The Heart of the Doctrine

Searching God’s Mystery

1 Timothy 3:14-16

14 “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:” 1 TIMOTHY 3:14

Paul was delayed in Macedonia but desired to be with Timothy and the church of Ephesus.

15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 TIMOTHY 3:15

Objective of the Epistle

Since Paul was not readily available to be present he offered instructions through letter on:

1)Church Conduct

2)Church Leadership

3)Warning Against Apostasy

4)God’s Purpose for the Church

Church of the “Living” God

Paul qualifies the sovereignty of God by affirming the fact that he is still functioning, living, and working.

1)Pillar- Specific reference to temple of Artemis.

2)Ground is reference to other gods and false idols that were worshipped only at their region.

The Pillar of God’s household was based on truth.

17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18 But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.” 2 KINGS 6:17-18

16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 TIMOTHY 3:16

Paul expounds on the church being “truth” and God being “living”.

Mysteries of Paul

Mystery- A Truth hidden from the Old Testament age and revealed in the Church Age.

1)The Church (Ephesians 3:9-10) 2)The Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51)3)Israel’s rejection of Christ (Romans 11:25-27) 4)The Mystery of Godliness

Mystery of Godliness

• Truths of Salvation• Righteousness in Christ• Christ is the Salvation• Holiness in Believers • Reign and Authority of Christ

“God was manifest in flesh”

The original Greek word for God (theos) is not used but rather “ov” which is similar to a personal pronoun. Many versions more accurately render the translated word as “He”.

“He was manifest in the flesh”. This word implies individuality of a person.

Who is “He”?

Trinitarianism- God/He are interchangeable since Christ is the second person of one, triune God.

Oneness Pentecostalism- “He” is a reference to the one God that existed as Jehovah in OT and manifested (made visible) as Christ in the NT.

Since “He” is personal it could refer to any of the three persons in a Trinitarian view.

Does this Matter?

1) Baptismal Formula

2) Personal Relationship

Who appeared to Paul and John? 18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them,

saying, All power is given unto me (Christ in glorified state) in heaven and in earth.” MATTHEW 28:18

Justified in the Spirit

“Justified in the Spirit” Justified means righteous. This statement is a declaration of Christ’s sinless, spiritual attitude.

5“However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:” ROMANS 4:5, 6

Justification Does not describe change in a person’s

character it describes the change in his standing before God.

It is a legal term meaning “not guilty”. Sin and death no longer have claim or

reign in believers but yet remain in them.

Christ had to be perfect to be made our righteousness.(2 CORINTHIANS 5:19)

30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:30

11“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11

Sanctification BEGINS at justification. Sanctification mean to set apart, to be holy. Though it begins at salvation it is progressive.

18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18Sanctification is a lifelong process. It is God working in believers. As we grow in Christ we become more separated to sin and more consecrated to God. As we mature in Godliness our sins become more obvious and more painful. (Romans 7:21)

The Blood of Jesus

Facts about Blood:Human body has many kinds of tissues such as muscle, nerves, fat, glands, bone etc. The blood is fluid and mobile. It moves throughout the BODY supplying cells with nourishment and carrying away waste products.

The Blood of Christ constantly flows

Glorification

23 “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” ROMANS 8:23

Glorification is the immediate and instantaneous completion of the work of sanctification.

“Seen of Angels”

Theory # 1Christ proclaimed himself to the spirits in the grave.

Theory #2 Christ revealed himself to demonic beings that had been prisoned.

19 “After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.”

1 Peter 3:19-20

31 “And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss” LUKE 8:31

Demonic Beings (fallen angels) so vile that they overstepped boundaries:

1)They desired woman of the earth. (Genesis 6:1-3)

2)They inhabited physical bodies.

(2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6)

God’s Judgment

Because God’s creation had been contaminated by demonic spirits and human women reproducing, He had to destroy the world.

This rebellion was so severe God chained these spirits until the time of the end.

15 “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Colossians 2:15

Paul is emphasizing:

Christ’s victory over death. Christ’s superiority over Spirits.

Christ’s declaration that he is All Powerful.

Christ rules over the most wicked forces.

Preached Unto Gentiles22 “Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” JOHN 4:22

48 “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it.” EXODUS 12:48

6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you  to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,” ISAIAH 42:6 (Matthew 12:21)

Prophetically, Jesus was the fulfillment that salvation would come to all nations. He was believed and acknowledged as “Salvation.”

“Received up into Glory”

8 Therefore He says: “ When He ascended on high ,He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” EPHESIANS 4:8

The image conveyed is that of a Roman captain that conquers a region and distributes his spoils to his army.