by Roby Ellis

[Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 3:14-15]

Introduction

A. As grand as the foundations were of the temple that Herod built in Jerusalem, the foundation of the Lord’s church is far greater still (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20).

B. Paul tells us that the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), and as such, it is our mission to uphold God’s truth in a world that is filled with deceit.

I. While on this Earth, Jesus upheld the truth.

A. This was part of His mission (John 18:37; 14:6).

B. Many credible witnesses testified to the truthfulness of Jesus’ Word (John 5:31-47).

C. Jesus’ stand for truth earned Him notoriety with some and eventually death (John 8:39-41; Mark 14:61-64).

II. As members of Christ’s body, we must also uphold the truth.

A. We are His witnesses today (Acts 1:8; 4:33).

B. Instead of withholding the truth, we must uphold it (2 Samuel 12:7; Matthew 14:3-11; Galatians 2:14; 4:16; John 4:24).

C. We may expect the world to hate us just as it hated Jesus (Matthew 10:25; John 15:18-25; James 4:4).

D. We have a responsibility to proclaim the truth whether it is “in season” or otherwise (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

Conclusion

A. If we are truly the church that serves as the pillar and buttress of the truth, we will never leave the shadow of its authority or be negligent of our study of the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

B. As much as the world might like to suppress the truth (Romans 1:18), it will always prevail, and so will we if we will stand with it!