Daily Devotions
1 Timothy
"Holding the mystery of the faith..."
Text: 1 Timothy 3:9
DIFFERENT ASPECTS CONSIDERED
Much is expected from those who seek to serve the Lord. The qualities described thus far cover the following aspect of life:-
1. With reference to personal character
a) Reverent
b) Not double-tongued
c) Not given to much wine
d) Not greedy for money
2. With reference to knowledge of the faith
“Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.”
1 Timothy 3:9
a) The word “mystery”
i) This simply means “the revealed knowledge given by the Lord”.
ii) Paul uses the word “mystery” consistently to refer to the knowledge he has about Christ (Ephesians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 2:7, 10).
b) “The mystery of the faith”
i) This is a specific reference to the faith God has revealed concerning Christ.
ii) That He is the Son of God.
iii) That He is the Saviour of the world.
iv) That He is the Mediator between God and man.
v) This was the revelation given by God (here called “mystery”).
3. Appropriate response to this revealed knowledge of Christ
a) He must hold fast.
i) The individual must personally believe in the Lord with all his heart.
ii) If he wants to be a deacon he must know his faith well.
iii) He must hold fast to this revealed knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
iv) His faith must be intact.
b) He must have a pure conscience.
He must not just verbally confess with his mouth that he believes in the Lord Jesus. His conscience attests to the fact that his character and his life are consistent with his declaration of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!