1 Timothy 3:14-16

The Mystery of Godliness

May 17, 2009 – Grand Opening

Simon Goncharenko

21 FELLOWSHIP

A Southern Baptist Church

The Big Idea:  Believers are those, whose behavior designates them as God’s children and demonstrates the reality of their certain fixed beliefs about Christ.

I.        Paul desired to visit Timothy face to face in the near future – 14.

II.    Paul’s letter to Timothy was written with the purpose of instructing the Ephesian believers regarding the correct doctrine and proper conduct in church – 15-16.

a.       What is the church

The word church comes from Greek ἐκκλησία, which is formed from two Greek words, ek, “out,” and kaleo, “to call.”  Thus, the ἐκκλησία are “the called-out ones.”  So, biblically, the church is the group of men called out of the world by God. 

                                                              i.      The church is God’s household

John 1:11–13; 1 Peter 1:22–25

1 Tim. 5:1–2

Matt. 4:4; 1 Cor. 3:1–2; Heb. 5:12–14; Ps. 119:103

1 Cor. 4:18–5:13; 2 Cor. 2:6–11; 1 Thes. 2:7–12.

                                                            ii.      The church is the church of the living God

                                                          iii.      The church is the pillar and support (ground/foundation) of the truth

b.      What is at the core of our faith? – v. 16

                                                              i.      Christ’s was manifested in the flesh – incarnation of Christ

By this single phrase, the true and orthodox faith is powerfully defended against Arius (Christ was not God like the Father, but a creature made in time), Marcion (the creator ‘god’ of the OT was not the good God and Father of JC of the NT), Nestorius (believed that Christ exists as two persons: the man Jesus and the divine Son of God, rather than as two natures [True God and True Man] of one divine essence), and Eutyches (Christ has only a single divine nature).

                                                            ii.      Christ was vindicated/justified by the Spirit – authentication of Christ’s divinity - Matt. 11:19 and Luke 7:35; Acts 2:24-36; Rom. 8:11

                                                          iii.      Christ was seen by the angels – exaltation of Christ - Phil. 2:9-11; Col. 2:15; Heb. 1:6.

                                                          iv.      Christ was proclaimed among the Gentiles – proclamation of Christ – Acts 1:7. 

                                                            v.      Christ was believed on in the world – redemption through Christ – John 3:16.

                                                          vi.      Christ was taken up in glory – ascension of Christ – Acts 1:1-11.