Dynamic Life Baptist Ministries - Pastor Victor Clay

Sermon Title: The Servant's Constitution
Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 3:14:16
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to reflect the mandatory distinctives of the church in a wicked and perverse generation.
Sermon Proposition: There are 5 mandatory distinctives of the church in this age.

14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (NKJV)

1. The Church is distinctive in its conduct. v.14-15

   • The purpose of the book of 1 Timothy is to show what the church is and how it ought to function.

   • The Pastor must know and communicate the Word if there is going to be a standard to govern the conduct of the flock.

   • The goal of teaching is the transformation of lifestyles not merely the gaining of information.

   
   

2. The Church is distinctive in its concept. v.15

   • The members of the church are to relate to one another as a family since it is a household. (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

   • The members of the church are part of an official gathering of people who have "been called out" to do kingdom business.

   • The members of the church make up a building to house and reflect the person and glory of God. (1 Corinthians 3:11-12; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:20-22)

   
   

3. The Church is distinctive in its creator. v.15

   • Because the Church belongs to God, it is not merely a human institution.

   • Because the members of the Church belong to God, He alone sets the standard by which they function.

   • Because the creator of the Church is alive, then it possesses divine empowerment for its divine mission and message in a world of dead idols.

   
   

4. The Church is distinctive in its commission. v.15

   • The Church is to be the foundation that holds up the truth of God just as the Temple of Diana had 127 gold laid pillars and a foundation that held up its enormous roof.

   • The Church is to be a testimony to the truth of God just as the pillars in the Temple of Diana were a tribute to the pagan false religion of the kings who donated them.

   • The Church is not to tamper with misrepresenting, abandoning or compromising the revelation of God as it is deposited in Scripture.

   • The Church upholds the truth by:

   • believing it (2 Corinthians 4:13),

   • memorizing it (1 Peter 3:15),

   • meditating on it (Joshua 1:8),

   • studying it (2 Timothy 2:15),

   • and obeying it (Luke 11:28; James 1:22; Titus 2:10),

   • defending it (Philippians 1:16),

   • and proclaiming it. (Matthew 28:19-20)

   
   

5. The Church is distinctive in its confession. v.16

   • The core truth that the Church must collectively support is related to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

   • The core truth should be reinforced by creed, song and lifestyle as indicated by the uniformity, rhythm and parallelism of the verse.

   • The core confession of the Church embodies six truths about the Lord Jesus Christ.

   • He was revealed in the flesh - Jesus was not created but revealed in the incarnation (Philippians 2:6-7).

   • He was vindicated in the Spirit - Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by His sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-22) and resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4; Acts 2:24-36).

   • He was beheld by angels - Jesus defeated Satan and proclaimed victory over his fallen angels in His death (Colossians 3:15; 1 Peter 3:18-20) and was supported by elect angels in His resurrection (Matthew 28:2; Luke 24:4-7) and ascension (Acts 1:9-11; Hebrew 1:6).

   • He was proclaimed among the nations - Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses worldwide and no nation was to be left untouched. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:23).

   • He was believed on in the world - Jesus was and will be received by multitudes from every nation beginning at Pentecost (Acts 2:41, 47) and culminating in heaven (Revelation 5:9-10).

   • He was taken up in glory - Jesus in His ascension demonstrated that the Father was pleased with Him, accepted His work and He has now been enthroned as Lord of the universe (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 1:13; Philippians 2:8-11).