“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,” (1 Timothy 1:5). Love from a pure heart for God and for others is in summary the greatest of God’s commands (Mark 12:29-31). A good conscience that in justice approves of what is good and disapproves of what is evil only comes with extensive training in God’s word (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Timothy 3:9). Timothy’s genuine faith was a product of his mother and grandmother having genuine faith and teaching him the Scriptures (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-17). These three are major issues; Jesus highlighted justice (a good conscience), mercy (love), and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Similarly, the famous question that highlights these three is, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
From these major thrusts of God’s commands some turn aside into empty talk (1 Timothy 1:6). Paul urged Timothy to remain in Ephesus to correct false doctrine that would go against the healthy teaching of the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:3, 10, 11). The Gospel not only involves the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), but also healthy teaching on right living. God’s law given to Israel at Sinai included commands regarding respecting God who is holy (Exodus 20:1-11); it also included commands of honoring one’s parents and loving others by proscribing murder, adultery, theft, and lying (Exodus 20:12-16).
Notice how Paul describes the activities of insubordinate sinners that fly in the face of these commands of God in 1 Timothy 1:9-11:
knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is glorious. It deserves our respect and defense. The world wants to run it down, but we must, as Paul did, be ready and willing to defend it (Phil. 1:7, 17). The Gospel of Jesus Christ can change me for good. I can be purified in love for God and others. I can develop a good conscience and live a just life that is fair toward others. My faith can grow as I learn to walk humbly with my God. I need the Gospel and so do you. Will you defend and promote this life-changing gift from God or will you neglect it to your own peril?
-Mark Day
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