John Bunyan was imprisoned for preaching, and in prison, he wrote his autobiography titled, “Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners”. In it, he quotes 2 Corinthians 1:9, and writes, “By this scripture I was made to see, That if ever I would suffer rightly, I must first pass a sentence of death upon every thing that can properly be called a thing of this life, even to reckon myself, my wife, my children, my health, my enjoyments, and all as dead to me, and myself as dead to them. The second was to live upon God that is invisible, as Paul said in another place; the way not to faint is, To look not on the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal.”
What does it mean to know a God that cannot be seen? Is this Christianity too radical or too foreign? Would you be able to say that your walk with God smells remotely like John Bunyan’s?
It is not that we do not suffer for Christ’s sake but there is something about the way we know and relate to God that has become so worldly, that when we see men and women who know God and live accordingly in this way seem strange. Instead, we seek to have a bit of God and a bit of everything else in a well-balanced life — our jobs, family, etc.
What will it be like if we were truly godly? What if we know the meaning of our life to be truly for God, such that our ambitions would smell like God?
Tutored and trained to live out godliness (1 Tim 3:14-15)
Paul writes this letter to Timothy as he is not with Timothy and desires to be reunited with him (1 Tim 3:14). As we read in 1 Timothy 1:3, he was separated from Timothy and told him to remain in Ephesus to continue teaching the gospel. In his absence, he sends Timothy teaching and clarifications that he thinks will be for Timothy’s good and learning. By extension, we learn from Paul as he is teaching Timothy. Paul expects that this letter is how Timothy would be trained by Paul.
Writing letters to teach was a common approach and method adopted by Paul. Colossians 4:16 gives us an example of what Paul is telling the people to do with the letters. These letters are to be read to the church publicly and also circulated to other churches.
1 Corinthians 4:14-20 is another example in the New Testament that mentions Paul’s letters to the churches. Note the language that Paul uses. Why does he write the letters and instruct in this way? He thinks of himself as a father in the faith to his children. This is the heart behind the letters — which were for teaching and training.
Thus as we read these letters, we are not just receiving someone’s advice. We are receiving fatherly instruction for our faith, living and our good. Is this how you think of the Bible and the New Testament? If you believe this, would you not read it with a different kind of heart — as a father is correcting his son and we are that child under instruction? We too, are receiving instruction about what to believe and how to live, so that we will lead lives that are spiritual shipwrecks.
Why did Paul write this letter? He wants them to know how they ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Tim 3:15). He wants to ensure that the pastor knows what godly living looks like. There is to be no doubt what Christian life and living should require. This is Paul’s intention.
Let’s unpack each of the phrases that describe the church. Firstly, he calls it the “household of God”. Paul, in writing to Timothy, emphasises the fact that now that they are in the household, there is an expected behaviour. Note that it is not about how Christians should behave at church, but how they should behave as a part of the household of God. The church is the people!
The next phrase, “church of the living God” draws attention to not just one’s place and belonging in it, but to also remember what makes the church, the church — God! The fact that there is a living God at the centre of this household is important. He makes the church, the church. Friends, do not just go to church to hang out with people, or think that the singing or the preaching makes the church, the church. The living God — the one who receives our praise and prayers, and whose voice we hear in the Scripture read and preached — this God, made us who were once His enemies, now a part of His family. Now, we are no longer a random person living their life on this earth. We belong to the household of God, which belongs to the living God.
Finally, he describes the church as a “pillar and buttress of the truth”: The pillar is the load-bearing beam and the buttress is the foundation of the building. What holds truth up? The church. What is truth based on? The church. As the church gathers weekly, we cling to the truth — the doctrine we’ve received and passed on through Scripture. As we cling to these doctrines, we guard the foundations and become the pillar of truth. To a world that is lost and wants to know what is real, true, everlasting and of real consequence, they should look to the church.
Can you see that Paul’s view of the church is so high? He expects that the church holds up and build the foundation of truth, and the people live a certain way because that is their purpose. We exist for God’s truth to be proclaimed, therefore, our living must be consistent with the truth. The biggest problem with the church is that in proclaiming truth our lives are not consistent with these truths.
Does your life reflect that you have peace with God? Does your life reflect that you understand your sins have been forgiven and your conscience is cleared, and your works of righteousness are unable to save you? Is it clear to your neighbours and friends that because you have peace with God, you have peace with your fellow man? Does your life reflect that forgiveness is real and grace is effective? Does your life reflect that God is good?
Thus far in this letter, Paul has tutored the church on godliness. Let us trace the instructions and their principle. In 1 Timothy 1:3-11, Paul charges Timothy to silence false teachers about the use of the law. In doing so, he wanted them to learn how the Old Testament law leads us to confess our sins and pursue godliness. Now, we may not spend a lot of time thinking and talking about false teachers as we often want to be nice. It is important to know which teachers are true, and which are false. Here, Paul speaks about the use of the law — which the false teacher were confusing the church on. Would you be able to tell?
The law is not given so that we can use it to improve ourselves. It is not there to tell us to be like Moses, Joshua or David. The law is given so that we can see our inability to keep the law, and therefore, confess our need for a Saviour. The right use of the law brings us to the end of ourselves. Do you know what what looks like? For example, the law speaks of murder, and Jesus speaks of repenting of anger in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:21-26.. The law is given for me to confess that I have a murderous heart. Another example is when the law speaks of adultery, and Jesus speaks of adultery and lust in Matthew 5:27-29. The law is given for me to confess that I have an adulterous heart and I need a pure and holy Saviour.
In 1 Timothy 1:12-20, Paul reminds Timothy of his own glorious rescue (positive example) and charges him to wage the good warfare as those who do not are shipwrecked (negative example). He exhorts Timothy to imitate him - converted to be godly - not those shipwrecked in ungodliness. Indeed, one must be converted — to turn away from a life of sin and self and turn to God — to be godly. Godliness begins with conversion.
From 1 Timothy 2:1-7, we read of a command to pray for the common good so Christians can live godly public lives and proclaim Christ. Christians are to pray for peace that allows the Gospel to be proclaimed, and for prayerful godliness.
Next, in 1 Timothy 2:8-15, we read that men should be godly in prayer, godly women live out simplicity, submission and humility. We are to pursue godly manhood and womanhood.
Finally in 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Paul teaches Timothy that elders are chosen for godliness and deacons are too. Qualified church leaders are our models for godliness.
What would you say is godly Christian living? Do you know? 1 Timothy 3:15 sums up the theme of this letter, which is about godly living. In these verses, we also see more specifically how Paul wanted Timothy, and therefore us, to know what lived godliness looks like in the church, because of what he believes about the church.
(B) Transmitting and trusting the mystery of godliness (1 Tim 3:16)
In 1 Timothy 3:16a, we see that the mystery of godliness is great, and is something that Paul thinks we should confess or proclaim. The second half of 1 Timothy 3:16 is a poem, a New Testament hymn that expresses praise.
There are six limbs here, and we see that what is being confessed is really important and significant. He is speaking about the secret of our godliness — Christ. Now this is not speaking about a secret method to being godly. Godliness is all about Jesus — this is his answer. Do you know the mystery of godliness? How does each limb help us to pursue godliness?
“Manifested in the flesh”: The incarnation, as His godliness is translated for us to understand. Godliness takes on a form that we can recognise as He became a man and becomes our model.
“Vindicated by the Spirit”: The death and resurrection, as godliness is achieved for us. It is important that the cross and resurrection comes together. The cross is not a symbol of failure and death because of the empty tomb. Because of the empty tomb, the cross is transformed into a symbol of victory and forgiveness. In the resurrection, Jesus is vindicated by the Spirit — all of God’s promises come true in Jesus. Now, there is a pathway to become like Him.
“Seen by angels”: The ascension, where godliness is witnessed for us. When Jesus is finished with His earthly work, He enters God’s own presence, seated at the right hand of God, even right now. This means that we have a representative in Heaven who pleads for us as our High Priest. Because of His finished, vindicated work, we have a strong defence.
“Proclaimed among nations”: The Great Commission, where godliness is made available to us as the gospel is proclaimed.
Believed on in the world: The church, where godliness is enabled for us. In the church, Christians are trained for godliness, through faith in Christ. The church helps us as we grow with other brothers and sisters.
Taken up in glory: Glorification, where godliness is perfected in us. This is our hope, as godliness is finally made perfect.
Meditate on these things! Godliness comes from the mystery that is Christ Himself. As we think about this mystery of godliness, our hearts became more like Him and desire more and more to be like Him!
This hymn structure also has another function. The poetry is designed so that it is easy to remember. They were designed to be sung. This is why we remember songs much better than just prose. This is the function of songs in the Bible, and they have been used as a teaching tool. One such example is the song of salvation in Exodus 15, which was sung after they were delivered. Songs have been used to transmit truths! This hymn is also a way of transmitting truths about Christ, and we are to also share and teach about Jesus to others. Is there someone in your life or church you can help grow in this mystery of godliness?
In closing, through his letters, Paul insists that the church take godliness seriously. Do you? Why or why not? How does the ministry of Jesus Christ produce godliness in you?