12/24/13

From Mark Copeland... The Purpose Of The Commandment (1 Timothy 1:5)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                  The Purpose Of The Commandment (1:5)

INTRODUCTION

1. The idea of "commandment-keeping" is not a popular one among many
   people today...
   a. Some equate it with what they call "legalism"
   b. Others look at keeping any kind of commandment as an unpleasant
      task
      1) Perhaps a carry-over from childhood?
      2) Where they feel like they were constantly being "commanded" to
         do things?

2. Yet keeping the commandments of God should not be looked upon by
   Christians in this way...

   "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart,
   [from] a good conscience, and from] sincere faith," (1Ti 1:5)

3. What is the purpose or goal of any commandment from God...?
   a. Is it only to enjoin blind obedience?
   b. Or is there a noble purpose behind the commands?

[Our text (1Ti 1:5) suggests the latter, so let's examine what Paul
reveals about "The Purpose Of The Commandment"...]

I. THE PURPOSE IS TO PRODUCE LOVE

   A. NOT FOR 'DISPUTES'...
      1. Which is as far as some go with the Word of God!
         a. They study it, discuss it, debate it, defend it
         b. In Bible class, conversations, publications, etc.
      2. Unless they obey it, all is in vain!
         a. They fail to fulfill its ultimate purpose:  to produce love!
         b. Their religion is a vain religion, not a pure religion - Ja
            1:22-27
         c. "The purpose of all revelation and the test of all religion
            is character and conduct." - MacLaren

   B. THE GOAL OF GOD'S COMMANDS IS LOVE...
      1. Both love for God and love for man - cf. Mt 22:35-40
      2. Concerning our love for God
         a. It begins with, but goes beyond adoration, praise and
            devotion
         b. True love for God is realized when we keep His commands
            - 1Jn 5:3; Jn 14:15,21
      3. Concerning our love for man
         a. It begins with, but goes beyond any active good will or
            affection we might have
         b. True love for man is also realized when we keep God's
            commands - 1Jn 5:2

[So the goal of any command of God is love.  Not just any love, but a
love that springs forth from a good source...]

II. FROM A PURE HEART, A GOOD CONSCIENCE, AND SINCERE FAITH

   A. FROM A PURE HEART...
      1. 'Pure' can also be translated 'clean', suggesting that which is
         from impurities
      2. To love with such a heart requires purification, which comes
         obedience to the truth - 1Pe 1:22-23
      3. Have our souls been purified by obeying the truth?  If not...
         a. We will be plagued by spiritual impurities (e.g., greed,
            covetousness, envy, pride)
         b. We will be unable to love God and man as we should
      4. Those with 'pure hearts' are the ones who will be truly blessed
         - Mt 5:8

   B. FROM A GOOD CONSCIENCE...
      1. 'Conscience' is defined as "that process of thought which
         distinguishes what it considers morally good or bad, commending
         the good, condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the
         former, and to avoid the latter." - Vine
      2. The love God desires is that which comes from a person with a
         'good conscience'
         a. To have a 'good' conscience, it must be properly set
            1) Like a clock, it is accurate only when properly set
            2) Otherwise it might lead us astray - e.g., Ac 23:1; cf.
               26:9-11
            3) A good conscience is one that is set according to God's
               standard
         b. To have a 'good' conscience, it must be properly cleansed
            1) For no matter who we are, we are sinners!
               a) God says so - Ro 3:23
               b) So does our conscience - Ro 2:14-15
               c) Any who deny this have 'rejected' or 'seared' their
                  conscience - cf. 1Ti 1:19; 4:2
            2) What can 'cleanse' our conscience?
               a) Not any OT sacrifice or worship - He 9:9-10
               b) Rather, the blood of Christ - He 9:14
      3. Only with a conscience 'cleansed' from dead works can we
         really:
         a. Love both God and man
         b. Love with a pure heart and good conscience!

   C. FROM A SINCERE FAITH...
      1. Some translations use 'unfeigned' instead of 'sincere' (ASV,
         KJV)
      2. It is translated elsewhere as 'without hypocrisy' (Ro 12:9) or
         'genuine' (2Ti 1:5)
      3. The word 'faith' involves two interrelated concepts:
         a. A strong conviction in that which is believed
         b. A strong trust in the object believed
      4. A 'sincere faith' would be:
         a. A true, honest to God, conviction
         b. A true-hearted trust in God and Jesus
      5. This kind of faith comes only from the Word of God - cf. Ro 10:17; Jn 20:30-31
      6. Without such faith, the love God desires is not possible!

CONCLUSION

1. What kind of religion do you have...?
   a. One that consists in little more than religious talk?
   b. Or one that produces genuine love for God and man, manifested in
      deeds?

2. If you desire the religion that pleases God, it must be the kind that
   expresses itself in love:

   "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails
   anything, but faith working through love." (Ga 5:6)

3. Yet that kind of love comes "from a pure heart, from a good
   conscience, and from sincere faith"...
   a. Which is the goal of every command of God
   b. Who dare says that keeping the commandments of God are not
      important?

Are you willing to let the commands of God create in you "love from a
pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith"...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Seeing beauty become reality


Thank you, Bruce Arnold, for sending me this picture entitled" Stairway to the heavens"!!!  It is beautiful and reminds me of northern skies in up-state New York on a dark night!!!   Today, being Christmas eve, there will undoubtedly be many people thinking about God and Jesus (that is- the baby Jesus).  So, with that in mind, here is a passage that seems appropriate to the season...


Luke, Chapter 2
 1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.  4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;  5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. 

  6  While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.  7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.  8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.  9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.  11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”  13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, 
  14 “Glory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.”

  15  When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.  17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.  18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.  20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.


The shepherds were given a sign and they rejoiced over it.  That baby grew up to be someone who had a special task- to save us all!!!  It is to this aspect of Jesus' life that I would like us all to focus on.  You see, Jesus really did fullfill  the message of peace that the angels proclaimed. He really is our "stairway to heaven". Think about that one the next time you venture out into the night and view the beauty above!!!