[0:00] You see on the screen there the sermon title, The Truth About Jesus, from the second passage we read in 1 Timothy 3. And four points to consider this evening.
[0:10] First of all, the mystery revealed of Jesus. And of course the human and divine natures of Jesus that Paul speaks of here in the passage. The witnesses of Jesus and the receiving of Jesus.
[0:24] These are the points that we all are willing this evening. And the truth about Jesus. Because we live in a time, we live in an age when truth is under attack.
[0:39] When the truth of God, when the truth of the Lord Jesus, when the truth of the gospel is under the most massive attack. And from different quarters. Of course we have the false news, the fake news.
[0:54] From those who delight to sow discord, even in relation to the Lord Jesus and his church. And there are those even within the wider church that we say with such sadness.
[1:08] Who persist in calling wrong right and right wrong. Even in the name of Jesus, proclaiming doctrines and teachings. Positions from their own thinking.
[1:23] That run contrary to the stated and inspired word of God. The teachings, the practices that blemish the name of the Lord Jesus. And of course that's been the case certainly since the very early centuries.
[1:40] Even so soon after the Lord Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven. The heresies that we read of in the early centuries that caused so much division within the church.
[1:51] And so even in our present day we have to say that the church has that commitment and responsibility to proclaim the truth.
[2:03] To proclaim biblical truth. Before a world that's lost, it's moorings, it's drifting from one idea to another without anchoring on the rock.
[2:15] The rock of truth which is of course grounded in the word of God. Particularly at this time, this time of the year, this time of Advent. When the focus of many churches and yes even outside the church as well.
[2:30] When the focus even from those outside the church. Even in a cursory awareness of the Christmas story. It's for Bible believing Christians to use the opportunities that God has given us.
[2:45] You who seek to honour God. Who seek to have your life centred in the Lord Jesus. You who have been gifted the enabling by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[2:57] It's for you to proclaim loud and clear about the central truths of the Lord Jesus. Just as here in the first century when the Apostle Paul was determined to emphasise the truth of the Saviour.
[3:11] The truth of the truth about Jesus as he did so to the early and young church. As he did so in the first century. So for us in the 21st century.
[3:22] It's for the Lord's people to, as we might say, to boldly go where man has gone before. To go to the Saviour. To proclaim the good news of the Lord Jesus.
[3:34] And to declare without shame what the Bible teaches us about Jesus. To teach the Gospel. To teach all that the Gospel tells us about salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3:48] Through faith alone in him. And to show others that the power of God in his word. To show others and tell others the true meaning of Christmas.
[4:01] Because the true meaning of Christmas that tells so much more than simply the story of Jesus born in Bethlehem. But the story that covers the whole incarnation of Jesus.
[4:13] The enfleshment of Jesus for our sakes. That tells of his birth. His life. His testimony. His death. His resurrection. His ascension into heaven.
[4:25] There's these core truths about Jesus that, well, may none of us be ashamed of at this time of year. Or at any time of year. Because these core truths that Paul is writing to Timothy about.
[4:38] Timothy is his protege. These core truths speak of the mission of the church. The mission to serve the truth. And to proclaim the truth.
[4:48] And to hold fast to the truth. In order to make the truth known to others. That's what we read there in verse 15. Where Paul's writing to the church.
[5:00] He's writing to the church of the living God. And he's writing to the church of God as he describes the church as a pillar and buttress of truth. You know, when we speak of some eminent person.
[5:12] Some respectable person. Some respectable person. As a pillar of society. Someone, you know, who's seen and honoured for his work and conduct. Well, here Paul's using that particular description.
[5:26] You know, he's writing of the church as a pillar. A pillar before the world. A recognised body of believers in Christ. And so recognised that they can't be ignored. A pillar of believers that upholds the truth.
[5:41] Truth to be seen throughout the world. And it's the witness of the church that upholds the truth of Jesus. And doesn't hide the light. The light of Christ.
[5:54] Buttressed by the truth as the church proclaims the truth. And it's the responsibility of each and every member of the Lord's church. To be his ambassadors.
[6:05] To proclaim the good news by word and by witness. So what then of the truth about Jesus. That truth that the church must proclaim.
[6:18] Well, as we read there in 1 Timothy 3. And particularly verse 16. We read in fact of six core truths. They're so written together.
[6:28] They're really three couplets. Six truths. Two truths, if you like, of Jesus in each of these three couplets. Truths about Jesus that remind us of his greatness.
[6:41] They remind us of his divinity. They remind us of the mission of Jesus. They tell us about the good news of Jesus. They speak of the truth of Jesus.
[6:53] That's undeniable to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So we're going to consider then these truths. As Paul tells us of them.
[7:05] These Jesus-centered truths. First of all, then the mystery revealed of Jesus. Great indeed we confess. As Paul writes there in that section.
[7:17] In verse 16. The beginning of verse 16. Great indeed we confess. The mystery of godliness. I mean, Paul has no doubts whatsoever about the truth of Jesus.
[7:30] Before his conversion. Before Paul's conversion. He thought of Jesus as a fraud. Someone to be despised. And his followers likewise to be despised. But now by faith.
[7:42] By faith in the Lord Jesus. He knows for absolute certainty. He knows for sure. That what God has now revealed of Jesus is true.
[7:55] That mystery. That truth that was hidden for centuries. And now in the fullness of time revealed. In the coming of the Lord Jesus to earth. And Paul's using the special word mystery.
[8:07] To tell of. Well, to tell of truths that have been hidden. But now revealed by God. In the person of the Lord Jesus. And so these truths now fully known.
[8:18] And fully revealed in the church. And that truth. The truth of the Lord Jesus. Is great truth. The, if you like. The now revealed truth concerning godliness.
[8:30] The godliness. The godliness that was revealed. The godliness that has been revealed. In the Lord Jesus. And that truth that's been revealed. By the word of God.
[8:41] And it's for the church to be that pillar. To uphold truth. For all to see and to know. It's no longer hidden truth. It's revealed truth.
[8:53] And it's truth surely that we boldly proclaim. As God has given us the opportunities. Even at this time of year. To proclaim the living Lord Jesus. It's no ordinary truth.
[9:04] You know, there are truths. Of course, that are objective truths. Things like, you know. One and one is two. That's not a piece of objective truth. That is, if you like, mathematical truth. But there's that truth that's divine.
[9:15] Divine truth. Theological truth, if you like. Truth of God. Truth about the Lord Jesus. Jesus, the only son of God. Jesus, the saviour. Jesus, who came to bring salvation for his own.
[9:27] That's the truth that we proclaim. John the Apostle would later record. As we read in John chapter 1. When he said of Jesus.
[9:38] We have seen his glory. The glory. As of the only begotten of the Father. Full of grace and truth. And, you know. As we progress then.
[9:49] In the discovery of that. Of the truth of Jesus. Then we want to consider some of the aspects of that truth. That Paul highlights at the end of chapter 3. So let's look at what Paul tells us of the truth of Jesus.
[10:04] As we see in the next heading. The human and divine aspects of Jesus. He was manifested in the flesh. Vindicated by the Spirit.
[10:15] So the truth of Jesus. The truth about Jesus. Well, the truth as far as God's revelation of Jesus. As God has given us revelation of Jesus. Is concerned.
[10:26] Well, as we find here. It begins with the incarnation of Jesus. It's that truth that celebrated at this time of year. And, of course, not just at this time of year.
[10:38] But as we've been given opportunities. So to tell of the truth. That this time of year gives to the church. Gives to the Lord's people. Then use the opportunity that we have.
[10:51] I was given that opportunity just the other night. And as you know. As chaplain to the legion. Even being asked to pray at a particular event. And to use that opportunity.
[11:02] To bring forth the witness. Of the Lord Jesus. Who came from heaven to earth. To save his people from their sins. And we're not to be ashamed.
[11:13] To use these opportunities that God has given us. To tell of the truth of the Lord Jesus. But remember, as we said this morning. Then, you know.
[11:24] We live in a world that's seeking to push away. From the core truths of scripture. Even this time of year. The world will try. Whether it be by the commercialism.
[11:34] Of the time of year. Or whether through particular letter writers. To national newspapers. Seeking to rubbish the gospel. Rubbish the advent of Jesus.
[11:46] But no. We affirm absolutely. As Paul tells us here. Of Jesus. That Jesus came in human flesh. He was manifested. He was. In other words. He was revealed. In the flesh.
[11:57] With all that. That indicates. Of Jesus. Of the humanity. Of Jesus. Because when Paul speaks here. Of flesh. It's more than just physical form.
[12:09] Paul's telling us. Of Jesus. That he came with a human mind. That when Jesus was enfleshed. He came.
[12:20] Well. It speaks of full human development. It speaks of human emotions. And Jesus. Speaks of human needs. Sinless. Human needs. So to speak of the full humanity.
[12:32] Of Jesus. From conception. To birth. To childhood. To adulthood. To death. To resurrection. To ascension. I mean. The humanity of Jesus.
[12:43] Was fully involved. In each of these processes. In life. Of course. As we know. Sin accepted. And that's the truth. That we rejoice in. In the birth of the Lord Jesus.
[12:56] That's the mystery. Of the promised saviour. That's revealed. In the eternal son of God. Who. From eternity. As begotten of the father. In eternity.
[13:09] Without physical form. And he became. He became. What he'd not been. In order to make you. And to make me. Become what we could only be. By his becoming.
[13:21] Flesh. For us. He came. As a representative. Fully man. To pay the price. To fully pay the price. For sin.
[13:31] And to do so in our place. We can't have the manger. Without the cross. We can't. Peer into that. Wooden manger. Without gazing. On the wooden cross.
[13:42] Of Jesus. He was manifested. In the flesh. He was. Revealed. In all his glory. For. For you. And for me. To be set free. From. From the power of sin. By the one.
[13:53] Who came. In power. Even in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we. Read there. In the second part. Of this couplet. About the truth of Jesus. He was vindicated. By the spirit.
[14:06] I mean. The work of the Holy Spirit. In the life of Jesus. Well that's. At the very very least. A sermon in itself. You know. If we're going to do justice. To that subject. Of the life of the Holy Spirit.
[14:17] In. Of the work of the Holy Spirit. In the life of Jesus. Just for the moment. Just for. As time permits. And. You know. Might just draw. Draw on a few aspects.
[14:28] Of that truth. Of the work of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus. That tells us. Again. Of. Of the truth. About Jesus. Think of. What we're reading. Our hearing of this morning.
[14:39] The overpowering of the Holy Spirit. Upon Mary. To ensure the. The conception of Jesus. In both. In his. In his humanity. And. In his divinity.
[14:50] Through the overpowering. Of the Holy Spirit. And then. We see the anointing of Jesus. We read of the anointing of Jesus. By the Spirit. When Jesus. Was about 30 years of old.
[15:00] Just before Jesus. Embarked. In his. In his ministry. But it's surely. As Paul. Tells us here. It's surely. If you like. The vindication.
[15:11] Of Jesus. At Jesus. Resurrection. That vindication. In other words. That. That declaration. That Jesus. His ministry. Was real. That his life.
[15:23] Was true. That his work. Of salvation. Was true. And that he died for us. And was raised for us. And that raising from the dead. By the power of the Holy Spirit.
[15:35] So Paul tells us. In Romans 8. Verse 11. When he speaks of the. The spirit. Who raised Jesus. From the dead. By the resurrection. Of Jesus.
[15:46] Jesus. Jesus. Jesus ministry. Was vindicated. In other words. It was proved right. It was proved true. Jesus claims of himself. As the son of God. Proved true.
[15:58] His life giving ministry. Proved true. His promise of eternal life. Through him. Proved true. That's what Paul writes. Again in Romans.
[16:09] Romans chapter 1. Verse 4. When he writes of Jesus. That he was declared. To be the son of God. In power. According to the spirit. Of holiness. By his resurrection.
[16:20] From the dead. So never forget. The truth. The work of the Holy Spirit. In the life of Jesus. Just dwell in that. Meditate on that truth.
[16:31] Upon that. The work of the Holy Spirit. That tells of the reality. Of who Jesus is. In his divinity. In his complete harmony. With the Holy Spirit.
[16:42] The Holy Spirit. The same spirit. Who drew you to Jesus. To see in Jesus. The Savior. The only Savior. Your Savior. My Savior.
[16:54] The Savior who promises eternal life. And that promise. That's sure and true. In the risen. Living. Lord Jesus. And it's that proclamation.
[17:05] Of eternal life in Christ. That Paul affirms. Really in his next couplet. About the truth of Jesus. When he speaks of the witnesses. Of Jesus. What he writes of Jesus.
[17:16] Seen by angels. Proclaimed. Among the nations. If you like. The heavenly domain. Met the earthly realm.
[17:27] In Jesus' ministry. When the one who dwelt in eternity. The one who'd been the object. Of the praise of angels. Now. Has come to earth.
[17:38] And you know. That heavenly reality. Think of the angels. These heavenly created angels. These angels in heaven. Praising the Savior. Well.
[17:49] Paul wants. Wants to draw us to see more fully. That angelic witness of Jesus. Wants us to see these heavenly witnesses. Alongside.
[18:00] The earthly witnesses of Jesus. You. You. Me. Earthly witnesses. Who proclaim Jesus. Throughout the earth. Again. This is. This has got to do with. What we call vindication.
[18:12] In other words. Proving. What's correct. Proving what's true. Proving. The truth about Jesus. So we're seeing here. And what Paul's telling us. Of seen by angels.
[18:23] Proclaimed among the nations. This combination of created. Angels. Created angelic witness. With created human witness.
[18:35] Speaks again of the truth. Of the person of the Lord Jesus. How do we. Derive that. Well. Think of. Angelic witness. Think of the. The angels witness.
[18:46] Of the Lord Jesus. Because of course. Angels played a crucial part. In Jesus ministry. The announcement. Of Jesus birth. By. To lowly shepherds.
[18:58] By. By an angel. There was praise. From the heavenly choir. Of angels. Testified. To the wonder. Of the coming. Of the Lord Jesus. To earth. Then.
[19:09] Of course. Later. In scripture. We read of Jesus. Sinless. Human weakness. When. When he was strengthened. By angels. After Jesus. Had been tempted. For 40 days. In the wilderness.
[19:20] By the devil. Then at Jesus resurrection. Where. We can. Derive from scripture. That he was seen. By angels. It was an angel.
[19:31] Who announced. To. To the women. At the empty tomb. That Jesus. He is not here. He is risen. It was two angels. Who Mary Magdalene saw. Who were sitting.
[19:43] Where the body of Jesus. Had laid. The angelic presence. And the angelic announcement. Of Jesus. Having. Been risen from the dead. Surely an indication.
[19:54] That angels. Saw there is in Jesus. Before. Any human being. Saw there is in Jesus. Jesus. So the word of. Of an angel. The presence of angels.
[20:06] Even at the empty tomb. Again. Vindications. Of. Of the truth. Of the risen Jesus. Jesus. Risen for us. But while. Angelic witnesses. Saw Jesus.
[20:18] In his resurrection form. Human witnesses. Saw Jesus. And human witnesses. Continue. To see Jesus. By faith. And it's human witnesses.
[20:30] Who proclaim. The Lord Jesus. And do so. Throughout the earth. Among all the nations. And it's the good news. That's. That's preached. And proclaimed. Whether it's to Jew.
[20:41] Or to non-Jew. As we see here. To the nations. Of the earth. And that's the message. That we. We're going to shout. About this Christmas time. And indeed. At all times. At all seasons.
[20:53] Because you can't. Proclaim Jesus. As the living Lord. And Savior. Unless you've. Seen him. Seen him. By faith. And the wonder. Of the good news.
[21:03] Of Jesus. The wonder. Of the truth. Of Jesus. Is that it's to the nations. That Jesus is proclaiming. That word nations. That Paul gives us here. It's really that word. That tells of.
[21:15] Of the Gentiles. The non-Jews. To you. To me. And that's the good news. Again. That we celebrate. This season. It's the good news. That encourages.
[21:25] The Lord's people. Well. Don't give up. On your witness. Before others. And that's the message. That's the message. Of salvation. In Christ alone. That really. Spurs.
[21:36] Men and women. To go out. Into the world. To make disciples. Of all nations. Whether it's disciples. As Jim was telling me. This morning. Of. Of a couple.
[21:47] Going out to Malawi. And commissioned. To go out to Malawi. Whether it's you. Whether it's me. In our doorsteps. Whether it's. Our own witness. In our small corners. We've been given a commission.
[21:58] To go out. Into all the world. To make disciples. Of all nations. And it's. That news. That isn't. To be a message. To somehow. Be hidden. To hide our lights.
[22:08] Under that bushel. It's a message. To proclaim. Don't let the message. Of the coming. Of the Lord Jesus. Somehow be cast aside.
[22:19] Or just. Considered another event. Amongst the many events. Of history. The gospel message. Is for all peoples. At all times. To be proclaimed.
[22:30] By all the Lord's people. You who've been blessed. With the touch. Of saving grace. It's for you. And for me. To share that good news. So that others. Might hear.
[22:41] And believe. By the power. Of the Holy Spirit. To believe. The truth of Jesus. And it's that hearing. And that believing. Believing the truth.
[22:51] About Jesus. That really. Is covered. In this final couplet. That Paul gives us. About Jesus. The reception. Of Jesus. Believed on.
[23:02] In the world. Taken up. In glory. The angelic. Proclamation. Of the birth of Jesus. Well that angelic.
[23:12] Proclamation. Has been echoed. And repeated. For. For 2000 years. And it's going to be. Proclaimed and repeated. Until Jesus returns. In his glory. That proclamation.
[23:24] That was given. To shepherds. 2000 years ago. That message. Was believed on. Even as Mary. Believed. What she'd been told. By. By the angel.
[23:35] Who told her. Of what was to happen. Through her. In giving birth. To the son of dawn. Joseph believed. When he was told. About. About the news. Of the. The Christ child.
[23:47] To be born. To Mary. Angels. Proclaimed good news. Disciples. Disciples. Who became apostles. They proclaimed. The good news.
[23:57] The saints. Of the early church. They. Proclaimed the good news. Of Jesus. Missionaries. Through the centuries. Have proclaimed. The good news. Have proclaimed. The gospel. Of the Lord Jesus.
[24:09] And of course. The Lord's. Servants. Have continued. And will continue. To. To proclaim. That good news. That many. Do believe in. Many.
[24:20] Have believed in. And that many. Are still. To believe in. So Paul. Wrote. In Romans. 10. 14 to 15. When he was. Quoting from an Old Testament. Passage.
[24:30] About that. That truth. But how are they. To call on him. In whom. They have not. Believed. And how are they. To believe in him. Of whom. They have never heard. And how are they. To hear.
[24:40] Without someone. Preaching. And how are they. To preach. Unless they are saying. As it is written. How beautiful. Are the feet. Of those. Who preach. The good news.
[24:53] And the glorious. Truth. Is that by the. The. Proclamation. Of God's word. By the accompanying. Power of the Holy Spirit.
[25:04] Many believe. In the Lord Jesus. Believe on the Lord Jesus. And even today. There's been rejoicing. In heaven. Over sinners.
[25:15] Who've repented. Of their sins. And believed in Jesus. Even before this year ends. What we've done. A week or so. Before this year ends. Then we. Fully believe.
[25:26] That there will be those. Who have given their lives. To the Lord Jesus. Have believed. Believed in his name. Young men. Old men. Young women. Old women. From this country.
[25:37] From other countries. Poor people. Rich people. People with multiple degrees. People with no degrees. Good news is preached. And Jesus has believed in him.
[25:50] He's been received. By faith. Even as you. Who know him. By faith. Even as you. Received. That good news. And believed in the Lord Jesus. You put your trust in him.
[26:01] And we pray. That even at this time of year. There'll be a receiving. Of the Lord Jesus. And you know.
[26:11] Even as the word. Tells us of that joy. That in this world of sin. Meek souls will receive him still. No ear may hear his coming. But in this world of sin. Where meek souls will receive him still.
[26:22] The dear Christ. Enters in. And if there's a receiving of Christ. On earth. There's a receiving of Christ. In heaven. As we see in the second part of the couplet.
[26:34] Where Paul tells us. Taken up of Jesus. Taken up in glory. You know. The soul of Jesus was taken up into heaven. When Jesus died on the cross.
[26:46] Forty days after Jesus' resurrection. Jesus' body and soul ascended into heaven. Taken up into glory. Received in heaven. Received in heaven with all joy.
[26:59] That Jesus had defeated sin. Defeated Satan. And defeated death itself. Jesus acclaimed in heaven. As the one who's worthy. As we're told in Revelation 5.
[27:11] Worthy to receive power. And wealth. And wisdom. And might. And honor. And glory. And blessing. Receive honor. And glory.
[27:22] Taken up in glory. Receiving honor. And glory. What about you then? You who've heard the gospel preached. You who've heard the gospel proclaimed.
[27:34] What about you and your receiving Jesus? Have you received Jesus? Would you join with the saints on earth. And the angels in heaven.
[27:45] And the souls of departed ones in heaven. Who even now are acclaiming Jesus as Lord. And will do so eternally. I call upon you to receive Christ.
[27:58] And receiving the Lord Jesus. You'll receive the greatest gift of all. As the dear Christ enters your life. And never to depart from you.
[28:11] Amen. And may God add his blessing. To his word. Let us pray. Lord, as we have been considering the truth of Jesus.
[28:22] The truth about Jesus. May we know him as the truth. And live by that truth. And forgive us, Lord, when we wander from the truth. Forgive us, Lord, when the many times when we prefer that which is not truth.
[28:37] To that. To the one who is true. Lord, we pray then that you will bless your people as they proclaim the word of truth. Even those who are still to proclaim that this evening.
[28:50] We pray, Lord, that truly. That people will know the truth that will set them free. So hear us, Lord, as we continue in worship before you now.
[29:02] We pray these things in and through the name of truth. And through the name of Jesus. Amen.