TEXT: 1 Timothy 1:3-7
READING: Romans 10:1-17
SUBJ: The Christian character described in terms of love and seen as the goal of preaching. True preaching is Gospel centered.
AIM: That we may both preach and respond to such preaching as is designed to produce love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned.
INTR: The Gospel is not only good news but is delivered up with an aim or goal that is realized as the character of Christ which is alone acceptable to God – conformity to Christ in all ways.
1. Preaching (so called) may be with or without specific objectives.
2. Many preach for the wrong reasons such as pride, believing they have the ability to change men, money, and so on. And they do so without a true Gospel reference.
3. Many preach without sound doctrine – running without a message: 2 Samuel 18:29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
THESIS: Our God is a God of purpose. The divine aim in redemption is to produce in fallen men an acceptable, yea desirable character and so is the aim of the charge given to Timothy.
I. What is the Gospel?
1. Paul testified from personal experience: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
2. And we consider its necessity in reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.
3. Read again THE GOSPEL IN ONE MINUTE.
II. A warning (vv. 3-4)
1. From Lenski: “A plant smothered by rank alien growths dies as surely as one dug up by the roots.”
2. Consider then the endless Jewish fables of the time and
3. The things that engender questions rising from various sources rather than
4. Godly edifying (or personal stewardship) which is by faith.
5. Back then to verse 3, and the charge that they teach no other doctrine. Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
III. The objective (v. 5)
1. Charity (love = agape) out of a pure heart (v. 5)
1) The heart is the seat of affection, emotions, and will and looks to the very depths of our soul and being.
2) Such love must come from a pure heart made so by “the washing of regeneration” and sanctification – “ye must be born again”
3) See Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
4) This does not come naturally – Genesis 8:21 …for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
5) It is required: A pure heart for approach in Psalm 24, Hearts purified by faith in Acts 15 and see 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2. A good conscience
1) That part of us which judges -- approves or disapproves our actions (see v. 19)
i. Antecedent – that which is contemplated
ii. Subsequent – that which is completed
2) Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. AND Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Paul claimed that his was a good conscience toward God and man.
3. And faith unfeigned (not hypocritical)
1) See Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
2) Many (perhaps us at times) pay “lip-service” to faith rather than
3) Believing from the heart what is professed and fully submitting to what we claim to believe.
IV. An observation or a warning continued (vv. 6-7)
1. Some have turned so as to no longer be aiming at the things in verse 5.
2. “Vain Jangling” is an old English term for aimless storytelling.
3. …Which is a vain show of learning not based in sound study and understanding of truth.
4. And so, scriptures are contorted to accommodate personal goals or no goals at all.
5. Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
6. Rather we aim at the true measure of Christian character: 1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned…
