Sermon 072698

1Tim. 1:5-6                           The Goal of Biblical Teaching is Love                                7/26/98

Series 24.1                                                                                                                         ABCC

I.    Introduction                                                                                                                     630

q      These verses are found in the context of a young leader in the church being encouraged to maintain true, biblical teaching in the church at Ephesus

q      Paul is exhorting Timothy to address false teaching & teachers.  If a church embraces false teaching/teachers, it is destined for spiritual decline & destruction.  However, holding to pure doctrine alone is not enough if we drift away from love (Rev. 2:1-4).

II.    Biblical Love/God’s Love

A.     The scriptures & teaching of the scriptures have a specific goal (v. 5a)

“goal” (telos) – the end; aim; purpose.  “administration” (v. 4) = stewardship.  Biblical instruction/teaching should never be aimless or purposeless.  One who teaches the scriptures has been given a stewardship.  The responsibility of a teacher is to discover the purpose that the Holy Spirit intended for a portion of scripture & then apply that to the listeners.  Sin (hamartano) means “to miss the mark” or target or aim or goal.  Therefore it is sin not to teach the intended purpose, truth & application of scripture (Jas. 3:1).  Don’t teach carelessly – church/home

B.      Love is the goal of biblical instruction or teaching

§        “agape” = self-denial, self sacrificing; sacrificing for the good of another (Jn. 3:16; Eph. 5:2)

§        The goal of 2Tim. 3:16 is love.  The goal of teaching, reproof, correction & training in righteousness is love.

§        The highest goal of the church in gathering together is love (Heb. 10:23-25; 1Co. 16:14; Col. 3:14-17)

§        The highest goal of biblical prayer is love (Jude 20-21)

The Goal of Biblical Teaching is Love, pg. 2

C.      Biblical instruction ensures that love has the proper objects (Matt. 22:37-40)

§        This is the way it was in the beginning – Adam’s love for God & Eve!

§        These relationships were seriously damaged by sin  - Adam could not repair the damage (Gen. 3)

§        Man became self-centered, concerned about self-defense, self-justification, self-preservation = SELF-LOVE!

§        The goal of the gospel message & redemption is to bring sinners back to a peaceful & loving relationship with God & man (Rom. 5:1-5)

§        Love is the distinguishing mark of a Christian (1Jn. 4:7-8,17-21; Jn. 13:35

§        The goal of scriptures & teaching is for the saint to grow & increase in our love for God & man (Phlp. 1:9-11)

The scriptures teach us that God the Father loved sinners so much that He gave …

The scriptures teach us that Jesus Christ the Son loved sinner so much that He gave…

The scriptures teach us that the Holy Spirit so loved sinners that He gave conviction, guidance, comfort, courage, power….How can you not love God who has done everything necessary to secure your salvation; Who has made all provisions for the rest of your life here on earth & throughout eternity…?  How can you not love Him, who first loved one?  Do you love the Lord?