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Please turn with me in your Bibles 
to First Timothy, Chapter 3. First Timothy, Chapter 3. Having 
spent the week in Montville and then attending a conference in 
Cloverdale on Friday and Saturday, my mind and heart were certainly 
filled. And I must confess, I wrestled 
with what to bring tonight, not because of a lack, but because 
of an abundance. But what I wanted to speak on 
specifically are verses 14 to 16 in 1 Timothy chapter 3, the 
identity of the church. One thing that has encouraged 
me over this past week is meeting brethren from various places, 
meeting men from various age groups, people that are definitely 
different in a whole host of ways. But we are unified in our 
Lord Jesus Christ and we are seeking to glorify and honor 
him in the church. I believe it was this past year, 
two men wrote a book, Why We Love the Church. Those men are 
Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. And it's a very encouraging book. Very often we talk about how 
bad the church is or you hear about how much the church doesn't 
do this or that or how the church is failing in this particular 
area. Well, we have that certain promise 
from our Lord Jesus that he will build his church and the gates 
of Haiti shall not prevail against it. And we ought to formulate 
a proper understanding of the church and that we, too, would 
write books such as Kevin DeYoung's and Ted Klotz on why we love 
the church. Well, I'll just begin reading 
in First Timothy, chapter three, at verse 14. These things I write 
to you, though I hope to come to you shortly. But if I am delayed, 
I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself 
in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, 
the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy, 
great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, 
justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the 
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our 
Father, we pray for Your Spirit to be upon us now. I pray that 
we would be encouraged at what Paul says concerning the church 
of the Lord Jesus Christ in this passage. God, I pray that we 
would be committed to pray not only for this local church, but 
for the church at large, that we would be mindful, Lord God, 
that we are but a small part of a much larger group. And Father, 
I pray that you would just cause us to be encouraged, to be built 
up and strengthened. And God, may we indeed see the 
great privilege that is ours of belonging to the very house 
of God himself. Do forgive us now for all of 
our sins. Wash us afresh in the blood of 
the Lord Jesus and cause us to receive the things that you would 
have for us. And we ask in his most blessed 
name. Amen. Well, there are actually 
two sections here in verses 14 to 16. The first is the identity 
of the church where we'll spend most of our time this evening. 
But then the latter verse highlights the confession. of the church, 
what the church is to be about in terms of confessing or professing. And so we'll touch on that as 
well. But first of all, with reference to the identity of 
the church, there's three things we need to notice about this 
verse and about where it appears in this particular book. The 
first is Paul's plan for ministry. Notice what he writes in verse 
14. These things I write to you. 
though I hope to come to you shortly. Paul founded the church 
in Ephesus according to Acts 19. Here in 1 Timothy 1 at verse 
3, he stationed Timothy there for a very specific reason. If 
you look at 1 Timothy 1 verse 3, As I urged you when I went 
into Macedonia, remain in Ephesus, that you may charge some that 
they teach no other doctrine. So Paul's words had come to fruition. If you remember back in Acts 
20, when he's on his way from Miletus to Jerusalem, or when 
he's in Miletus, he sends for the Ephesian elders and he gives 
them this pastoral charge. He says, therefore, take heed. 
to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit 
has made you overseers. He says that they were to shepherd 
the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. And then 
he gives as a reason for savage wolves will come in amongst the 
flock, not sparing the flock. He says from among yourselves, 
men will rise up seeking to get disciples for their own cause. So that had transpired. And so 
Paul sees the urgency and the necessity of stationing his like-minded 
friend, his companion Timothy, here in Ephesus so that he could 
indeed preach, teach, and wage the good warfare. Paul wanted 
to come and visit Timothy so he could assist him, so he could 
assist the church, and so that he could silence the false teachers. But then notice, secondly, his 
purpose for Timothy. He goes on to say in verse 15, 
but if I am delayed, I write so that you may so that you may 
know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God. 
So he's written to Timothy with the intent and with the plan 
to come and to see him. But he's written so that if he 
doesn't get that, if that doesn't happen, if he doesn't actually 
come to Timothy, he's written so that Timothy has instruction. 
He has a living, vital word from the apostle on how he is to deal 
with the situation. The things that Paul has in mind 
are specifically what he's already covered in chapters one to three. These things, he says, I write 
to you. What things, Paul? The things 
that are listed in chapters 1 up until this point to chapter 3. 
That includes rooting out false teachers. We've already seen 
that in verse 3 of chapter 1. It includes proclaiming the right 
use of the law. Those men who were false teachers 
in Ephesus desired to be teachers of the law. They botched it up. 
They twisted it. They distorted it. So Paul highlights 
that there is a lawful way to use the law in chapter 1 and 
verse 8. Paul as well wants Timothy to 
proclaim the glorious gospel of the blessed God. What should 
mark the ministry in the church? It ought not to be self-help 
messages. It ought not to be just a bunch 
of feel-good, but rather you are to proclaim the glorious 
gospel of the blessed God. That is a defining characteristic 
of the church of Jesus Christ. It's why we exist. Various other 
agencies engage in helping people. Various other agencies engage 
in trying to relieve suffering. The church is primarily tasked 
with seeking reconciliation between God and sinners through the preaching 
of the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Paul has told Timothy, 
according to chapter 1, verse 18, that he is to wage the good 
warfare. I think that's a very good passage 
for us to remember. He says in verse 18 of chapter 
1, This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the 
prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage 
the good warfare. It's very often for us, in the 
language of John Piper, to adopt a Disneyland mentality. We are 
Christians, we're in the church, and we just think that everything 
is hunky-dory. We don't hear the bullets whizzing 
by. We don't smell the smoke of the spiritual bombs that are 
blasting off all around us. We are engaged in a warfare. 
We live in a world that is antagonistic to the Christ of the Gospel. 
We live in a world that is in opposition to those who follow 
the Lamb wherever he goes. It's very easy for us to forget 
and neglect that fact that we are engaged in warfare to the 
very end. We are to take no prisoners. 
We are to give no quarter. We are, by God's grace, to dig 
in our heels and to be faithful to the very end. That means over 
the long haul. It means Lord's Day in and Lord's 
Day out as the church, as individual Christians who make up that church. 
It means each and every day striving to wage the good warfare. Paul 
has highlighted the place of prayer in the church. Remember, 
these things I write so that you may know how you ought to 
conduct yourself in the house of God. Chapter two, verses one 
to seven. I want men in every place to 
pray. I don't want you just to sort 
of coast along. I don't want you to think that 
you can engage in spiritual activity in a carnal manner. The very 
backbone and foundation of the church is prayer. Notice in First 
Timothy two verse one. Therefore, I exhort. First of 
all, this is the first order of business. The first order 
of business isn't Timothy. Make sure you're the most polished 
preacher in Ephesus. Timothy, make sure that you know 
how to be okay and to minister to others so that they can be 
okay. Timothy, make sure that everybody you minister to becomes 
a better them. No, the first order of business 
is prayer. We don't just tack on prayer 
meetings. Prayer is the vital place where 
the work of the ministry is engaged in. We want to call upon God 
to bless the ministries of the church. We want to call upon 
God to bless the individuals in the church. We want to join 
arms with our brethren in arms in other places of the world 
so that we may enter in on their behalf. First of all, he says. Your theology like that is your 
practice like that. Therefore, I exhort, first of 
all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks 
be made for all men. You need to be prayerful, Timothy. 
These things I write to you so that you may know how you ought 
to conduct yourself in the house of God. He then deals with the 
place of modesty in corporate worship. Ladies, you're not supposed 
to come in here as if it's a fashion show. The same with men. We're 
to engage in God-honoring clothing, God-honoring attire, so that 
when we come to praise and worship God, we're not wondering what's 
going on over there. modesty in corporate worship, 
and then he deals with the place of church leadership in chapter 
3 verses 1 to 13. The two abiding offices in the 
Church of Christ are elder and deacon, elder and deacon. Not apostle, not prophet, not 
whatever. The two abiding offices in the 
church of the Lord Jesus are elders and beacons. So that's 
what he means when he says in first Timothy 314, these things 
I write to you. Now, certainly it includes what 
is to follow to be sure. But this at a minimum, the church 
is to be a praying church. The church is to have qualified 
officers. The church is to engage in gospel 
ministry, preaching the glorious gospel of the blessed God. The 
church is to defend sound doctrine. She is to wage the good warfare. 
She is to root out false teachers. She is to engage as the apostle 
bids in this particular verse. Now, notice thirdly, under the 
identity of the church, Specifically, Paul's portrayal of the church. He says, first, it is the house 
of God. Isn't that great? You're part 
of the house of God. Remember what we've been learning 
in the book of Galatians. God is our father. In Ephesians 
chapter 1, when Paul is celebrating every spiritual blessing that 
we have in the heavenly places in Christ, he says, in love, 
having predestinated us unto adoption as sons. We are sons 
of the living God. We are participants of the household 
of God. We are inhabitants of a most 
blessed, a most choice, and a most wonderful place. Through Christ's 
crosswork, God has adopted us as sons and daughters and brought 
us into his family. So when these false teachers 
went into the church and when they brought confusion, when 
they brought disorder, when they sowed the seeds of discord, they 
were attacking the very house of God. There's a tunnel. I think it's Charles Road. And 
it's between First Avenue and Chilliwack Central. Perhaps you've 
been through that tunnel at some point in your life. It's a pedestrian 
tunnel, not a vehicle tunnel. I know this because the pro-life 
walk goes through there, the 5K. I couldn't run 10K. I was 
happy to get five. But you run through this tunnel, 
and there's graffiti in there. Or perhaps you've seen graffiti 
in public places before. We don't like it, do we? It bothers 
us. We wonder what kind of a man 
or a woman would write on, or a boy or a girl, would write 
on a public wall. But in the final analysis, it 
really doesn't bother us that much. Imagine going home from 
church tonight, walking into your living room and seeing some 
gang insignia in there. You'd be fighting mad then. You'd 
be 9-1-1, get over here, get the Mounties, get whoever, because 
someone actually had the audacity to walk into my living room and 
to deface my property. The church is the house of God. The church is God's place. The church is not to be defaced. It is not to be trashed. It is 
not to be mistreated. It is to be loved. It is to be 
cherished. It is to be fought for. And this 
is a good, helpful analogy for what we often hear. You ever 
met people who say, oh, the church is filled with all kinds of problems. Show me a house that isn't. We 
got problems in the Butler house. Does that mean we hate each other? 
We don't want the best for each other. No, it means we're sinners. trying to live together in a 
particular house. I suspect that in all of your 
households, at some time or another, somebody acts messed up. Oh, Pastor, you're impugning 
evil. I'm just being general here. Maybe yours is the house 
where no one ever has any issues. Everybody just does what they're 
supposed to do. Everybody just toes the line. 
Nobody ever says a careless word. Nobody ever says anything that 
grates against the others. The Church of God is made up 
of sinners, redeemed sinners, to be sure, but there's remaining 
corruption. So we can't say that house is 
all messed up because there's some messed up people there. 
No, it doesn't follow. Where can you go where there 
isn't messed up people? There's only one place that I 
know of, and we have to die in Christ in order to get there. 
The house of God, she isn't perfect. She isn't without blemish. She 
isn't without issue. She isn't without her sin, but 
she nevertheless is God's house. So that when these false teachers 
came in and wrote their graffiti in it, Paul says, these things 
I write to you, Timothy, you don't allow them to continue 
on in there with their spray cans, with their gang symbols. You don't allow them to represent. 
You force them out because God's house is a place of integrity. God's house is a place of holiness. God's house is made up of his 
people. We need to understand this with 
reference to the idea of how we approach God as well. Who 
gets to call the shots? The house holder. The house owner. The one who has formed the family. You fathers, when you lay down 
laws in your house, do you allow your children to say, you know, 
Dad, I've heard what you say, but I don't like that. I want 
to substitute this for that. This morning we were reminded 
about pragmatism. Pragmatism is an offense. It is to say that God's way is 
not the best way. We know so much better. We're 
so much wiser. We have taken market polls. We 
have conducted research. We know that people will not 
sit for a 45 minute sermon. So we're going to give them a 
10 or 15 minute message. We know that wrath and hell and 
the anger of God is so antiquated. So today we're only going to 
speak about love. We're only going to speak about 
goodness. We're only going to speak about happiness. The problem 
with that is that love, happiness, goodness, all of that loses something 
without the context of who God is in his anger towards sin. We are in the house of God, and 
we need to understand that with reference to defending it and 
with reference to what we do when we're here. Well, you know, 
God, we've heard what you say, but we're going to do this. God 
said to Moses, speak to the rock. Moses yelled at the people, took 
his staff, and struck the rock twice, as if to say, God, my 
way is better. Brethren, that ought to sober 
us. This is not ultimately ours. It is God's. It is His. He is the monarch. It is a Christocracy. It is a theocracy in terms of 
the church. I'm not suggesting that Canada 
is a theocracy. I'm speaking of the church. God 
rules. Christ rules from the right hand 
of his father. This is a wonderful and beautiful 
description of the church. It is the house of God. As I 
said, guard against the temptation to expect perfection. I have 
said it before and I have done it before. I will sin against 
you. You will sin against me. We will sin against each other. 
The house of God is not absent of those things, but the house 
of God is marked by the way we deal with them. We confess it. We forsake it. We seek mercy 
from one another. We don't hold grudges. We don't 
stand off. We don't avoid people. We deal 
with it. We go to one another. In the 
spirit of Matthew 18, if your brother sins against you, go 
to him. I've often thought that if we 
had Matthew 18 and Matthew 6 better in our minds and hearts, we would 
be a whole lot better off. Matthew 18 is the rule for if 
our brother sins against us. What are we supposed to do? Go 
to him. If he sins, go to him. Brother, 
you sinned against me. You don't go to him with a gun. 
You don't go to him with a knife. You don't go to him with a club 
because I'm going to fix you for what you did. No, brother, 
you sinned against me. You go to him. If he hears you, 
then you have won your brother. It's over. We bury it, we cover 
it, and off we go. We don't keep bringing it up. 
We don't keep putting it in that person's face. The other passage 
is when Jesus says, if when you go to worship, you lay down your 
gift on the altar, and dare you remember that someone has a problem 
with you, first go and be reconciled to him. Before you engage in 
a hypocrisy, before you engage in hypocritical worship, go to 
him. Reconcile. What's the point? Before you can come to God, you've 
got to make sure you're walking in unity with one another. That's 
why Paul deals the way he does in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. 
The issue wasn't necessarily there was eating and drinking 
to the point of gluttony and drunkenness. Now don't take that 
and say, Butler says we can be gluttons and drunks. No, that's 
not what I'm saying. What was the point? It is to 
despise the Church of God when a group who has neglects those 
who do not. It is to assault the very unity 
of the body when there are some who are well healed and they 
won't give to their brothers and sisters. Paul says you've 
got to clean that up. It cannot be the case that in 
this feast that you have, there are some who go away having eaten 
and drank to the full, and there's others among you who are hungry. 
That is to despise the church of God. Brethren, we are part 
of the house of God. God is our father. Jesus is our 
brother. We are brothers one with another. 
Let us pray for each other. Let us encourage each other. 
Let us realize what we have in this place. Let us praise God. Not because we're perfect. We 
are far from it. But the root of the matter is 
here. And we ought to be engaged in biblical churchmanship on 
that account. So he describes the church as 
the house of God. Then notice he calls it the church 
of the living God. Pastor Kim said when he was reading 
earlier, we don't serve the God of the heathen. We don't serve 
those idols who have eyes, but they don't see that have ears, 
but they don't hear. They have mouths, but they don't 
speak. We serve the true and the living God. We serve the 
living Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only God and he himself 
is the source and life of the church. The church is not a pagan 
temple where we just come in for ritual. The church is a place 
where God uniquely dwells in the New Covenant community. I 
love that scene in Revelation chapter 1 in verse 13. Jesus 
is standing in the midst of the lampstands. It's not some distant 
spectator. He didn't just set the church 
in motion and then say, well, I'll come back and see you in 
a couple thousand years when everything is all said and done. 
Jesus is in the midst of her. That's why he can go to each 
of those seven churches and say, I know your works. That's why 
he can commend what is good in those local bodies. That's why 
he can condemn what is bad in those local bodies. And that's 
why he can tell them to repent and make things right, because 
he is with them. Brethren, there ought to be a 
holy expectation when you come here on Sunday. Not just because 
you're going to see your brothers and sisters, though that's a 
boon. The primary blessing of New Covenant worship is that 
God is in this place. That God is among us. You say, 
well, I don't feel it. That doesn't change it. I suspect 
there's people who have cancer that don't feel it, at least 
initially. but it doesn't change the reality 
that they have it. We are often governed by our 
feelings, brethren, and our feelings must be informed by the Word 
of God. Our feelings must be informed by the truth of Holy 
Scripture. This is what God has promised 
to be with his people in the new covenant community, in the 
church of the Lord Jesus Christ. So his portrayal of the church, 
it includes being the house of God, the church of the living 
God. Now, notice thirdly, the pillar and ground of the truth. The pillar and ground of the 
truth, John Calvin said this, could it have been described 
in loftier language? Is anything more venerable or 
more holy than that everlasting truth which embraces both the 
glory of God and the salvation of men? Were all the praises 
of heathen philosophy, with which it has been adorned by its followers, 
collected into one heap? What is this in comparison of 
the dignity of this wisdom, which alone deserves to be called light 
and truth and the instruction of life and the way and the kingdom 
of God? Now it is preserved on earth 
by the ministry of the church alone. We are the pillar and 
the ground of the truth. Each of God's human institutions 
have a specific function. The family is the basic social 
function. It is that place where we have 
children, where we rear them under kingdom usefulness. We 
bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. We 
have mutual love with one another. We have that covenant of companionship 
in the married state with one another. The state has a very 
specific role. According to Romans chapter 13, 
its job is to defend its citizenry by enemies. God has placed into 
the hand of the magistrate the sword so that he may be an avenger 
of God's wrath. But the church's unique privilege 
The church's unique blessing is to be the pillar and the ground 
of the truth that Christ Jesus came into the world, sinners 
to save. The church is not to try and 
ameliorate, that means make better, everybody's issues. The church 
loses her way when she engages in those things that properly 
belong to the family and to the state. The church is to be about 
the proclamation of Christ and him crucified. That is to be 
her defining characteristic. That is to be her defining deed 
within society, is to proclaim that Christ came into the world, 
sinners to save. It's interesting in the pastoral 
epistles, 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus called that because 
he's writing the pastors. The emphasis in these letters 
is upon sound doctrine. I realize that everybody here 
is probably in agreement with me. But we need to be reminded. 
I went all the way to New Jersey to hear that I'm supposed to 
read my Bible and pray. Isn't that the message? Go to 
a ladies conference. What should you hear? Ladies, 
read your Bibles and pray. Go to a men's conference. What 
should you hear? Read your Bibles and pray. You 
go to a youth conference. What should you hear? Read your 
Bibles and pray. However many pastors get together, 
and you know what they hear? Read your Bibles and pray. Why is that? Because that's the 
ABCs of spiritual life. You don't grow without it. You 
don't fight without it. You don't persevere without it. 
You don't move without it. It is your very lifeline. Read 
your Bibles and pray. Paul emphasizes this to these 
men. 1 Timothy 1, verse 10. Again, just by way of reminder. 1 Timothy 1, verse 10. For fornicators, for sodomites, 
for kidnappers, for liars. He's highlighting, I believe 
specifically, the Ten Commandments and the fact that men were misusing 
or he was highlighting a wrong use of this particular law. are 
these laws. And then he says, "...for perjurers, 
and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 
according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was 
committed to my trust." 1 Timothy 4, verse 6. Specific instruction 
to Timothy. If you instruct the brethren 
in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, 
nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine. 1 Timothy 
chapter 4, verse 13, till I come, give attention to reading, to 
exhortation, to doctrine, not give attention to golf, not give 
attention to self-help, not give attention to a thousand other 
causes that may be legitimate. But Timothy, as a man of God, 
waging the good warfare, seeking to refute false teachers, here's 
what you need to be about. He says, till I come, give attention 
to. Not just throw it on at the end 
of a busy week. Brethren, that is a mistake. 
I mentioned this morning two books that were very Very encouraging, 
very good read. One is Why Johnny Can't Preach, 
and the other is Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns. And in the Why Johnny 
Can't Preach book, he says, you know, I meet a lot of congregations, 
the fellow who's writing this, you know, he hears people say, 
you know, our minister, he's an okay preacher. And this man 
says, that usually means he's not a good preacher at all. I 
mean, this guy's brutal. He's the kind of guy that if 
you had a newborn baby would probably say, that's ugly. I 
mean, probably a little bit overboard. But he says, I meet these people 
and they say, yeah, he's not that good of a preacher, but 
he's really good in this, or he's really good in this, or 
he's got a real shepherd's heart, or he really visits, and that's 
good. We ought to encourage such things. 
But he says, I long to meet a congregation that says, you know, he's a bit 
awkward in visitation. He's a little bit weird in this 
particular area. But man, can he preach the truth. The final analysis, brethren, 
Jesus prayed, sanctify them by thy truth. I don't think we have 
fully appreciated the impact, effect, and necessity of sound 
doctrine. We need it to learn about Christ 
in order to be saved. We need it in order to learn 
about Christ, in order to live, to persevere, to go forward. Paul emphasizes this with Timothy 
again and again and again. 1 Timothy 4, verse 16, take heed 
to yourself and to the doctrine. He sees that connection. It's 
not as if he's just a doctrine machine. He must be applying 
it. It must be adorning his life. But he is to take heed to himself 
and to the doctrine. Continue in them. For in doing 
this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you. You see 
what's at stake here. Salvation. That's what's at stake. That's 
why it's important. That's why the church is the 
pillar and the ground of the truth. We're not here amongst 
the outlaws and the other clubs and the social groups just to 
kill time while we're in this lower world. We're here to educate 
men and women that God is a holy God, that he is full of wrath 
and anger. that He will ultimately punish 
sinners in hell forever and ever and ever. But God, in His grace 
and in His mercy, sent His Son. His Son lived under the law. 
His Son obeyed the law. His Son went to the cross on 
behalf of sinners. His Son died and rose again so 
that everybody who looks to Him in faith will have everlasting 
life. You see, it is huge, the implications 
here. It is about salvation or damnation. It's not just a couple of ideas 
to help you be a little happier in this world. Second Timothy, 
chapter one, notice in verse 13. Second Timothy, chapter one, 
verse 13, hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have 
heard from me in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Hold 
it fast, Timothy. Later on in Second Timothy, chapter 
four, he's going to urge him to preach the word. And he's 
going to give him two reasons very specifically. And the first 
is simply this, for the time will come when men will not endure 
sound doctrine. So what would be the temptation 
for a Timothy? If men don't want sound doctrine, 
what might be the temptation? Well, then I'll tell them things 
they want to hear. I'll tell them things that will 
soothe them. I'll tell them things that they'll 
like. No, hold fast. Don't give in. Don't neglect. Take two hands, put it on that 
truth, and don't let it go. I've mentioned before there's 
an amusement park in California. Everybody always wants to go 
to Disneyland when they go to California. That's for lightweights. 
Go to Six Flags Magic Mountain. They have what they call white 
knucklers there. White knucklers. That means you're 
holding on so hard to that bar lest you fall out your knuckles 
are white. That's what Christian truth is. 
It's a white knuckler. You don't hold it with a limp 
wrist. You don't hold it as if it's something that isn't important. 
You hold it fast. You don't let it go. The church 
is to be the pillar and the ground of the truth. Not letting go. Not relinquishing. Not entertaining. Not engaged in some other form 
of trying to reach the people. 2 Timothy 2, verse 15. Be diligent. Be diligent to present 
yourself approved to God. A worker who does not need to 
be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of 
truth. It's amazing. Be diligent in 
this. Study to show yourself. Take 
the Word, divide it up, preach it, teach it, and ram it down 
the throats of the hearers in the nicest possible way to be 
sure. 2 Timothy 3, 14-17. 2 Timothy 3, 14. But you must continue in the 
things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing 
from whom you have learned them. And that from childhood you have 
known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for 
salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture 
is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, 
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every 
good work. Note the emphasis in the pastoral 
epistles. It is not upon the continuing 
sign gifts. It is not upon the continuing 
revelatory gifts. It is to take that body of apostolic 
doctrine, hold it fast and proclaim it faithfully to the churches 
of Jesus Christ. Brethren, we are in the blessed 
and privileged position of being the house of God, the church 
of the living God, and the very pillar and ground of the truth. In the words of Gordon Clark, 
he says, in less metaphorical language, this means that the 
church proclaims, defends, and propagates the gospel. Its task 
is to declare all of God's revealed truth. That is a great summary 
statement that does encapsulate this portion of teaching and 
much of the New Testament data in less metaphorical language. This means that the church proclaims, 
defends and propagates the gospel. Its task is to declare all of 
God's revealed truth. That is the identity of the church. Secondly, and quickly notice 
the confession of the church. Verse 16. And without controversy, 
great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, 
justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the 
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory. 
What does Paul say? He says it's all about Jesus 
Christ. It's all about the Lord who came in the likeness of flesh. It is all about the Lord who 
died for sinners and who rose again. Patrick Fairbairn says 
this was the thought in St. Paul's mind, that the great revelation 
of the religious life is Christ. The church is defined by her 
Christology. God was manifested in the flesh. That is true of Jesus, the second 
person of the Godhead, the Logos. Remember in John 1, 1, in the 
beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word 
was God. Drop down to verse 14. The Word 
became flesh and dwelt among us. We beheld his glory. He is full of grace and truth. The church is to be about Jesus 
manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit. The idea, I think, 
there has to do with Romans chapter one and verse four. It's not 
that Jesus needed justifying because he was sinful, but he 
was declared to be the son of God with power at the resurrection. The idea going on is that he's 
seen by angels and preached among the Gentiles. That is his work 
displayed. The angels behold Him at the 
cross. The fallen angels, the elect 
angels. They see Him accomplish redemption. 
And then Jesus is preached among the Gentiles. This is why we 
go and testify that Jesus saves. Jesus saves. He not only engaged 
in this work, but we are tasked with preaching it, proclaiming 
it, telling men from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation of 
what Christ has done. This is why Paul tells the Philippians 
that they are to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation, 
holding forth the word of truth. They are to be light bearers 
and they are to be bold witnesses testifying for the glory of Christ. Dr. Ware brought that out. We 
are not only to be witnesses but worshippers. Those two W's 
ought to define us as the people of God. Witness for Him and worship 
unto Him. And then His work is embraced. 
His work is received. His work is confirmed. He's believed on in the world. And He is received up in glory. God is well pleased with the 
Father. God highly exalts Him and gives 
Him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus, 
every knee should bow. Every tongue confess that He 
is Lord to the glory of God the Father. So the church's identity 
is highlighted in verses 14 and 15, and the church's confession 
is all about Christ in verse 16, called here the mystery of 
godliness. Mystery means for Paul something 
that was previously not revealed, but has now been revealed. And 
this centers on the glory and the person of Jesus Christ. Well, 
in conclusion, by way of application, I think it's helpful for us first 
to consider some other descriptions of the church. I want you to 
love the church. I really do. I want you to write 
a book someday that says why I love the church or why we love 
the church. It doesn't even have to be this 
church, but be some church. Consider what we have. Consider 
what you're a part of. Consider your identity. Consider 
what God has done in your lives. We are a holy and a royal priesthood 
offering spiritual sacrifices to God. That's amazing. Wasn't that Israel's 
purpose among the nations of the earth? Isn't that what God 
said in Exodus chapter 19? Well, as we know, Israel failed, 
but Jesus, the true Israel, was successful. So now, by virtue 
of this redemptive work, the church in him is the new Israel, 
the true Israel, the spiritual Israel. And according to 1 Peter 
chapter 2, verse 5, we are a holy and a royal priesthood offering 
spiritual sacrifices to God. We don't engage in priestcraft. 
You don't go to a little box or a little booth to pour out 
your heart to some human priest. We have Jesus as the high priest 
of a better covenant. And we, by virtue of His work, 
are all priests unto God. You know what the priest does? The priest has access to the 
Father. The prophet comes from God to proclaim the Word to the 
people. The priest goes to God on behalf 
of the people. You get to pray. You get to worship. You have access. You can come 
with boldness to the throne of grace to find help in your time 
of need based on what Christ has done. We are a chosen generation 
and a holy nation belonging to God in 1 Peter chapter 2 and 
verse 9. Remember when Jesus is condemning 
unbelieving Israel in Matthew 21, He says, I will take the 
kingdom from you and I will give it to a nation bearing fruits 
consistent with it. Who is that nation? Is it America? Is it Canada? Is it a place in 
Africa? It's the church according to 
Peter in 1 Peter chapter 2. We are a temple indwelled by 
the Spirit of God according to Ephesians 2, 21 and 22. It's 
amazing. I've got to say, if I was the 
Spirit, I wouldn't want to hang out in me. But that's how good, 
merciful, kind and gracious our God is. He indwells us. He's with us. He's our on-board 
guide in all of life. We have the Spirit. We are branches 
connected to Jesus, who is the true vine, according to John 
15. What does that mean? It means we must feed on him. 
We must read our Bibles and pray so that we may grow strong in 
that connection. We are a flock led by the good 
shepherd, according to John chapter 10. Remember, he said, I came 
that they might have life and that they might have it abundantly. 
He doesn't just apportion out a little bit of life. Okay, you've 
got enough. I came that you may have it abundantly. Remember 
the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 55? Why do you spend your wages 
on that which does not satisfy? Why are you eating garbage? Why 
are you eating muck? Why are you eating things that 
are not fit for consumption? God through the prophet says, 
come, buy wine and milk. Come feast without money. We are a body of which Jesus 
Christ is the head, Ephesians chapter one, verses 22 to 23. 
You see, God was well pleased with what Christ did. So he exalted 
him, stationed him at his right hand, gave him universal and 
comprehensive authority over all things to the church. The 
church is central in God's plan. And we are the church which is 
blood-bought according to Acts 20, 28. Marvelous exposition 
of that passage by the Puritan Richard Baxter. And one of the 
things that he urges upon his readers is the fact that we ought 
to consider the great dignity of the people of God. Yeah, we're 
miserable sinners. Yeah, we're wretches. Yeah, we're 
all of that. But by virtue of the fact that 
Jesus died for us and rose again, we are blood-bought children 
of God. We have dignity. We have worth. We have value. Not in some humanistic, 
self-esteem way that ultimately isn't. But we have value because 
of what Christ has done on our behalf. Secondly, we need to 
consider the privilege that is ours. The church proclaims, defends, 
and propagates the Gospel. You may say, but I'm not a pastor. 
I'm not a preacher. You're a prayer. You have some 
role to engage within the body of Christ. You have something 
that you do to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ. I've often thought 
that the ones who get the biggest crowns are probably not going 
to be those men who preached in various places and all these 
things. It's going to be the faithful brothers and sisters 
that labored in obscurity behind the scenes where only God alone 
saw them. There is no work insignificant 
in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Isn't this what Paul tells us 
after having taught on the resurrection? He says, therefore, my beloved 
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work 
of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Labor is not in vain in the Lord. 
You say, well, that's that's just horrible. Step it up. You can do better. Now, we could 
step it up and do better, but God sees our works in Christ 
and He receives them and He is pleased with them. In our lives 
and in our doctrine, we have the privilege of setting forth 
the glories of Christ to a world that needs the message desperately. 
Thirdly, consistent with the privilege that is ours, there 
is a responsibility as well. There is a responsibility to 
let our conduct be worthy of the Gospel. Yes, there'll be 
sin in the church, but we need to deal with it. Yes, there'll 
be hypocrisy in the church, but we need to deal with it. Yes, 
there'll be issues in the church. We need to deal with it. We have 
a responsibility as a royal priesthood, as a chosen nation, to actually 
engage in light bearing to actually let our good works adorn the 
doctrine of Christ our Savior. Fourthly, I mentioned this earlier. 
I alluded to Heinz's message this morning. Pragmatism. Look 
at 2 Timothy chapter 4 for just a moment. Pastor Ted Donley preached 
on this section in two sessions on Thursday. And it was most excellent. Notice 
2 Timothy 4. I already said that Paul gives 
two reasons for the command. I charge you, therefore, before 
God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and 
the dead at his appearing in his kingdom. Here's the command. 
Preach the word. That's the command. This is the 
last letter that Paul wrote prior to his death. What mattered for 
Paul in the 11th hour? Not his estate. Not his goods. Not his retirement home. What 
mattered for Paul was that Timothy preach the Word. When all is 
said and done, Timothy, amongst your various ministerial duties, 
make this the crown. Make this the main thing. Preach 
the Word. He then describes the manner 
in which Timothy is to do this. Be ready in season and out of 
season. When you preach, don't just throw it out there as suggestions. Don't just throw it out there 
as something that you can take or leave. No, Timothy, when you 
preach the word convict or convince, reprove. Why? Because we err, we sin, we're 
prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love. We need to come 
under faithful preaching so that our sin is reproved, or rebuked 
rather, and we go back to our Lord Jesus. He says to exhort. Not only must we be rebuked, 
we must be exhorted with the proper conduct. But notice, Timothy, 
you're to do this with all longsuffering and teaching. Be patient, Timothy. I've often thought the most patient 
man in the world ought to be a Calvinist. The most patient 
man in the world ought to be a Calvinistic post-millennialist, 
but that's a whole different discussion. Timothy, don't get mad. Don't 
get frustrated. Don't get angry. Don't beat them 
about the head when they don't do what God says. With long-suffering. What does that teach us? Just 
by way of an aside, in the way that God deals with us. God is 
long-suffering with us. Again, that morning message this 
morning. God could have said, look, Moses, look what you lost. 
I guess you'll learn next time not to smack rocks twice. Because 
of that, Moses, you're on your own. God buried him. God tended 
to him. God cared for him. Our God is 
long-suffering with us. And Timothy, when you convince, 
rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering, do a teaching. You don't reach 
the heart through the feelings. You reach both through the mind. You teach the Scripture. People 
ought to understand their Bibles. People ought to understand the 
exposition of Scripture. God communicated to be understood. Don't mess that up, Timothy. 
Make sure that when people come to hear you preach, they are 
learning what the passage means. Now notice, here's his two reasons. 
Verse three, for the time will come when they will not endure 
sound doctrine. Second reason is verse 6, for I am already 
being poured out as a drink offering. The second reason is simply this. 
Paul is about to die. He wants to make sure Timothy 
is going to be faithful. He wants to make sure that when 
he passes the Jordan River and he enters into Emmanuel's land, 
his young ministerial companion is faithfully executing his task, 
his charge in the proclamation of the truth. So Paul's teaching 
in the second point is I'm leaving, so I want you to preach the word. 
But let's look at that first reason. Notice in verse three, 
for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. 
Paul would fail church growth 101. What happens when the church 
will not endure sound doctrine? We give them what they want. 
We tell them what they want to hear. We cuddle them. We play 
games with them. Not Paul. Paul says there's a 
time coming, Timothy, when they will not endure sound doctrine. 
So what's the answer? Preach sound doctrine. It doesn't 
matter what they think they need. God knows what they need. It 
doesn't matter what they think they want. God knows what they 
need. Now, notice this. But according 
to their own desires. That's sad. We will actually 
enter into the fray and say, my desires trump God's mandate. What I want is more important 
than what God says I need. You might take the dropper full 
of Tylenol to put it in your kid's mouth. I'm supposing or 
assuming that you all agree, if you don't, supply whatever 
it is that you put in there that's good. The kid says, no, I don't 
want that. Just give me a lollipop. I've 
got a raging fever, 103 degrees. I want a lollipop because that 
will make it all go away. Oh yes, junior, let me give you 
the lollipop. No, you squeeze the Tylenol into 
their mouths. Whether they gag or retch or 
whatever it may be because they don't like the taste. And yet 
in the church, my desires, my preferences, my whatever trumps 
God the Lord. Isn't that what he says? The 
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but 
according to their own desires. And this is sick, too. Because 
they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. It's unfortunate, but there's 
always somebody out there to satisfy desires. If there's a 
paycheck in it, if there's prestige in it, if there's something in 
it, sure, I'll tell you what you want to hear. Sure, I'll 
tell you what you want to believe. Sure, I'll tell you what you 
want to know. Isn't that what Paul is saying 
here? What's the antidote? Do what I'm commanding you to 
do. Preach the word. Be ready in 
season. Be ready out of season. Convince, 
rebuke, exhort. Do so with all longsuffering 
and teaching. Realizing there is a season coming. There is 
a generation coming that will not endure sound doctrine. They 
will want to tailor things to their own desires. They'll heap 
up for themselves teachers. That's a sick scene. But the 
answer is not to concede. The answer is to dig in, be faithful, 
and preach the word. He goes on to say, and they will 
turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to 
fables. But you be watchful in all things. 
Endure afflictions. Do the work of an evangelist. 
Fulfill your ministry. The temptation of pragmatism 
is to substitute something else for what God has declared. We 
often hear the words, regulative principle of worship. Al Martin 
mentioned an essay. It's a collection of essays that 
was presented in memory, probably memory. I don't know if he was 
alive when this book was written, but James Montgomery Boyce died. And they wrote a collection of 
essays about worship. And Pastor Martin referenced 
one by Ligon Duncan. And basically, Ligon Duncan said, 
with reference to worship, we read the Word. We preach the 
Word. We sing the Word. We pray the 
Word. We see the Word. That's a great, 
great encapsulation of what we're to do in worship. We read the 
Word. We preach the Word. We sing the 
Word. Pray the Word and we see the 
Word. What do you mean by seeing the 
Word? We see it right there when somebody goes into the water. 
We see it right here when we participate in the Lord's table. That is wherein genuine liberty 
lies. And then fifthly and finally, 
the means of entrance into the house of God. I know many churches 
have new believers classes. Many churches will have you read 
their confession and their constitution. Many churches will have you meet 
with the elders to discuss entrance into a particular local church. 
That's not what I'm talking about. The way into the church is through 
Christ. The way into everlasting life 
is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Come to Him. Come to 
the one who alone can give you forgiveness and righteousness. 
Come to Christ in order to have everlasting life. It's not that 
you come to Free Grace Baptist Church and by virtue of that, 
you'll enter into heaven. Come to Jesus and by virtue of 
that, you'll enter into heaven. Come to the Lord of glory alone. And you will have rest for your 
soul. Well, let us pray. Father, we 
thank you for the word of God. We thank you for this section 
in Paul's epistle. We just pray that you would help 
us to be faithful, God, and to persevere and to love your truth, 
to love the fact that we are part of the very house of God, 
that we are part of the church of the living God, and to see 
that as the pillar and ground of the truth. And we pray for 
your peace to be upon us here. We pray for other churches here 
in Chilliwack. We pray for churches throughout 
Canada that there would be an emphasis upon the truth of God, 
the glory of God, the gospel of free and sovereign grace. 
And we pray that you would do a mighty work in our generation, 
God. Pour out your spirit and revive 
your people and awaken those who are dead in their trespasses 
and sins. We ask these things for your 
glory and for your honor, and we pray through Jesus Christ, 
the Lord. Amen.