Today you should read: 1 Timothy 3:14-16
In these very important 3 verses in this letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul shares the purpose for this entire letter: how to live and act as the church of God (v. 15). The apostle Paul knows that the recipient of this letter is leading others within his church as the pastor and shepherd. As Timothy’s mentor and discipler, he wants to make sure that he does this well. He’s already halfway through the letter with a few more things to address and he wants to make sure Timothy knows why he’s talking so much about the importance of doctrine, warning against false teachers, giving qualifications for elders, showing examples of those who have walked away from the faith and giving further instructions to leaders in the church.
If the church is the household of God or a family, as he mentions in verse 15, then we must behave as one. In other places in this letter and in other places of Scripture you can see what that means as FAMILY but in these few verses he focuses in on the OF GOD part. As the family of God, we represent God in two very important areas:
TRUTH and HOLINESS.
He first mentions how the church is a pillar and buttress of TRUTH. Although we’re all still sinners saved by grace, we represent God’s truth and that is why we need to strive to be examples of integrity and character. It’s why ethics matter as Christians and the stereotype of hypocrisy needs to be fought against. It’s why we have elders who help lead us with right doctrine and why we are to prioritize God’s Word when preaching and teaching.
The second thing he briefly mentions is holiness and how it’s a mystery to a certain extent (knowing that we are still sinners saved by grace). This mention of mystery here is referring to salvation more than anything, talking about a holy God who took on human flesh to bring us His holiness in place of our sin. We know that we must individually and corporately strive toward holiness as examples of God’s family but that holiness is in direct result of the gospel, which is still somewhat of a mystery as we’re stuck in between the already but not yet of final consummation and God’s kingdom to be connected with a new heavens and earth with no more sin in the world.
As God’s family let’s continue to strive toward truth and holiness, knowing this entire letter was written as instruction in how to do that.
By: Erik Koliser — West Campus Pastor
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