The amazing truth of Jesus Christ that is summarized in 1 Timothy 3:16 is transformative, as God’s truth is certain, supreme, clear and relevant to our lives. In this verse, the Holy Spirit emphasizes six pivotal elements of what we know about the magnitude of Jesus Christ and His plan for us, including the great incarnation, the great vindication, the great exaltation and the great proclamation.
Fifth, Paul emphasizes the great SALVATION: “He was believed on in the world.”
Right before this, Paul stated that Christ “was preached among the nations.” So, how did that preaching go? How was that message received?
First, the goal of God was achieved in the salvation of souls. In the Great Commission, God wanted His Word preached in all the world—not to be able to just check a box that the message had spread everywhere. The purpose of preaching was to save souls, and God’s Word did just that—it will not “return to [Him] void, but it shall accomplish what” He pleases (Isa. 55:10-11).
All around the world, there are souls longing to find what they need, perhaps not even knowing fully what they need until they find it. But, honest souls will eagerly receive the truth of Christ, for it opens their eyes to Him (Acts 26:18).
Second, as the gospel spread and people were saved, the growth of the early church was phenomenal. Starting with 3,000 baptisms on that first Pentecost (Acts 2:41), the Lord continually “added” (Acts 2:47), “multiplied” (Acts 6:7) and “increased” (Acts 16:5) the number of His disciples. The more the seed kept being “planted” and “watered” around the world, the more God kept giving “the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
The growth of the church was global and remarkable, and it made such an impact that Christians were accused of turning “the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). The great salvation is what everyone needed!
Third, when Paul says that Jesus was “believed on,” it is imperative to understand what that means. In Scripture, “believe” is not merely mental assent to truth that one hears, but it is (1) confidence in that truth, (2) submission to the Author of that truth and (3) obedience to the conditions of that truth. See how God uses “believe” and “obey” interchangeably in passages like John 3:36 and Hebrews 3:18-19. “Believed on in the world” emphasizes the effectiveness of the gospel and how many were being “obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
This indisputable truth ought to transform our lives toward godliness! As the Lord’s church, we are “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). We must know it! We must teach it! We must defend it! (conclusion next week)