Keep on Track ...

Wednesday, Oct 9, 2013. Sincere and upright words are sometimes needed. The apostle Paul urges Timothy to work towards an upright and clear doctrine, following Christ Jesus. Let us hear what Paul tells Timothy - and through him also us today:

Understanding …

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

5 The aim of our charge is

love that issues from a pure heart

and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Tim 1, 3-11) Do you get the point? … **

This passage of Paul is not completely trivial. There are several important things which he wants to clarify. First, the message of faith is about love coming from a pure heart. We are called to follow faith sincerely, and that is first to become as pure as God is, and to love as he loved.

There is the law, which was given to Moses. What is the role of this law? Paul strongly objects that the law is for those who believe. No - those who believe in Christ are free from the law, since Christ fulfilled the law completely. Faith leads us into a different mode of existence. We are not justified because of our obedience, but because of HIS obedience. Christ fulfilled the law.

But the law is there for those who do not follow Christ. Paul names many different things which show that you are not following Christ. There are many different things named here … The list which Paul gives reaches from smaller sins to quite deep crimes.

You might now say that if these things show that you are not following Christ, then you need to avoid them to be in Christ. Are we back here to an ethics which brings salvation? No, that is not what is meant here. You cannot earn salvation. But still salvation will change you and this change can be seen. (Roland Potthast) ... more texts