1 Timothy: 11 Timothy: 1Love and FaithLove and Faith

By Amy CheekBy Amy Cheek

Around 60 A.D., Paul Around 60 A.D., Paul sent a letter fromsent a letter fromMacedonia toMacedonia toTimothy, in Ephesus,Timothy, in Ephesus,to stay there andto stay there andstop false teachingsstop false teachingsof the law and mythsof the law and mythsabout God. about God.

Paul says to Timothy that believing in thesePaul says to Timothy that believing in these

false teachings and myths don’t bring youfalse teachings and myths don’t bring youany closer to God, only pull you away fromany closer to God, only pull you away fromHim. They are major distractions from God. Him. They are major distractions from God.

““55The goal of this command is love, which The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. conscience and a sincere faith. 66Some have Some have wandered away from these and turned to wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. meaningless talk. 77They want to be They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” so confidently affirm.”

The false teaching were pulling people away The false teaching were pulling people away from love. Love comes with a good heart, from love. Love comes with a good heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. We a good conscience and a sincere faith. We need to love God with all of our hearts, need to love God with all of our hearts, but they were being pulled away from but they were being pulled away from that.that.

The law is for the sinners. It points out to us The law is for the sinners. It points out to us what we are doing wrong, which we need what we are doing wrong, which we need to fix to be like Christ. We need to keep to fix to be like Christ. We need to keep faith in God and love Him with all of our faith in God and love Him with all of our hearts and strive to be like Him (following hearts and strive to be like Him (following his example).his example).

““1212I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strenght, that he considered me given me strenght, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. faithful, appointing me to his service. 1313Even though I was once a blasphemer Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and violent man, I was and a persecutor and violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. and unbelief. 1414The grace of our Lord was The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Jesus Christ.”the faith and love that are in Jesus Christ.”

Paul (formerly known asPaul (formerly known asSaul) once persecutedSaul) once persecutedother Christians. Once heother Christians. Once hefollowed the Lord, Paulfollowed the Lord, Paulrealizes how much loverealizes how much loveJesus has for him. JesusJesus has for him. Jesusloves him so much heloves him so much hepours out His love andpours out His love andgrace to Paul. If he lovesgrace to Paul. If he lovessomeone who used tosomeone who used topersecute Christians thatpersecute Christians thatmuch, just imagine howmuch, just imagine howmuch love that is!much love that is!

““15 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…world to save sinners…””

Paul later refers to himself as the worst ofPaul later refers to himself as the worst ofsinners. He said because Jesus came to savesinners. He said because Jesus came to savesinners, he was saved and can now showsinners, he was saved and can now showlove and faith to others and “…display Hislove and faith to others and “…display His

unlimited patience.”unlimited patience.”

Paul finishes with this,Paul finishes with this,

““1818Timothy, my son, I give you this Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, them you may fight the good fight, 1919holding on to faith and a good holding on to faith and a good conscience.”conscience.”