Introduction Every healthy and successful institution requires several elements. It requires a purpose to direct its focus and energy. It requires an identity; a clear understanding of its values and the sort of people to include in its membership. Also, it needs a code of conduct. None of these elements stands in isolation, as they all shape, and are shaped by, one another. Identity is confused without purpose or rules of conduct. Rules of conduct stifle and frustrate when divorced from purpose and identity. Purpose is forgotten if not rooted in identity and guided by rules of conduct. These elements affect every institution, including the church. So what makes a good church? Answering this question requires answering two other questions. First, what is the church? Second, what is the church supposed to do? Paul answers these questions in 1 Timothy 3:14-16. "I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 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." Household of God
First, we see what the church is. In verses 14-15, Paul employs multiple images to describe the church. It is a “household of God,” the “church of the living God,” and a “pillar and buttress of truth.” Paul wrote 1 Timothy to give doctrinal and practical instruction to Timothy regarding “how one ought to behave in the household of God (v15).” Everything that has been said thus far, and everything that will be said, supports a clear understanding of what the church is and what it is supposed to do. The word “behave” refers to a manner of living; doctrine results in a particular pattern of behavior for those who truly embrace it. And our actions reflect what we really believe. There are countless opinions regarding what the church is and what it should be doing. Is it supposed to have fun programs for our kids to learn to be “good” people? It is to help singles find a spouse? Or does the church exist to provide social programs that benefit its community? While these items may or may not be good, none of them are the point of the church. Throughout his letter, Paul has taught that the church teaches good doctrine and shuts down bad doctrine (1:3). It promotes the faithful use (stewardship) of God’s gifts (1:4). It aims to promote Christlike love that flows from a redeemed heart and good conscience (1:5). The church uses the law of God rightly (1:8). It equips Christians to fight for faith and a good conscience (1:18-19). In the church, prayer for all kinds of people is expected; we pray for order in society, freedom to live out our faith, and for the salvation of the lost (2:1-2). The church is to foster an others-centered environment through our conduct and apparel (2:8-11). And the church is to be led by men of godly character (3:1-13). Household Rules The church is God’s house, which means He makes the rules. We would be offended if someone came into our home and used our possessions without our permission or regard for our wishes. But how many people show up on Sunday morning without any thought for what God wants to happen? How many people show up to be entertained rather than to worship? The church is, first and foremost, God’s house. It is the “church of the living God.” The word for “church” means assembly and a church is supposed to be a gathering of God with His people. People usually do not gather randomly, there is, generally, a stated purpose for large assemblies. Tens of thousands gather for football games every Sunday. Hundreds gather at predetermined times to see a new movie. The church is supposed to be a gathering of God’s people who have been called to worship the living God together. Satan loves to hijack the church for any other purpose, and he does this by helping people forget that the church is God’s house where God’s people are being trained up according to the Father’s will. But the church is also a “pillar and buttress of truth.” The church is in the business of truth. Christians must be committed to knowing, loving, teaching, and sharing the truth. The world would have us believe that truth and love are competing objectives, but the opposite is taught in Scripture. True knowledge of God results in obedience to His commands and love of Him and others (Jn 14:15, 21). There is a kind of knowledge that falls short of love, but Scripture is clear that anyone who does not love does not know God (1 Jn 4:8). This is head knowledge that has failed to transform the individual. But truly loving someone requires a knowledge of the truth. We are only able to love by first coming to know the love of Christ for us (1 Jn 4:11, 19), and our growth in love depends on the deepening of our understanding of how God has loved us (Eph 3:16-19; Phil 1:9-11). If a church turns its back on the whole counsel of God, then God will either discipline the church or remove it, as seen in Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. The church is where God desires to make Himself known and train His children, and the way God has appointed this to happen is through holding firmly to His Word. Our Message We also see what the church is supposed to do. The church is a proclaimer of the mystery of godliness (v16). The “mystery” mentioned in the New Testament describes something that was previously hidden but has now been revealed. The “mystery” is Jesus Christ; He alone provides the power for true godliness. The Old Testament gave promises of forgiveness of sins and the restoration of creation, and it gave “hints” of how God would do this through the types and shadows of the sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law. However, these types and shadows left people wondering how a holy God could save sinful man without compromising His holiness, and the coming of Jesus Christ answered this question. Paul outlines the scope of this mystery with six statements in v16. In brief, the mystery includes everything from the incarnation of Jesus (the Son of God becoming fully human) through Jesus’ taking His place again in glory at His ascension. These statements summarize the person and work of Christ, and they provide the foundation for the church’s existence and mission. (1) Jesus Christ was “manifested in the flesh.” Jesus affirmed the goodness of creation by taking on human flesh. It is a great error to sharply divide the world into spiritual and physical, as though God only cares about the spiritual. God made everything and it was good; we worship Him rightly only when we enjoy and function in this material world according to His Word. We have been made as souls who inhabit bodies; consequently, we must worship God with both our souls and bodies. (2) Jesus was “vindicated by the Spirit.” Jesus became a true human to become our substitute. In Genesis 1-2 God called man to render perfect righteousness, but Adam (as the representative of all humanity) failed. A man had to come and provide that record of perfect righteousness to replace Adam’s (Rom 5:12-21), and Christ succeeded in doing so, as was proven in His resurrection and vindication in the Spirit (Rom 1:4). Through Jesus, we are enabled to be fully human according to God's design. (3) Jesus was “seen by angels.” The work of salvation was not accomplished in secret, it was done openly and witnessed by real people. The angels witnessed Christ’s victory over the spiritual authorities (Col 2:15), and they testified to Christ’s resurrection to His followers (Luke 24). Our physical world is the ripple effect of what takes place in "heavenly places", and Jesus' victory for us here depends on His victory in the spiritual realm. (4) Jesus is “proclaimed among the nations.” Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations by teaching them to obey all that He commanded (Matt 28:18-20). The church’s marching orders are to proclaim the person and work of Christ and the implications for our obedience (Col 1:28). Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth, and the offer to come under His authority willingly through faith in the gospel is to be proclaimed by the church. (5) Jesus is “believed on in the world.” The consequence of Christ’s work is that real people trust in Jesus Christ and are saved. Paul was himself an example of the power of the cross to transform people, as well as the multitude of Gentile congregations that now compromised the church universal. God saves all kinds of people from all kinds of sin in all kinds of places. There is no specific people group that has exclusive claims to Jesus; He is the Savior of the world. (6) Jesus was “taken up in glory.” Jesus ascended to the Father, which was better for us than His staying on earth. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He received the Holy Spirit and poured Him out upon the church to fulfill the promise of the New Covenant (Acts 2:33; Ezek 36:22-29). The Holy Spirit being poured upon the church is the power, purchased and provided by Christ, for the newness of life. True Christians are marked by the Spirit’s presence and work in their lives, and the absence of the Spirit’s work suggests that an individual does not truly belong to Christ (Rom 8:9-11). Conclusion A "good" church is a faithful church focused on knowing and sharing the real Jesus, as He has been revealed in Scripture. We preach the whole gospel with all of its implications. In God’s house, God sets the rules and His children are to be trained by Him. Honoring God and worshiping Him properly requires that we listen to His Word and submit ourselves to it joyfully. Rather than trying to please man, our aim should be to please God in everything we do. God is saving people through the work of His Spirit and the ministry of the Word. We do not need to re-envision the church to be relevant in our day; we need only seek what He has called us to be: His people, saved by grace and gathered together to know Him and make Him known.
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AuthorI am follower of Jesus Christ by God's grace, married to Kelsey, father to four children, and pastor of Lighthouse Church (EPC). Archives
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