The Truths of the Christian Faith 1 Timothy 3:15-16 • Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) “Truth is so obscure in these days, and lies so well established, that unless we love the truth, we shall never know it.” The True Church 1 Timothy 3:14 (NLT), “… I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The Truth about Truth: Because of sin, mankind hides the truth and/or hides from truth! • “Did God really say?” – Gen. 3:1 • “They suppress the truth.” –Rom. 1:18 • “You despise him who tells the truth.” -Amos 5:10 • “Truth was thrown to the ground.” -Dan. 8:12 • “Truth is nowhere to be found.” -Is. 59:14-15 • “Truth has perished.” -Jer. 7:28 • “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” -Rom. 1:25 • And tragically, “They refused to love the truth and be saved.” -2 Thess. 2:10 • The truth about truth is that it can hurt, and people choose to avoid it and live with lies instead. What is Truth? • Definition: Truth is what corresponds to reality. • Truth tells it like it is. • Truth is objective. • Truth is absolute (2+2=4). • The opposite of true is false. • Paul Copan, “Truth is true even if no one knows it. Truth is true even if no one admits it. Truth is true even if no one agrees what it is. Truth is true even if no one follows it. Truth is true even if no one but God grasps it fully.” Ill. The Blind Men and the Elephant • The parable tries to prove that everyone has their own truth. The blind men think an elephant is a rope, a wall, a fan, a spear, a snake, or a tree. • But, everyone reading the parable knows the blind men are wrong and that this is an elephant! • Truth is not just your own perspective, or your own lived experience. • Truth is a statement that matches reality. The True Mystery of the Church 1 Timothy 3:16 (NLT), “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:” • “the mystery of godliness.” (ESV) • “the mystery from which true godliness springs.” (NIV) • “an amazing revelation.” (NET) • A mystery in the Bible is something dimly seen in the OT, but fully seen in the NT. • Jesus Christ is the true mystery of the church. • When Christ is revealed to a church, godliness is revealed in the church. This line introduces an early church creed! The True Creed of the Church • 1 Timothy 3:16 (NLT), • “Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.” There is order in this creed from the incarnation to the resurrection. Then a heavenly supernatural witness and earthly witness. Followed by a willing response and a heavenly homecoming (the ascension). • This early church hymn is all about how Jesus finishes His work and connects heaven and earth. • Jesus bridges the gap between the flesh (the physical) and spirit (the spiritual), the angels (the ones closest to God) and the Gentiles (those farthest from God), and the world (our present existence) and heaven (our future existence). (see Constable notes) CONCLUSION John 8:31-32, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”