The church of Jesus Christ has been entrusted with the gospel of Christ. This is both a sobering responsibility and a beautiful privilege. It is not enough to identify and reject false teaching in the church. We have to embrace and foster affection for what is good and glorious and godly. This is how Paul addresses the issue of false teaching in his letter to Timothy. Paul not only names specific sins to be avoided and false teaching to be rejected — he also unpacks what true love looks like, why the law is good, and how the gospel is glorious.
1) True love.
Point to ponder: True love is inseparably connected with truth: it is impossible to deny truth and embrace love.
Question to consider: Is there anyone in your life you are seeking to love, yet withholding God’s truth from them?
2) Good law.
Point to ponder: God’s law is not for making ourselves feel religious or righteous, but for speaking its sanctifying truth to those living in sin.
Question to consider: Are you interested in helping people be more like Christ, or more like you?
3) Glorious gospel.
Point to ponder: The good news of the gospel is all about the glory of God — God himself is the gospel.
Question to consider: Are you waiting or looking for something better than God himself? There is no such thing.