We’ve heard a lot about how we, as the church, should behave over the last few messages in our series in 1 Timothy. There have been admonishments to pray, instructions for men and women, and assurance that the offices of elder and deacon have been carefully preserved for those whose character enables them to serve.

None of this is by accident. In our passage this week, the apostle Paul tells us that he’s writing this letter so that we might “know how one ought to behave in the household of God” (1 Timothy 3:15). Our behaviour matters. But that feels like a lot of pressure, doesn’t it? It’s with that in mind that Paul tells us the mystery of godliness.

What do you think the mystery is? Wouldn’t it be nice if it was a magic button we could press or a switch we could flip to somehow become more godly? What if it was a direct line to heaven to get answers when we don’t know what to do? There are all kinds of wonderful and fanciful things we could wish it was … but the real answer is even better than we could dare to imagine. We’ll dig into it together this Sunday as we look to 1 Timothy 3:14-16 and continue our series, The Good Fight.

Series: The Good Fight (1 Timothy)

Message: 9 – The Mystery of Godliness

Text: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Harvest Bible Chapel

Julian Freeman

June 22, 2025

When I perceive the mystery of godliness…

...I live like godliness matters (v. 14-15a)

...I look for my godliness from outside of me (v. 15)

1 Timothy 2:4-6

Extra nos - outside of us

Therefore a man must be justified by the alien righteousness of Christ, not by his own righteousness. This righteousness is not in us but outside us; not of our making, but of Christ’s work, for which we are made just through faith.

Martin Luther

1 Timothy 1:5

...I love that my godliness is already done (v. 16)