When is a Mystery not a Mystery? by Pastor Dave

“…you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.’”
1 Timothy 3: 15
 
1 Timothy 3: 14-16
 
     “We all love a good mystery,” so the saying goes. There are unsolved mysteries, mysteries that are like riddles to be unraveled, mysteries whose secrets are kept hidden by those in power for their own benefit and then mysteries that can be solved. The Gospel falls into this last category, the mystery of God for all to see (1 Tim. 3: 16a; Eph. 3:9, 5: 32; Col. 1: 26-27; & 1 Cor. 2: 7); it’s there to be understood, to be solved. The key to understanding the Gospel can be found in Jesus Christ and verse 16 opens the door for us to grasp its meaning. Jesus, God’s Son, joins heaven with earth through His incarnational ministry. In this verse we see that connection as the wall that separates us from God comes down through faith in Him. Jesus, we read, appeared in body – and was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels – and was preached amongst the nations and then finally was believed on in the world – and taken up to glory; heaven and earth united through Jesus.
 
     This mystery, the passage tells us, has been revealed to the Church for the Church to now witness its truth to the world. As we have touched on already Ephesus was home to the great temple of Artemis (or Diana); it was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. One of its features was its pillars; it contained one hundred and twenty-seven of them, each a gift of a king. Paul, significantly tells the young church that they are “the Church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The relevance of this statement would not have been lost on the recipients of this letter. Paul tells the Church that this is indeed the purpose of his communication; they need to know how to conduct themselves so as to hold up the truth of Christ (vs. 15). He is the single pillar, the foundation of truth, within the Church; the true gift of a King. The Church, His Body, is now to behave and live in a certain way so as to reveal the mystery of God to the world.
 
     Yesterday we considered how we may have transformed lives, lived within the Church, to glorify God and witness to the world. This can enable others to be transformed by the mystery of God. If you were not at Church yesterday, nor listened online, I would encourage you to do so. We are to live as God’s children, in His household, grounded in His truth so that the watching world may know the Saviour. A mystery is no longer a mystery when its truth is revealed.

To Ponder: We are to view the Church as God’s household and in the light of the truth she is to confess. How might this change your attitude towards church and your service to God within her? What will you with the conclusions you draw?
 
Pray: Almighty God, you have built your church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Join us together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may become a holy temple, acceptable to you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
 
Praise: Lord I lift your Name on high
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6I6orjM3NI
The Church’s one foundation
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jotNbcFelX4