Do you have any doubts?

1 Timothy 3:14-16

Wayne Rodgers

Introduction:

A.              We live in a society full of controversy.

1.               Politics, Morality, Religion, Philosophies & Education

B.              But there should never be any controversy about the things concerning Christ, the Church, Worship, Salvation, and any other Christian issues.

1.               Because God has given us a pattern (Bible)

2.               He has already given us all things that pertain to life an Godliness -

C.              But as we take a look around about us - into the religious community - all we see is confusion and controversy.

1.         The Scriptures teach that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace - 1 Cor. 14:33.

2.         It is God’s desire that there be no divisions among us but that we speak the same thing and be of the same mind and judgment. (1 Cor. 1:10)

3.         Paul wrote to the Ephesians that they should endeavor - do all they could - to keep the unity and bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-6)

D.              Well let us examine our passage of scripture and see if Paul deals with this controversy and mans ideas.

E.         READ - 1 Tim. 3:14-16 -

1.         Context: Paul had been writing to Timothy concerning the qualifications for Elders and Deacons and the work of every Christian woman. 

2.         And beginning in verse 14 - Paul tells us his reason for writing this epistle - Timothy a young Christian needed some encouragement and also instructions on how to behave and deplore himself as a Christian a member of the Lord’s church.

F.         And then Paul begins in verse 16 - by saying “and without controversy” - which simply means that no one should express any doubt.  That which is expressed is so evident that all must be willing to admit it.

G.        The title of our lesson today is... “Do you have any doubt?”

H.        Let us examine this passage of scripture and see what the controversy is and be encouraged not to doubt the things of Christ.

Discussion:

I.                There can be no doubt Christ was manifested in the flesh:

(This is a forthright reference to the incarnation of Christ.)

A.              “Manifested” simply means something apparent, obvious or very clear - this is something in which there should be no doubt or misunderstanding.

B.              Yet many today and in days past taught and believed that Jesus did not exist before his being born a virgin and being on earth.

1.               Many of the restoration preachers of the early 1800 believed this.

2.               There are many religious groups here in our community that believes Christ was simply a prophet and not the Messiah.

3.               Some today even deny the virgin birth.

4.               But Paul said, that Christ was manifested in the flesh - it was obvious to the one who would look.

C.              The prophet Isaiah many years before Christ was ever born by the virgin Mary, prophesied “Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bare a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is. 7:14)

1.               This is exactly what happen - Mt. 1:18-25 as the angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph and told him that Mary was going to bring forth a child and his name would be called Immanuel which means God with us.

2.               Read - John 1:1-5, 14 (refer back to the beginning of creation as man was made in “our” own image.- thus showing the plurality of the Godhead.)

D.              Why was it necessary for Christ to be made manifest in the form of man?

1.               Christ was sent to be our mediator. (1 Tim. 2:5) “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus.”

2.               Christ in order to be our mediator must endure temptations, heartaches, sufferings, etc .. just like a man.

a.               Peter stated that Christ, “For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example (pattern) that ye should follow his steps.  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” (1 Pt. 2:21-22)

3.               There must also be the shedding of blood.

a.                From the very foundations of the world God knew that man would need a redeemer (Eph. 3:10)

b.               The Hebrew writer stated that “without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22)

c.                And the “blood of bulls and goats cold not take away sins” (Heb. 10:4)

d.               We sing the song many times - “What can wash away my sins”  the answer is NOTHING but the BLOOD of Jesus.   John writes “but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the BLOOD of Jesus Christ CLEANSETH us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)

E.               There can be no doubt - one must believe Christ was manifested in the flesh - to take on the form of man - to die so we all may have the hope of the eternal home in heaven.

II.        There can be no doubt that Christ was justified in the Spirit:

(It should be noted that “Spirit” is capitalize.)

A.              To justify one means to declare and prove him to be what he claims to be, and disprove all false accusations that may be made against him.

1.               Jesus made the claim he was the Son of God, and his enemies accused him of being an imposter and put him to death.

2.         But the Spirit enabled him to be raised up from the dead (Rom. 8:11) and that very fact proved he was the son of God. This is what the apostle Paul declared in Romans 1:4 - “that Christ declared to be the Son of God with power (authority) according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

B.              How is it that we are justified?

1.               Justification simply meaning - (To demonstrate to be just, right, or valid. - to provide sound reason for.)

2.               We are justified by the life we LIVE!!

a.         Romans 12:1-2- “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

3.               Can you imagine Christ claiming to be the Son of God -yet would not keep the commandments of the Lord -

a.         Can you imagine Christ not taking the church seriously and forsaking the assembly?

b.         Can you imagine Christ no taking the time to care about His brothers and sisters in Christ - or holding a grudge, not forgiving one another?

4.               Imagine one today who claims to be a child of God, but their life shows something else.

a.         Their language

b.         Their dress

c.         Their attitude toward the work of the church

C.        Remember we are justified by the way we live.

III.       There can be no doubt that Christ was seen of angels:

A.              The angels helped in the justification of Christ.

1.               They announced his birth - (Mt. 1:18-25)

2.               They mistered unto him (Mt. 4:11)

3.               They announced his resurrection (Mt. 28:5-7)

4.               They declared his second coming - (Acts 1:10-11)

B.              Because he was seen of angels - this proved his justification in the Spirit.

IV.       There can be no doubt that Christ was preached to the Gentiles:

A.              Is. 62:2 - a prophesy to the Gentile nation that they would be called by “a new name” (Gentiles did not have access to temple....)

1.               In Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the church -Is. 2:2 - “all nations would flow into it.”

2.               As Jesus instructed His apostles with the great commission, He stated,  Mt. 28:18-20 - “teaching ALL nations...”

3.               Paul was able to make the claim Rom. 1:16 - “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

a.                1^st to the Jew - Acts 2

b.               Then the Gentiles - Acts 10

c.                Combine the two together - Acts 11:26 - and they were called Christians.

B.              Thus understanding that Christ was preached to the Gentiles, that they too now access to the church - that Christ died for “everyone” (Heb. 2:9) - it helps me understand Rom. 2:11 a little better -”as God is no respecter of persons” when it comes to salvation.

C.              It also gives me the assurance that if I am willing to do the same as the Jews did in Acts 2 or the household of Cornelius in Acts 10 - I will simply be called a Christian.

V.              There can be no doubt that Christ must be believed on in the world:

A.              Of course one can read that not everyone believed in Christ. - even Christ own fleshly brothers did not believe on him.

B.              When the disciples and apostles preached Jesus Christ and him crucified - many went away not believing the things which were taught.

C.              And still today many do not believe in Christ Jesus.

1.               Jesus said, “If you believe not that I am he...” (Jn. 8:24)

2.               Philip told the Ethiopian Eunuch he if he believed on Christ he may be baptized - “I believe that Jesus...” (Acts 8) 

3.               Yet there is more than just belief or having faith that Christ is the Son of God - James 2:19 - the demons believed with fear and trembling”

D.              What a great controversy among so many today - concerning salvation - people need to just get back to the Bible:

VI.       There can be no doubt that Christ was received up into glory:

A.              That is why he addresses this last point - because so many did not believe in the ascension of Christ.

B.              One must believe in the ascension of Jesus Christ - if he did not ascend - then we have no Savior.

C.              Jesus said, “In my father’s house are many mansions...” (John 14:1-6)

1.               Jesus has gone to prepare a place for a prepared people.

2.               Are you prepared?

D.        Do you have any doubts that Christ was not raised from the dead?

Conclusion:

A.              Think of the controversy of today and wonder as we have studied it - is there really any  controversy?

B.              Paul said there was no controversy about the mystery of godliness.

C.                Read verse - 1 Tim. 3:16

1.         Christ was manifested in the flesh

2.         Christ was justified in the Spirit

3.         Christ was seen of angels

4.         Christ was preached to the Gentiles

5.         Christ was believed on in the world

6.         Christ was received up to glory

D.              When it comes to our salvation - there can be no doubts!

1.         And there is no need to doubt - you can have assurance of your salvation - be able to boldly approach the throne of grace.

2.         John 8:32 - “...you can know the truth...”

E.         Do you have any doubts?

1.         Remove them this day by obeying the word of God.