The Conduct of the Church

1 Timothy 3:14-16

March 28, 2010

I hope you have enjoyed our study of the book of 1 Timothy.

It is a letter that is chalk full of very pointed instruction

As to the order and action of the church.

Paul is writing to his young protégé Timothy

With regard to the nature and function of the church.

And think about that.

If you were called upon to write a letter to a young preacher in order to explain to him what the church was supposed to be like, what would you write?

Would you instruct him about church incorporation and taxes?

Would you talk about the importance of location?

Would you stress the importance of music styles?

Maybe you would follow the fad and tell him to survey his community.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM IN REGARD TO ORGANIZING THE CHURCH?

Well, fortunately for us, we have that answer already written.

We call it 1 Timothy.

And the sole purpose of this letter

Is to explain what a church is supposed to be.

AND TONIGHT WE COME TO THE PINNACLE.

This is the climax of the letter.

(14-15a) “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…”

It really doesn’t get any clearer than that.

The purpose of this letter is to give clear instruction

As to what the church is supposed to look like.

And if we wanted to sum that conduct up in one word,

We could easily do it, and that word would be GODLINESS.

This letter is all about the expected Godliness of the church.

IS IT TOO SIMPLE TO SAY THAT GOD WANTS HIS CHURCH TO BE GODLY?

Is it too juvenile to point out that we as the church are supposed to act and think like God?

Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;”

1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Even Jesus taught:

Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

It is obvious that God came to save sinners from sin.

That was His eternal purpose.

Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

The eternal will of God was to save sinners from sin

And to conform them into the righteous pattern of His Son.

And that is precisely what God did.

Romans 8:3-4 “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

It would be pointless to talk about the conduct of the church

And not focus on the fact that God’s people are to be Godly.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY PAUL’S THEME IN 1 TIMOTHY

1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10 “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

1 Timothy 4:7-8 “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

1 Timothy 6:3-6 “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”

1 Timothy 6:11 “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

It is blatantly obvious that God intends for His church to be Godly.

“Godliness” translates EUSEBIA

It comes from two root words.

EU – meaning “well” or “good”

SEBOMAI – which can mean “devout”

It is actually often translated as “God-fearing”

(It speaks of those passionate about their religion)

And when you put those two together you realize

That Godliness is to be passionate and devout

About doing what is right and good.

A Godly person is not just a person who doesn’t do wrong,

But a person passionate about doing what is right in God’s sight.

And this is to be the main characteristic of those in the church.

If we are to be anything,

First and foremost we should be Godly.

Teachers are to be Godly in their ministry of teaching.

Men are to be Godly in their prayer life for the lost and for the leaders.

Women are to be Godly in their dress and attitude.

Overseers are to be Godly in their conduct and character.

Deacons are to be Godly in their conduct and character.

This letter is about how the church is to be Godly.

And in our text tonight Paul addresses the two main questions

People have in regard to Godliness.

1) WHAT IS GODLINESS?

2) WHY SHOULD I BE GODLY?

And he addresses them in the opposite order that I listed them.

So let’s look at it in our text tonight.

#1 WHY BE GODLY?

1 Timothy 3:14-15

It is likely that if we were all honest with one another,

We have probably all wondered at one time in our life or another

WHY GODLINESS MATTERED SO MUCH.

Many have grown to look at Godliness

As a tremendous burden that is hardly worth the effort.

Such an attitude has pushed people overwhelmingly

Into the “free grace” market.

The attitude of Armenians that I can live however I want,

And need not worry about godliness,

Because after all, I am saved by grace.

And that sad truth is that many present day church members

Have adopted that same theology.

BUT IT IS TERRIBLY WRONG.

WHY?

Well, here in our text Paul gives two reasons why you ought to be Godly.

1) YOUR MASTER (15a)

“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,”

I really like the terminology Paul used in this verse.

He used another name for “the church” here.

DID YOU SEE IT?

“the household of God”

It carries that idea that when you become a part of God’s church,

You are entering His family.

You are sitting at His table for Thanksgiving dinner.

Your rules no longer apply.

His rules now apply.

He calls the shots about what is appropriate attire and conduct.

And when you sit at His table,

You had better understand what it expected of you.

The church belongs to God.

It is His institution.

Jesus said:

Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

And of course it belongs to Him because He purchased it.

1 Peter 1:17-19 “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

I mean it is blatantly obvious that we now answer to a different Master,

And One that requires the conduct of godliness from us.

This is His church and as such we are to yield to His expectations.

Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

Christ wants His church beautiful and therefore she must be.

The point is that the church belongs to God,

And therefore the church must strive to be pleasing to God.

Romans 14:8 “for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.”

And so to give one answer to the “Why Godliness?” question.

You should be Godly because

That is what is required by the One who purchased you.

Anyone who can turn their back on this simple truth

Is obviously not a part of the church.

But the first reason we are to be Godly is our Master.

2) OUR MINISTRY (15b)

“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.”

I love the way that Paul there defines the church.

The church is “the pillar and support of the truth.”

We support it, we uphold it,

Namely because we are the only ones that know it.

And because we have been commissioned to protect it.

That is why Jude wrote:

Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

This world is not in love with truth.

Truth is continually viewed as a relative term.

“What may be true for you is not necessarily true for me.”

Last night I was flipping through the channels and came across the show “Everybody Loves Raymond”

During the show, a woman told her (church-going) parents

That her boyfriend routinely sleeps over

And she had decided that it wasn’t a sin.

That is precisely how the world builds it’s theology.

They believe what they want to believe

And justify it with any means necessary.

But someone must be there to defend what is true.

Someone must be there to hold the plum line.

Someone must be that voice in the wilderness proclaiming “Make straight the way of the Lord”

WHO IS THAT SOMEONE?

It is the church.

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We are those commissioned to make sure

That the world always has access to the truth.

In fact we are those commissioned to proclaim it.

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

We are called to proclaim truth, and just as Jesus said there,

That proclamation must be accompanied by a consistent testimony

If we preach godliness, then we must live godliness.

If there is an Achilles heel of the church

It is that years of inconsistent living

Have all but killed our witness with the world.

“Their all a bunch of hypocrites”

“I’ve had some bad experiences in the church”

“Well I saw so & so out doing this the other night”

Such excuses won’t wash during the judgment,

But they do represent why godly living must accompany godly teaching.

That is why Paul tells Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:18-19 “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”

1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

I mean it is obvious why we must be godly.

Our Master desires it.

Our Ministry demands it.

Without Godliness we are neither the church that Jesus desires,

Nor are we the minister that the world needs.

But there is a second question that Paul answers.

#2 WHAT IS GODLINESS?

1 Timothy 3:16

There has always been a little confusion

As to exactly what it means to be Godly.

For some, it means to be faithful in church.

For others it means to be self-deprived and suffering.

Some view it as having tremendous Bible knowledge.

Others view it as something mystical like speaking in tongues.

The concept of godliness is confusing.

In fact Paul even yields to the difficulty here.

“great is the mystery of godliness:”

A “mystery” is something that was hidden in the Old Testament,

But revealed in the New Testament.

And one of those mysteries is “godliness”

I mean, if God is a mystery, how much more so God-likeness?

Supposing we are convinced of the need to be Godly, how do we know what godliness is?

That is precisely the question Paul answers in our text.

And he does so by quoting a hymn from the early church.

The explanation of “godliness” is a “common confession”.

And what follows here is a great creed of the church.

It is not so much what she preaches (although that is implied)

As it is a statement of what she believes.

And if you want to know what Godliness is, then this is the answer.

JESUS

1) GODLINESS REVEALED “He who was revealed in the flesh”

It is a great statement about Christ,

And that is that He was literally God made flesh.

He was God in human form.

John 1:14-18 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, ' He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Godliness never gets any clearer than in Jesus.

He is the epitome of godliness because He was God in human form.

He is the revelation of Godliness.

But that is not all.

2) GODLINESS DISPLAYED “Was vindicated in the Spirit”

Not only was Godliness revealed in Jesus,

But Jesus put Godliness on display.

“vindicated” can also be translated “justified”.

And the idea is that He was fully justified in His own spirit

That He was fully in the will of God.

HE ALWAYS SOUGHT GOD’S WILL

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

He not only brought Godliness to light, but He put Godliness on display.

He didn’t just explain it, He lived it.

Godliness Revealed, Godliness Displayed

3) GODLINESS RECOGNIZED “Seen by angels”

“seen” translates HORAO

It literally means to perceive.

It can even mean to research or investigate.

They didn’t just look at Him,

They examined Him and perceived Him as Godly.

These were divine evaluators.

These were those who dwelled in God’s presence.

These are those who knew God better than anyone.

The point being, if the angels spotted you as godly,

Then you must really be so.

And indeed the angels saw Him as godly.

It was angels who came and ministered to Him after His temptation.

It was angels who came and ministered to Him in the garden.

It was angels who waited on edge in case He should call from the cross.

The angels perceived Him to be righteous and godly.

And not just the holy angels.

The fallen angels recognized it too.

Mark 1:23-24 “Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!"

Godliness Revealed, Godliness Displayed, Godliness Recognized

4) GODLINESS PROCLAIMED “Proclaimed among the nations”

This moves to yet another endorsement of Jesus’ godliness,

And it comes from those who lived with Him on earth.

Angels were not the only ones who spotted that Jesus was Godly.

Those who lived with Him were convinced of it as well.

In fact they were so convinced

That they spent their lives proclaiming Him to the world.

John 6:69 "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."

Peter was even so convinced of it,

That after Jesus orchestrated that huge catch of fish, Peter said:

Luke 5:8 “But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

Certainly if He had had some sort of character flaw or dark habit,

Then these guys would have been turned off.

But they weren’t.

Even those who know Him best could find no flaw in Him.

Godliness Proclaimed

5) GODLINESS BELIEVED “Believed on in the world”

Here is yet another endorsement,

And this is by those who heard what the apostles said

And also believed the report.

Sometimes getting others to believe a story

Can be a difficult endeavor,

Especially if that story is somewhat unbelievable.

Well try this on for size.

“God became a man and dwelt with me and 11 others for 3 years. He lived a sinless life and then died on a cross, until three days later when He rose from the dead.”

People don’t believe such a story based on believability.

People will naturally question such truths.

Yet, the masses continue to believe.

No amount of investigation has ever produced one shred of evidence

To the contrary and so men continue to believe.

6) GODLINESS APPROVED “Taken up in glory”

Not only did the Spirit approve Him.

Not only did the angels approve Him.

Not only did the apostles approve Him.

Not only do the nations continually approve Him.

But here is perhaps the greatest endorsement of all.

GOD APPROVED HIM AS WORTHY AND GODLY.

Hebrews 1:3 “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

And here is what that means.

If ever a person could show a human how to live like God,

Then it was Jesus.

And so we look to Him as our example.

We notice how He treated people.

We notice how He responded to people.

We notice what grieved Him.

We notice what angered Him.

We notice what delighted Him.

We notice His priorities.

We notice His devotion.

Godliness is no longer a mystery to us, Jesus has made it clear.

He explained God and He has become our example.

And now the goal of our lives is to be like Him.

It is what God desires.

Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

It is what we should desire for ourselves.

Philippians 3:12-16 “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

And so if you want to sum up the expected conduct of the church.

The church is to be like Jesus

Because that is what God wants

And that is what our ministry demands.

Godliness is important, there can be no church without it.

1 Timothy 3:14-15 “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.”