What Does the Bible Say About the Church?

The Church of the Living God has a very important place in our world to fill. It is referred to in 1 Timothy 3:15 as “the pillar and ground of the truth.” As the pillar, it supports the truth. As the ground or foundation, it establishes the truth.

We cannot overemphasize the crying need to “find the truth and sell it not” today. The opposite of truth is a lie. A lie is a falsehood passed off as the truth. It seeks to replace the truth for self-serving interests. Lies bring people into bondage. The truth sets people free. People are being enslaved in every area of their lives. We see this in everything from governments to church doctrines.

Everyone’s “truth” is not equal. The truth that sets people free is of greater value than lies passed off as truth that are enslaving you. Just look around. How many times have you been deceived by false advertisements? How many broken promises have you received from politicians and preachers? The devastating effect is, you do not know who to believe anymore.

There is one truth that covers all areas of our lives from the cradle to the grave:

1. It tells how we got here;

2. It tells where we are going;

3. It tells why we are here;

4. It tells what life is all about; and

5. It tells how to enjoy a completed life.

The truth is, there are not “many roads that lead to heaven.” Not all gatherings of people are “Churches of the Living God.” They may be at a ball game or other sporting event. Many “church gatherings” are merely social clubs. As one pastor friend of mine put it, they are “the frozen chosen.” So, what church is referenced as the “pillar and ground of the truth” in 1 Timothy 3:15? This is very important. Only churches that uphold the truth will show you “the road that leads to heaven.”

In the first place, this church must have the truth in its keeping. You cannot uphold something you do not have. The next thing is, you cannot put the truth on just any foundation. It must be solid. Shifting sands will not do. The foundation must not be made by human hands. It must be established by God Himself. To have the truth of God, you must know where to find it. There are many who are searching for the truth in all the wrong places. Why? They do not know what they are looking for. Some have gone so far as to mistake the truth for the lie and the lie for the truth. What a shame! God is not trying to hide the truth from us.

The truth that sets you free is the Word of God shown to you by the people of God. The people of God are living examples of how the truth of God sets you free. They are not plagued by “every wind of doctrine” that comes their way. They have a lasting assurance that they are “doing the right thing.” They have “a pure heart, a good conscience and a strong, abiding faith.” They are free from many things that are bringing people to eternal ruin. They are not racked with fear and guilt. They know how to conduct themselves with God and others. Because of this, they die as they lived.

The truth reveals to us the actual reality about the nature of God, the human race, our relationship to God and others, our obligations to God and others, the afterlife, etc. The Christian Church is a gathering of the True and Living God’s people. They “speak the truth in love.” This truth is a Person. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. This truth is called “The Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” See John 14:6. Notice, Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Jesus is the truth that sets you free. To know this liberating truth you must have a loving, personal relationship with the true and living God through the Lord Jesus Christ. See John 3.