The missing ingredient

1Tim 1:3-7 As I urged you when I left for Macedonia, I’m asking that you remain in Ephesus to instruct them not to teach or follow the error of deceptive doctrines, nor pay any attention to cultural myths, traditions, or the endless study of genealogies. Those digressions only breed controversies and debates. They are devoid of power that builds up and strengthens the church in the faith of God. 

For we reach the goal of fulfilling all the commandments when we love others deeply with a pure heart, a clean conscience, and sincere faith. Some believers have been led astray by teachings and speculations that emphasize nothing more than the empty words of men. They presume to be expert teachers of the law, but they don’t have the slightest idea of what they’re talking about and they simply love to argue!-TPT

 

1Tim 1;5-6 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling- KJV

 

In his writings to Timothy, Paul’s goal and objective of teaching, admonition and exhortation was simply to obey Christ’s command to walk in love.

 

Men who genuinely have a progressive experiential and personal knowledge of God, are men who have learnt how to live by the God kind of love, and not necessarily men who have acquired some so called deep mystical knowledge. Jesus simply stated the pathway to having the Father and himself, manifesting themselves to the believer, he said;

 

Joh 14:21-23  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. KJV

 

Carefully note Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian and Roman churches;

 

1Cor 13:2-8And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing. 

And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value. 

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 

Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. 

Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. 

Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. 

Love never stops loving. It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten. TPT

 

1cor8:1-3…Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 

And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.  KJV

 

Rom 13:9  For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” and every other commandment can be summed up in these words: “Love and value others the same way you love and value yourself.” 

Rom 13:10  Love makes it impossible to harm another, so love fulfills all that the law requires. TPT

 

The Apostle John’s fight in his times was against a particular sect of gnostics, whose worship was directed towards esotericism or mystical enlightenment outside the boundaries of Christian faith and Christ’s basic commandment of Love. Interestingly, his revelation of walking in the light was based on the believer who remains in the path of love.

 

1Jn 2:7-10  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. KJV

 

I John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who

loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. He who does not love has not become

acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. AMP

 

Love is at the foundation of true spiritual discernment;

 

Php 1:9-11  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 

Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. KJV

 

Love is the energizing force behind faith;

 

Galatians 5:6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts

for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working

through love. KJV

 

Love is the secret to being full of God;

 

Eph 3:14-19  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. KJV

Victor Smith

Our Website