How to Live in God’s House, Part 3
In our message, CONDUCT IN THE HOUSE OF GOD (1 Tim. 2:1-15), we continued to look at the book of First Timothy, which focuses on the structure God wants His “house,” the church to have (1 Timothy 3:13, etc.). After charging Timothy to teach no other doctrine than the Bible and to deal with erring prominent men in the Ephesian church who had shipwrecked their faith, the Holy Spirit looked at the worship service itself.
God says here, prayer should be done “first of all” and with the men leading spiritually (1 Tim. 2:1, 8-12, etc.). All kinds of prayer should be made with thanksgiving, and these prayers should also be made for “all people” (1 Tim. 2:1 NET; Eph. 6:18, etc.). A special focus in the church should also be made on prayers for all in authority in our land- that those who are not Christian trust in the gospel (e.g. John 8:24) and also that all who are in authority (whether Christian or not) make good decisions reflecting biblical truth so we as Christians “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:2b). This kind of prayer for all people is in agreement with God’s Word, and pleases the Lord “who desires all… to be saved” (2 Tim. 2:3). However, this love of God for all people, sadly, does not mean all will be saved (Rev. 22:17; Acts 16:30-31, etc.). Even though Christ was “a ransom for all” and paid for “the sin of the [whole] world” (1 Tim. 2:6; John 1:29), each person must come to God His way through Jesus Christ to be saved (Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12-13, 51; 3:7, 13-16; 10:9; Acts 4:12, etc.). This is because “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” and there is “NO OTHER NAME under heaven [than Jesus] given among men by which we MUST be saved.” (2 Tim. 2:5; Acts 4:10-12 caps my emphasis; John 14:6, etc.). Paul was called to preach this glorious gospel as are each of us in the church as well (1 Cor. 15:3-4; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8, etc.).
The Lord then looked further at the role of “men” to “head” the church spiritually, giving us additional information on how they ought to pray in corporate worship (1 Tim. 1:8; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:23, etc.). The Greek word for “men” here in 1 Timothy 1:8 means ‘males,’ and Scripture shows us in the design and order of God, men are called to “head” both the home and the church- which is “the house of God… the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 11:3, 7, 10; Eph. 5:22-24, etc.). The Lord then turns His eyes to ladies and the “conduct” He would like them to have in His design and order within the church (1 Tim. 1:9; 3:15, etc.). When ladies pray in corporate worship they are to “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation” (1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Thes. 5:17; Eph. 6:18, etc.). Modesty (Grk kósmios) here means decent and orderly and is where we get the English word ‘cosmetic’ from. The idea here (with “propriety” and, “moderation”) is to shrink back from what is inappropriate in the culture of one’s day and focus on what glorifies the Lord (1 Tim. 2:9-10). Women also, in the God ordained role He has given them, are to respect the authority He has established learning with reverence (i.e. “in silence” in the NKJV is better translated “quietly”) and “with all submission” (2 Tim. 2:11; Eph. 5:18, 22, etc.). That is, God says they are not to usurp the role of ‘headship’ given to a man in God’s design and order that He established from the beginning of creation (Gen. 3:16b; 2 Tim. 2:12-14; 1 Cor. 11:8-9, etc.).
The word “saved” in 1 Timothy 2:15 is for a Christian woman (that is context of these verses) and speaks not of their initial justification but of their sanctification (i.e. growth in Christ, much like John 17:17 and James 1:21 also speaks of for a Christian). This is because a person goes to heaven by grace through faith and not by a work of any kind (i.e. Eph. 2:8-9), and also “childbearing” is a role given to women alone by God in His design and order from the beginning of creation when He “blessed” humanity in His image (Gen. 1:27-28; 1 Tim. 2:15, etc.). Though childbearing was affected negatively by the Fall of humanity (Gen. 3:16a), the Bible shows us a woman still can find her greatest satisfaction and meaning in life- not in seeking the male role- but in fulfilling God’s design given to her as a wife and mother (note: though there are a few both males and females who are gifted with celibacy, this verse is assuming the typical situation from the creation account [1 Tim. 2:15; Gen. 1:27-28; Titus 2:4-5 vs. 1 Cor. 7: 7; Matt. 19:11-12, etc.]). The Bible here, while completely true, is very countercultural to much of our world today and under heavy attack (Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5; 1 John 5:19; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, etc.). *For more information on these truths from God’s Word, please see SBFC’s July 13, 2025 message above.