The Goal

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

Goals like these do not come about naturally, but are taught by the Holy Spirit Who testifies of Christ. At the same time, goals like these are not so lofty as to be wholly unattainable, or so mystical as only to be available to people with a certain level of spirituality.

In order for any of these goals to come about there must be instruction. There is a particular set of words with a particular set of meanings that are to be imparted by way of instruction. The content, because it is true and in accord with the Word of God, will yield the fruits that attend to love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Love from a pure heart has its origin in the Creator. So the instruction of the Prophets, Apostles, and now Pastors in the Church have to do with all the Creator says about Himself and the heart of man.

As the benefits of Christ Jesus are preached and applied, faith apprehends and applies them in such a way that hatred and bitterness are cast aside. Love from a pure heart flows forth, albeit often without self-awareness. In fact, the awareness is fixed on the Son of Man Who gave Himself into death out of pure love in order to rescue those who know not love.

Because the benefits of Christ Jesus reach all the way back to your conception and birth, to the present moment, and to the moment you are received into glory, your conscience may be “good,” that is, without fear of holy retribution on account of sin, because that sin has been borne totally by Christ Jesus, Who says in every way throughout this instruction: “Your sin is forgiven. I am the Vine. You are my carefully pruned branch, under my loving care. My righteousness is your righteousness. It is good.”

A sincere faith cannot obtain without the Word of God, so the instruction of the Church is precisely that. The Church and her Pastors do not seek out new teachings to satisfy your curiosity, but again and again return to what has been spoken from the beginning, and what has been spoken in these last days through the Holy Son of God, Christ Jesus. The Word of God does not testify of eternal things with duplicity or uncertainty. It is written. What is written has also been spoken from age to age. Most importantly, it has the Holy Triune God as the Author.

The above are called goals because natural conditions necessitate a change. All of these goals are contrary to you by birth. Yet all of them have been applied to you in Christ Jesus. When you hear these words concerning “the goal of our instruction,” consider it the Church’s way of putting simply to you what is the goal of your gracious Father in Heaven, namely the you remain steadfast in the Faith as He has given it to you for your strength and comfort, and for the good of your neighbor.

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