The Pillar and Ground of the Truth
Chad Johnson
April 29, 2011

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth” 1 Timothy 3:15 KJV.

In the previous verse Paul told Timothy that he hoped and longed to come to him shortly. How ever if he was delayed he wanted young Timothy to know how to behave in church which is the pillar and the ground of the truth. We must first identify truth. The bible very plainly tells us thy word is truth.

Oh what a great responsibility for the Lord's true church to be a pillar and ground of the truth. The terms pillar and ground are architectural in nature. The ground is a foundation and pillar is a supporting structure. The foundation and support for truth in this age is the church. Jesus Christ built the Church on a solid Rock. He built it upon Himself. The church is not built on Peter or Rome. There is only one truth church. All churches cannot be pillar and ground of the Truth. God has used His church to spread and preserve His word. If you look around today at all the false doctrine that is taught in the main stream one may wonder has the truth been lost. We must remember what our Lord said “upon this Rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

There has never been a time since the days of Christ that the Lord’s church has not been in business It has been under the same management for over 2000 years. I strongly believe in church perpetuity. This word means an unbroken line of local churches starting local churches from Christ’s ministry up until our present day. The church did not start at Rome or the reformation, but her roots can be traced back to the days of the apostles.

There have been times when church was large and flowing freely. Other times of persecution she floundered ground out of sight, but the gates of hell did not prevail ultimately over the church. There are some vital truths that the Lord’s church must have in order to be the pillar and ground of the truth.

1) Salvation by grace alone. Through repentance and faith

2) Eternal security

3) Belief in the infallible scriptures KJV for English speaking people.

4) A saved membership.

5) Two ordinances: Baptism by immersion and The Lord's Supper for members only

6) Two scriptural offices: Pastor/Bishop and Deacon; both must be spiritual men who have never been divorced

7) That there is a literal heaven and hell.