The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 1:5,
"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
The "this command" Paul gives Timothy to is to "command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies." Paul states the goal of the command is love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
I note Paul's reference to a "sincere faith" indicating the prospect of an insincere faith. Merriam-Webster defines "insincere" as "not expressing or showing true feelings." These teachers of false doctrines have something else afoot in their hearts as they mislead others, something other than what they report of themselves or portray themselves to be. Artificial, counterfeit, fake, feigned, hypocritical, phony, pretended are some of the thoughts that come to mind.
On the other hand, sincerity, as in "a sincere faith" is having or showing true feelings that are expressed in an honest way, genuine or real, according to Merriam-Webster. A sincere faith is free from adulteration and marked by genuineness, it is heartfelt and unfeigned.
The difference between a sincere faith and an insincere one is honesty. Folks who promote false teaching may subscribe to what it is they are peddling, but as it pours from an insincere faith, they manifest what is really in their duplicitous hearts. They are deceptive in words and actions. They are unethical, no matter how upstanding they may appear to be. They are unprincipled and unscrupulous, deceitful, crafty and cunning. They sneak and they defraud.
These are the ones we are to be mindful of. They need to be confronted and challenged to expose them for what they are, just as Timothy was asked by Paul to do. A passage that always comes to my mind that may be useful in regard to evaluating what is being taught by whom is, "The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17-18. The false teachers are exposed by James in the same passage, "If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:14-16. Earthly, unspiritual, domonic!
In his sermon on the mount, Jesus warned us of these false teachers, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
The "this command" Paul gives Timothy to is to "command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies." Paul states the goal of the command is love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
I note Paul's reference to a "sincere faith" indicating the prospect of an insincere faith. Merriam-Webster defines "insincere" as "not expressing or showing true feelings." These teachers of false doctrines have something else afoot in their hearts as they mislead others, something other than what they report of themselves or portray themselves to be. Artificial, counterfeit, fake, feigned, hypocritical, phony, pretended are some of the thoughts that come to mind.
On the other hand, sincerity, as in "a sincere faith" is having or showing true feelings that are expressed in an honest way, genuine or real, according to Merriam-Webster. A sincere faith is free from adulteration and marked by genuineness, it is heartfelt and unfeigned.
The difference between a sincere faith and an insincere one is honesty. Folks who promote false teaching may subscribe to what it is they are peddling, but as it pours from an insincere faith, they manifest what is really in their duplicitous hearts. They are deceptive in words and actions. They are unethical, no matter how upstanding they may appear to be. They are unprincipled and unscrupulous, deceitful, crafty and cunning. They sneak and they defraud.
These are the ones we are to be mindful of. They need to be confronted and challenged to expose them for what they are, just as Timothy was asked by Paul to do. A passage that always comes to my mind that may be useful in regard to evaluating what is being taught by whom is, "The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17-18. The false teachers are exposed by James in the same passage, "If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such 'wisdom' does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:14-16. Earthly, unspiritual, domonic!
In his sermon on the mount, Jesus warned us of these false teachers, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
How grateful I am for those with a sincere faith, those who have given themselves to the Lord and seek to draw others with them! Folks with a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith that finds expression in love!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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