Seek a Church of the Truth
By Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com
“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15, NKJV). The church (God’s people - Acts 2:47; Heb. 12:23) is “the house of God” where “the living God” dwells. Characteristic of God’s church are people who are “of the truth.”
In seeking a local church with whom to work and worship, a person should desire only a church that is “of the truth,” meaning committed to following the word of God (John 17:17). It is important to compare what they believe and practice with what is taught in God’s word. This requires a willingness on our part to search the Scriptures diligently (Acts 17:11). There are many different local churches to choose from today. Yet, no one should settle for anything less than a church that stands for the truth.
The local church has the duty to be the “ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) or the firm, steadfast support of it. The church must be unyielding, uncompromising, and unwavering in her commitment to the truth. The church must remain strong and steady in the truth so that when the “storms” of false teaching blow against it, it will not be shaken nor collapse, but continue to be a church of God. Many churches have forsaken this duty and as a result have been overtaken by worldliness. The opinions of men, man-made traditions or philosophies, social or secular agendas, and the low standards of morality in the world have captivated many local churches leading them into apostasy (Col. 2:8). Such churches are not of the truth and should be rejected.
The local church also has the duty to be “the pillar of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Pillars are for holding up the roof of a building, but they also serve the purpose of keeping it up high. This, in effect, makes it visible for all to see, even from far away. Thus, the church has the duty to hold the truth up high, so that the world may see and hear it. This requires members of the church to not only preach the truth to others (1 Thess. 1:8), but also obey the truth themselves so that they may be a good example for the world to see, “like a city set on a hill” (Mat. 5:14). Every church should take this God given duty very seriously. When seeking a local church that you can join yourself to (e.g., Acts 9:26), devotion to the truth by her members should be of the utmost importance.
It is absolutely essential for every church to be a “pillar and ground of the truth,” for the truth is the very foundation of the church! “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). Notice that the church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” The foundation they laid was the truth or the word of God they preached (Eph. 3:3-5). The spiritual health and life of a church depends on its foundation. If truth is not the foundation, it is not a church of God.
Just as the truth is the foundation of the church, so also is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), who represents the truth (John 1:14; Rev. 19:13) and bears witness to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus is in fact, the most important aspect to the foundation. He is “the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20) because the whole building or church rests upon Him. A local church that is truly a church of Christ will be built upon “the Rock,” on Jesus and the words that He taught (Mat. 7:24-27).
In your search for a local church, don’t just look for something “new” and “different.” Instead, look for a church that conducts herself as “the pillar and ground of the truth.”
www.cvillechurch.com
“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14-15, NKJV). The church (God’s people - Acts 2:47; Heb. 12:23) is “the house of God” where “the living God” dwells. Characteristic of God’s church are people who are “of the truth.”
In seeking a local church with whom to work and worship, a person should desire only a church that is “of the truth,” meaning committed to following the word of God (John 17:17). It is important to compare what they believe and practice with what is taught in God’s word. This requires a willingness on our part to search the Scriptures diligently (Acts 17:11). There are many different local churches to choose from today. Yet, no one should settle for anything less than a church that stands for the truth.
The local church has the duty to be the “ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) or the firm, steadfast support of it. The church must be unyielding, uncompromising, and unwavering in her commitment to the truth. The church must remain strong and steady in the truth so that when the “storms” of false teaching blow against it, it will not be shaken nor collapse, but continue to be a church of God. Many churches have forsaken this duty and as a result have been overtaken by worldliness. The opinions of men, man-made traditions or philosophies, social or secular agendas, and the low standards of morality in the world have captivated many local churches leading them into apostasy (Col. 2:8). Such churches are not of the truth and should be rejected.
The local church also has the duty to be “the pillar of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Pillars are for holding up the roof of a building, but they also serve the purpose of keeping it up high. This, in effect, makes it visible for all to see, even from far away. Thus, the church has the duty to hold the truth up high, so that the world may see and hear it. This requires members of the church to not only preach the truth to others (1 Thess. 1:8), but also obey the truth themselves so that they may be a good example for the world to see, “like a city set on a hill” (Mat. 5:14). Every church should take this God given duty very seriously. When seeking a local church that you can join yourself to (e.g., Acts 9:26), devotion to the truth by her members should be of the utmost importance.
It is absolutely essential for every church to be a “pillar and ground of the truth,” for the truth is the very foundation of the church! “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph 2:19-22). Notice that the church is built upon “the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” The foundation they laid was the truth or the word of God they preached (Eph. 3:3-5). The spiritual health and life of a church depends on its foundation. If truth is not the foundation, it is not a church of God.
Just as the truth is the foundation of the church, so also is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11), who represents the truth (John 1:14; Rev. 19:13) and bears witness to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus is in fact, the most important aspect to the foundation. He is “the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20) because the whole building or church rests upon Him. A local church that is truly a church of Christ will be built upon “the Rock,” on Jesus and the words that He taught (Mat. 7:24-27).
In your search for a local church, don’t just look for something “new” and “different.” Instead, look for a church that conducts herself as “the pillar and ground of the truth.”
posted by Mark E Larson | 12:07 PM
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