In 1 Timothy 3, the apostle Paul is giving Timothy, a young pastor, instructions about how to lead his church. In case Paul got delayed on his way to see Timothy, he wanted the church to know how to live like people who follow Jesus.

Paul writes that part of the church’s role is to be a pillar of truth and to explain to the world the secret of how to be godly (1 Timothy 3:16). The answer to how we are made right with God is revealed in the hymn that follows:

• Jesus appeared in the flesh. Jesus was fully human. When Jesus was born, God came and lived among us.
• Jesus was vindicated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus completely obeyed God and lived a perfect life. The resurrection was proof of the Holy Spirit’s power in Him.
• Jesus was seen by the angels and taken up in glory. Jesus wasn’t just fully human, he was also fully divine.

As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life and gave us a perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible to live a godly life by following Jesus.

The church exists to share this message, because being made right with God starts with believing this one revolutionary idea: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Reflect:

• What do you consider the most mysterious part of the Christian faith?
• What does it say about our God that He left heaven to dwell among us as a human?
• On a scale of 1 to 10, how are you doing at being a “pillar of truth” and sharing Jesus’ message with those around you? What’s one thing you can do this week to move your number one level up?

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