From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 6:43 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: June 6 Greetings

"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  1 Timothy 1:5

In verses 3-4 the Apostle Paul is urging Timothy to  "...instruct certain men not to teach wrong doctrine, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administrations of God which is by faith." The goal of his instruction is love. Love is the test; love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.  We too need to heed the goal of his instructions.

Concerning love as the test there is:
The test of true discipleship:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  John 13:34-35

The test of love in our words:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."  1 Corinthians 13:1

Love demonstrates the reality of the new life:
"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love abides in death."  1 John 3:14

Love of God is proven by brotherly love:
"If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen."  1 John 4:20

1 John 4: 7-8 state clearly and succinctly not what but Who love is: "Beloved, let us love one another for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Of love from a pure heart we see:
"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your soul for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is through the living abiding word of God."  1 Peter 1:22

Of a good conscience:
As the Apostle Paul stated concerning the maintaining of a good conscience in his defense before Felix, so too should we. "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men."  Acts 24:16

1 Peter 3:16 tells us,
"And keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

Scripture has much to say of faith, I will only state a few verses: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love."  Galatians 5:6

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."  1 John 5:4

The mark of a Believer is love and this from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.  We know that this love is maintained and grows as we yield to the Holy Spirit whom the Father has sent to guide us into all truth. Hallelujah!  Praise and glory to Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever.  Amen.