Complimentary Story
March 2024The Apostle Paul refers to another mystery in I Timothy 3:9, “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure (2513-clean, spotless) conscience.” He then ends this chapter with this additional statement, “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.” This is a subject that is difficult to get one’s mind around, but not impossible. Paul makes additional comments concerning this mystery in I Timothy 1:3-5 telling Timothy to stay in Ephesus, “that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies (as if we inherit our godliness from our ancestors), which minister (more) questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
One’s godliness is determined by one’s choice to put their faith in the one true God, and His every word (Matthew 4:4). “Now the end of the commandment (or the purpose for all God’s commandments) is (perfect love) out of a pure heart, and a good conscience and of faith unfeigned,” (505-without hypocrisy. The law does not make us good or evil, but only shows us what is good or evil. Also to compliment God’s character of perfect love and matchless grace, which is a demonstration by his compassion, mercy, and always ready and willing to forgive. Paul compares this (I Timothy 1:6-10) to the problem in the church at Ephesus saying, “From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain (discussions). Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm (with Scripture). But we know that the law is good, if a man use if lawfully.”
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient… contrary to sound doctrine.” When is the law not for man? It is only when one, by faith, is committed to godliness with a pure conscience according to the law. As Paul states in Romans 6:14, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
What does Paul mean by this statement, “Ye are not under the law, but under grace?” Let me give you just one of many examples from our daily life. When the speed limit sign says 55 MPH and we stay within that limit, because we are committed to the intent of that law for everyone’s safety, we are free of that law with its consequences. The intent of most laws is to give more freedom in life, free from the consequences of breaking them. More freedom is achieved by the rule of law in a world that is filled with iniquity! The laws are there for those who either willingly, or out of ignorance break the law, to know there are always consequences for our choices.
In I Timothy 1:5, Paul made that concluding comment about the purpose of the commandment being perfect love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and faith without hypocrisy. Paul also states in Romans 2:10-16, “Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh (out) good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Why is that?) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law (because of conscience , the knowledge of good which we all have been given, until it is seared by our denials), these, having not the law are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while, accusing or else excusing one another; in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” Why are we judged according to Paul’s gospel and not according to the works of the law?
In Luke 24:44-48 Jesus makes these statements to His disciples: “Thus it is written in the Law of Moses (law 3551-general principles of living) and in the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me… Thus it behoved (1163-compelled) Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.”
Why was Jesus the Christ compelled to do this? Hebrews 2:17-18 answers this question, “Wherefore in all things it behoved (3784- forced Him of a legal necessity) to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor (997-to come to one’s aid, to help) them that are tempted.” Why would God be forced of a legal necessity? To keep His word, “I will meet all your needs,” the price of redemption had to be paid! Also Hebrews 5:8-9, “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect (sinless), He became the Author (the cause) of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” Yes, those who obey Him! Obedience is definitely a part of the whole gospel!
So what was the message that Jesus gave to His disciples in Like 24:47-48 after making His statement concerning His crucifixion? “And that repentance and remission (3341-forgiveness) of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” They were witnesses to the fulfillment of the new covenant promised to Adam and Eve, that of her seed He shall destroy the power of Satan (Genesis 3:15) and further describes in Deuteronomy 30:6-20 to the children of Israel the conditional response needed to benefit from the work promised on behalf of all mankind, where it is obvious salvation is conditional….
(1.) In Deuteronomy 30:10, “If thou shalt harken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” (2.) Also in verse 10, “If thou turn (repent) unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and all thy soul.” (3.) In verse 6, “The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart (to cut away the fleshly desires that turn the heart away from our God)… to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” (4.) In verses 11-15, “For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us that we may hear it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
The psalmist states in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” It does make all the difference! (5.) In verses 17-18, “But if thine heart turn away, so thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods (things) and serve them (for personal gain); I denounce you this day that ye shall surely perish.” (6.) In verses 19-20 “I have set before your life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” That with life, “thou mayest love the Lord thy God and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days.” As II Peter 3:9 also states, “The Lord is… longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any would perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Repentance is definitely a part of the whole gospel!
This is our necessary response for the work that God has already provided for our salvation, to redeem us from our sins. As we saw in Luke 24:47-48, that repentance and forgiveness of sins be preached to the entire world. Repentance turns our heart from embracing the knowledge of evil and Satan’s deception, to all that God has provided that will give us a pure conscience and perfect love out of a pure heart, without hypocrisy, as we saw in Paul’s statements in I Timothy 1:3-5, and 3:9 at the beginning of today’s article. This is the whole gospel given to mankind since the knowledge of evil came into our world: For sin came into the world by Adam, and redemption came by Jesus Christ our savior, “the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” John 1:29.
What then sets us free from the bondage of sin, and its consequence? Being forgiven blots out all our sins that we have committed. If we repent, and by faith trust in all that God has promised, as I John 1:9 states, “If we confess (repent, turn from) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You may be wondering why I have not said anything about the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the penalty paid for our sins. Because the shed blood is not salvation, but, it is what makes salvation possible!
Hebrews 9:22 states, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission (859-forgiveness).” By the law sin has a death penalty. No one can be just to forgive without paying the price to forgive. This is why Jesus the Christ was compelled to suffer the death on the cross, to give us the hope of life again, forgiven, born again! God, by His Son, has paid that price! Then the question must, and has been asked, why then in Revelation 20:15 is anyone cast into the lake of fire? Because even though God has faithfully made all provisions for us to be lawfully forgiven, we still have to make the choice to repent, believe, trust, and obey the words of God.
Before Christ was crucified, man’s sins were only covered by the blood of animal sacrifices, and made often to keep them covered. Read Hebrews 10:1-18. But since the life of the only sinless man, Christ Jesus, was sacrificed for the sins of the world, no more sacrifices need to be made. This sacrifice not only covers, but also cleanses as I John 1:9 says, that if we repent, as He promised, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Now our hearts are cleansed for the habitation of the indwelling Spirit of God. The promise of the New Covenant first implied to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15. Then promised to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 30:14; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ezekiel 11:17-21; 36:16-38. In the meantime, God had commanded the observance of the Passover feast for the children of Israel to remember the price (Isaiah 43:1-4) of God’s compassion and mercy to redeem them from their bondage. And if God can do that, He can also redeem us from our bondage to sin.
We read in Isaiah 43:7-13, which was written to Israel, but is also for the nations of the world, “even everyone that is called by My name: (yes, everyone, Jews and Gentiles): for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears (a phrase that Jesus used a lot!) Let all nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? (We all too soon forget these past lessons!) Let them bring forth their witnesses (yes, we are to be witnesses to the works of our Lord, God, Creator and Savior) that they (Gentiles) may be justified: or let them hear, and say it is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.” This is not a mystery as to why God has preserved a faithful remnant, redeemed at a cost! “Chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are My witnesses (to be a light to the nations around them, Deuteronomy 4:1-9; Isaiah 42:1,6;49:3-7; Luke 2:32 and Luke 24:44-49), saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before this day was I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”
The responsibility of the faithful remnant has never changed from the beginning. Are we not the “Ekklesia,” the called out ones, with the same command to go unto all the world with the same message of hope? But again in Isaiah 43:15, 21-22, 24b-28 we read, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King… This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise. But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob; but hast been weary of Me, O Israel. (You have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” (I Samuel 8:7)… But thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am He that blotted out thy transgressions for Mine own sake (that My name be not blasphemed among the nations), and will not remember thy sins. (Just repent!) Put Me in remembrance (all that I have performed for your good): let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against Me. Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.” A heart that has only a form of godliness, denying the power thereof, will not impress the world with its hypocrisy!
One’s future is always conditional. It is up to man to choose between what God has determined to be life or death. It does make all the difference! The faithful followers of God, whether Jews or Gentiles, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26).
