chasing our next thing, to complete our rags to riches story. Live towards brighter tomorrow, maybe things will get better, but brutal fact of the fall, Ecclesiastes, our work our relationships, our pleasures… all end in tragedy.
Second type of story is tragedy. Wonderful image bearers of God, but they have a tragic flaw and things seem like going to work but everything unravels … many people realize life without God under the sun - unraveling and give in to this downward direction into meaninglessness and defeat.
Well i you are going to behave and serve in Christ church with Him really living among us well, we need to get the mystery of godliness revealed in Christ’s life. And that life which continue to this day, has those two directions as well and wee need to see how they launch us into action and behavior that extends the gospel!
This hymn-like poem, even creed. Describes several movement in two realms, The higher one which is heaven and the lower which is earth. Our world so fixated on the lower one , we can easily miss this All of these actions are focused on Christ, but all passive actions, which is the Bible’s way of saying God is doing this.
Step 1- is lower realm - The exalted Son of God - left heaven and God manifested Him in the flesh - that’s condescension - do you feel this wonderful powerful act of the Logos, Veiled in Flesh the Godhead see” In way we could really see and relate to - God came down.
But listen Step 2 is upper realm. Vindicated by the Spirit. That word is justified but not like forgiven, rather declared righteous in the sense that the Spirit is attesting to Jesus’ divine identity and Sonship. When did we visibly see that happen? Baptism - not only anointed but the very Son of God come from the Father - listen to Him . But even more so as Christ manifested in the flesh even more lowly and fully on the Cross, nadir the bottom of his humiliation in becoming one with sinners,, what did the Spirit do after he made the sacrifice, Listen to
Step 2:
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Being made alive in the Spirit is God’s vindication of Christ’s work on the Cross, It proves that all God was accomplishing through that sacrifice is coming true. And Christ with his human body, with all our lowliness, is what? It is raised from the fleshly mode of existence, into what we could call a super-charged, supernatural and perfect mode of existence in our human nature!
But now we come to the climax of the first half of Christ’s ministry his ministry 2000 years ago. Step 3: In that upper realm - what happens? What does God do? Seen by angels - literally in passive form - made visible to the angels . Do you get this - we talk about epiphany as the wisemen seeing the Christ, on earth. but climax of Jesus life 2000 years ago is Him rising and then ascending into heaven - and the angels see him seated at the right hand of God, in human flesh - given all authority in heaven and on earth - yes, the angels see him and sing at his birth, says:
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
They were watching and ministering to him in his temptations, they attend to Him at the tomb. But in the resurrection , there are the angels, and in His glorification, his Ascension there they are and the angelic Epiphany is that they see God in human flesh exalted -= and they long to understand what this salvation means:
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Do you see the fairy-tale, the comedy movement of the life of JEsus, down first to rags, then raised to riches, but for you and me! That’s his story and the mystery of godlienss in his ministry 2000 years ago. ANd that part ended with the heavens accepting and recognizing Jesus not jst as Saviuor of the world, but as King!
Goal = how one ought to behave = if have why, how, who - now specific instrction but aimed at why writing - how behave - need to have behaviour rooted in our ID, not the other way around, and also rooted in mystery of godliness = establish this link between the Christ event and Xn living … otherwise - human doing, perform or pretend,m instead of living out of new gospel reality that Chirst drawn you into!
But now look at where his Ongoing ministry from heaven begins. It is at the centre of this poem. It is down here on earth again, downward and outward movement.
Step 4. Proclaimed among the Nations: The angels where those closest to God’s presence but now with salvation accomplished, what is God’s activity in this world with Christ? Now heaven has recognized and accepted Christ as King, now does Christ just put up His feet; no he must reign from up there, through his word and Spirit down here, through his church until all the enemies of the kingdom of God put down, and grace and righteousness come to reign. So what is the first action God is up to with Christ, in this onigong ministry from the year 33AD until Christ comes again.
Now God has Christ heralded not to angels so close, nor to you and I believers on earth - but to the people furthest from God’s presence. THE GOYIM, the nations. DO you see God’s activity in going to the guy on your street living a tragedy given up hope, tattooed, and bamboozled by life,. Do you see God’s action in Christ, heralding the good news to those furthest from him and least likely to get Christ in other religions without the grace of Christ. Somali’s in Toronto. John Wesley loved this verse - John who with His brother Charles would go to the one prison with all those on death row - an d in personal individual way - extend hope by what - kerux. What we called student newspaper - official proclamation of good news. And the tense suggests this is an ongoing process , Christ accomplished the decisive events, and now we must herald it - In every place to all peoples. Do you here that Paul
s concern for prayer is this evnagliistiic prayer, his concern for gospel teaching includes this evangelisitic offer to all? We aren’t proised the resutls but this is what God is doing in Christ in this world through his church.
But look next what esle happens on earth in this story that is to be our story:
Step 5 Believed on in the World - What is believed on in this church? Just doctrine, just Scritpural words. Do you understand God’s activity, that as His Word is proclaimed applied out there and in here, people can belive not just those words, truths, but belive on and into the person of the Livig Christ. Isn’t that what’s happening here. - Christ present by Word and sacraament - - and people believeing don’t just get forgiveness and a ticket to heaven, don’t just get inspiriation and hope and peace. They embrace Christ HImself, and they get Him . And that kind of trust in the Person of Chirst, togerthetr contstitutes the church. that’s what we are.
But listen to the conclusion and climax of the second round of Christ’s minsitry from heaven, his onoing minsitry through the church. It’s the conclusion of all things.
Step 6 Taken up in glory! You and I like Christ sent to the low places, we have work and ministry and acting to do down here among those who are far off, and among believers in Christ in the world, he so loves. But that’s not the end. That would be tragedy if we weren’t to be joined in the glory of Christ, together and forever!
Look our life is not ultimately about just this lower realm, only one life to live … its ultimately about this earthly life, turned to Christ, united with him, and it will be glorified and translated to the hiegher realm.
The word taken-up, is exactly the word used in Christ’s ascension, but this looks beyond Christ instalation and initial session, to the final enthronement of Christ after He has completed HIs ongoing ministry in this age. We read in
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
When the present work an reign of Christ is done in this age of the church , look what will happen next:
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
After Christ gets vindicated in this world in the earthly realm through the church working and behaving for him. Christ returns with heaven and the heavenly realm will envelope and complete and transform us in every way. That’ what makes the gospel a fairy tale that’s true, comedy - in the ultimate sense. And this mystery of godliness is a celebration of Christ being manifest and then vindicated first in heaven, and now increasingly on earth until the final vindication.
And now I hope you see what Paul has done in linking your serive and behaviour to God’s worki in His church of seeing this manifestation of Christ and HIs vinidcation happen among us!
He is saying our job isn’t just to wait for heaven, but as we believe on Christ, and as Christ reigns among His church on earth, our service and our behavior is so important because it is to be part of the way that we as the church herald the truth of God’s word, as living letters of the gospel to the nations, how we believing together trusting Christ as believers - . Spiritually already we are getting the reality of Jesus resurrection and glory in this present age.
As Paul begins his second letter he holds up Onesiphorus as an example of how this works: says:
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
Oh friends, we are to not only see Christ manifest and exalted as merciful Saviour and powerful Lord, but we are to go out into the world refreshing and searching - and as we do in our service and in our behviour - we already will be living the resurrection life in the power of the Risen Christ!
CONCLUSION:
A pillar and buttress of truth - that’s the community we become trusting and following Christ with each other, and the mystery of godliness is this fairy tale come true - this movement from humiliation of going out and alongside the lowest of the low, and in Christ to find the grace that lifts us and those around us hp into the realm of the kingdom of Christ. And Paul is saying, that as we do this, our behaviour, no to come with specific instructions, and our service is to be like that pillar of fire shining out in to the darkness of this world.
When I was in Egypt, George kept asking - why did they build these things, why so big? They were those Pharaoh's pillars to the nations - look what Egypt is about, fertility, riches, military power … Well in a surprising way God says through a much brighter, and happier, living pillar - you and me His church - this is what the kingdom of God is about - not earthly power and riches, but humiliation to glory. Real and lasting strength of love out of sin. Christ lives in his church through you and me, and His grace is to be reflected and embodied in a service and behavior that points to this direction the gospel calls all to. Oh people, here is a a call as we go to the specific instructions on behavior with money, with relationships, with gossip, with f… to link our behaviour and service to Christ’s work 2000 years ago and Christ ‘s ongoing work now. The fairy tale has come true - we are a people always living with the story being from rags to riches, from sin to righteousness from despair to hope, it is all coming true in the gospel, and we are to be in each others’ lives and this world with that direction !
508 Jesus with Your Church Abide
listen to waht’s going to happen: Goal = how one ought to behave = if have why, how, who - now specific instrction but aimed at why writing - how behave - need to have behaviour rooted in our ID, not the other way around, and also rooted in mystery of godliness = establish this link between the Christ event and Xn living … otherwise - human doing, perform or pretend,m instead of living out of new gospel reality that Chirst drawn you into!
Two parts of Gk understanding of service to the gods: religious correctness (hosiotes) and PROPER RESPECT (eusebia) = like what you owe parent … sound thinking required for this service…
The church: The church is a secure foundation because it is determined by the truth (gen. of quality). It cannot be moved. The term pillar means a towering sign rather than a support: it expresses the visibility of the church as the sign of God’s saving purpose. The truth is nothing other than the ‘mystery’ of Christ himself so that the church is the place where Christ is encountered in worship. Hence Christ and his present work make up for the lack of the concept of the Holy Spirit.
I. Howard Marshall In the foundation is again the church which is God’s and therefore cannot be destroyed by heresy. The seal is the mark of ownership and Roloff identifies it with baptism, and the two OT texts fit in with this. The Lord knows his own people who are baptised. Those who are baptised must cease from evil. The vessels which are unclean must be cleansed so that they can serve God. Repentance is possible! So the church is not simply to be a corpus permixtum, and it is not simply a minority or remnant which constitute it. Since every individual believer belongs to God, so also does the church.
I. Howard Marshall and Philip H. Towner, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, International Critical Commentary (London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004), 515.
How God sees the church: The church meets to worship the living God, even as its members have the Spirit of God within them.
The church is a gathering of new relationships, a place of protection and refuge. Paul characterized the church as the pillar and foundation of the truth.
All that is true comes from God, and he has designated the church as guardian and proclaimer of the truth. The church provides the framework for safeguarding orthodoxy and living its claims. The church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” ().
The Word of God must be taught in all churches. This imagery of the church as the supporting structure of essential truth is a reminder that we must base the central issues of belief and practice upon the authoritative Word of God.
The church protects the truth from the attacks of falsehood. Paul’s call for pure doctrine is also a call for pure people. Central to the truth of the gospel is the transformed life of the Christian.
3Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 190.
Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 190.