1. Behaving in God’s House
1 Timothy 3:14-15

2. Behaving in God’s House
Christian behavior in God’s house, the church, is the theme of 1 Timothy
“Behavior” = “being”; what we are to “be”; moral character and conduct (Gr. ἀναστρέφω = to turn around)
Paul presents five truths concerning the Christian’s behavior

3. 1. Moral Behavior Is Given
“…how men ought to behave”
Like the word “should,” an “ought” (Gr. δεῖ = necessary) is a divine moral and ethical necessity of behavior (Rom. 15:1; Eph. 5:28; Tim. 5:13; Tit. 1:11; etc.)
The NT is not a book of suggestions

4. 2. Moral Behavior Is Known
“…that you may know”
We are not left to guess what the moral standard of behavior is (1 Jn. 5:14)
Skepticism and agnosticism have no place in a Christian’s life

5. 3. Moral Behavior Is Objective
“These things write I unto you…”
How we ought to behave is determined by the written word of God in the New Testament
Our morality is not subjective, but objective; not relative, but absolute

6. 3. Moral Behavior Is Objective
Jn. 17:14-19
1 Thess. 4:1-2
2 Tim. 3:16-17
Titus 2:11-12
2 Peter 1:2-8

7. 3. Moral Behavior Is Objective
Not civil government (Ex. 1; Dan. 3; 6)
Not religious authority (Mt. 15; Ac. 5)
Not self (Ex. 23:2; Judg. 21:17)
Not situations (Rom. 3:8)
Not extra-biblical sources (Gal. 1:6-9)
Not culture (Acts 19:27; Tit. 1:12)

8. 4. Moral Behavior Is Necessary
“but if I tarry long, that you may know”
Paul did not want these Christians to be without a standard of behavior; he was urgent because moral behavior is necessary and important
We should not live without a standard of moral behavior (Eph. 4:17-19)

9. 5. Moral Behavior Is Dignified
“in the house of God … the church … the pillar and ground of the truth”
Christians ought to behave a certain way because (1) we are God’s house, not just a social club; and (2) we support the truth, not just a bunch of man-made opinions (Phil. 3:14)

10. Behaving in God’s House
Christians today must have a clear understanding these 5 truths concerning proper behavior
Why? Because people will always call evil, good; and good, evil (Isa. 5:20)