5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” – 1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
“The Aim” is LOVE
14 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;” – 2 Corinthians 5:14 ESV
Is God’s love the driving force behind the details of my life?
And where does the love flow from?
PURE HEART
“Purity of heart is to will one thing” – Soren Kierkegaard
He specifies that it is to “will the good” and that can only come from God.
GOOD CONSCIENCE
One that is not “seared” by pretense or insincerity.
2 “through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” – 1 Timothy 4:2 ESV
Is maintained by a life of integrity, saying yes repeatedly to Holy Spirit conviction, confession, repentance, and receiving forgiveness.
SINCERE FAITH
Not pretending and not acting.
The faith I have may not be perfect, but is it without hypocrisy?
Before we got too far into how we can just do this better, it’s important to look to Jesus…
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a]themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:36-50 ESV
Soon Jesus will be calling us to the table to eat with Him (ref. Luke 7:36)
This woman had a pure heart before Jesus, He FORGAVE and cleansed her conscience, and He said “your faith has saved you.” He affirmed her faith by her intense pursuit of and brokenness before Jesus.
Invitation: Come to Jesus
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- I only do what I see the Father doing (John 5:19) – PURE HEART
- Tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15) – GOOD CONSCIENCE
- If we are faithless, He is still faithful (2 Timothy 2:13) – SINCERE FAITH