Christian Living

Pillar and Support of The Truth

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
01/21/22
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“I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15)

They’re all large families, and there are small families and even families of two or more. What they have become depends on the fathers and the influence of the elders of past generations. I see in my children and theirs and my siblings’ children, and they reflect my parents’ virtues and faults. My Pastor has told me that God wants us to have three families. Our blood family, church family, and our family of community. In our unique way, those families are influenced by our participation. Therefore, the most significant influence we should have in each family is the Lord our God and Savior. Though I consider my family first, the root is found in the church family.

The church family is a body of believers in Jesus and must reflect His love, words, and deeds. The church body should stand on holy ground as they are the Children of God, and where they walk, they bring His Kingdom to the world. The church body must not be caught up by the world and its evil desires, which brings dishonor to the Lord we serve. By repentance, we’ve turned away from the world and set our souls on a path to the Heavenly Kingdom of God. Paul the Apostle has teaches us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) The Christian must listen to the Holy Spirit within their conscience to transform them from the old self.

People see the church as a building, but that is not the church. ‘The building is a meeting place for the church. When the congregation enters, the Holy Spirit fills the building as the Holy Spirit resides within the believers. The building where the body of Christ has gathered must reflect the love, words, and deeds of Jesus, the head of the church. The church building is not a place for a ruling body of legislatures who act as demigods to dictate what truth is or what is not truth. Jesus is the truth, and the church building is a house of prayer and a place for studying God’s Word. A church is a body of believers who are saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus and God indwells. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23).

The body of Christ is involved in the ministry of His Kingdom to benefit those outside the faith. People outside of faith in Jesus who have no personal relationship with Him are considered lost people who are the enemies of God. The harshness of that station intensifies the work of teaching the good news of His salvation found by His grace. The church body of believers is equipped and appointed as apostles, prophets, and teachers. The Holy Spirit gifts some to perform miracles and healings of the sick. Others are charged with the administration of the church body. All are helpers to minister His Word to those outside of the faith by their good deeds and words. “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12:28)

The church body, wherever they may be, must be wise. The devil is the father of deception, and there is no boundary to his trickery. The world is the playground of his legions and self. The world alone is filled with enticing things to capture the attention of the naïve. God warned Cain, who killed his brother Able before he fell. “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:17) During the Passover Supper, Jesus warned Peter before he denied Him about the desires of Satan. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.” (Luke 22:31)

Satan is always looking for someone to devour and often test the believer. The church body must walk in the wisdom of His Word and discern the evil spirits as they try to cause them to stumble. Every challenge is an opportunity to combat Satan’s temptation with the Word of God. In this, we are assured victory and bring glory to the name of the Lord. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” (Colossians 4:5)

When the church body falls into sinful behavior, it makes a mockery of Jesus’ name. When the church body carries the Kingdom of God into the world, we must be mindful as to how the world will view us. Are we living the gospel life, or are we creating a stumbling stone for those who do not believe? Will the church body’s actions cause the unbeliever to walk away shouting hypocrisy? The church body has an opportunity to lift Jesus up in their lives and draw humanity to the cross of Calvary. “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

The Christian life is to live with loving-kindness toward all we meet along the way. They are the ones who should have a clean heart and clear conscience. “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5) Living in the faith that every Word of God has come true, they are waiting to experience its revelation. No word of prophecy has failed, as His word never returns empty. “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

The Westminster Confusion states the chief end of man is to glorify God. “Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” (Isaiah 43:7) Whatever the church body does, they are doing as if for the Lord. We all have our masters here in the world, but all we do and think will be judged by our God. Therefore, all we do is to bring glory to our God. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

The gathering of the church body is to equip the saints for the mission the Lord has given to His disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

The gathering of the church body is to encourage one another with the like-mindedness of our faith in Jesus. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 11:23-25)

The gathering of the church body is for teaching and study of the Lord’s Word. To help our church family stand on the rock of His truth, correct when one slips, and demonstrate a life lived in righteousness. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The church is where the church body gathers together to learn, love, and live to be God’s ambassadors in a sin-darkened world. The church body lives in a hopeless world, with only one hope: redemption through Jesus Christ. The church body is the light of God’s truth in a world that has rejected Jesus, who is the truth. Only Jesus living in His body can the church bring that light before humanity. No matter how wretched one may be, they deserve to hear the truth of God’s gospel. The church body is the keepers of the gospel light, and they must make it shine bright in the dark world. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. The Christian church is supposed to be a light to the world.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

The church body of Christ is to live in demonstration of godliness and holiness, intent on the purpose of making His joy complete to love humanity as He loves. “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” (Philippians 2:1-2) The body of Christ, the church, is the pillar and support of the truth.

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, April 28, 2021