Sermon 092098

1Tim. 1:5-6                                         Love From A Sincere Faith                                 9/20/98

Series 24.8                                                                                                                          ABCC

I.    Introduction                                                                                                                      638

q      Love must come from a pure heart – the scriptures/teaching must address the heart

A pure heart is a believer whose thoughts, will, emotions & motives are pleasing to God – the love of God can be shed abroad from heart in this condition.

q      Love must come from a good conscience - the scriptures …must address the conscience

A good conscience is that inner witness that brings no guilt toward God or people – comforts you in the presence of God & people so that God’s love can be shed abroad from your heart.

q      Love must likewise come from a sincere faith

II.    Two Kinds of Faith (Sincere & Hypocritical)

“anupokritos” – without hypocrisy or undisguised; so the opposite of sincere faith is HYPOCRITICAL FAITH

A.     Hypocritical faith or disguised faith

-         looks like faith on the outside (actions), but there’s no true faith in God on the inside

-         talks, sings, prays, teaches, preaches like faith outwardly, but no trust in God inwardly

-         talk about love, but bitterness & hatred inside; sing & pray about deliverance, but remain in bondage to sin; teach & preach about grace, mercy & the wonderful character of God, but no experiential knowledge of the Lord’s forgiveness, compassion…

-         Hypocritical teachers or teachers in disguise (1:19-20; 2Tim. 2:17-19)

-         Hypocritical givers (Ac. 5:1-5, 9-11)

-         Hypocritical professions of faith (Ac. 8:9-24)

All of these cases are faith in disguise; they don’t sincerely trust God or love God or believe the word of God – outward show!

Love From a Sincere Faith, pg. 2

B.      Sincere faith or faith without hypocrisy

-         looks like faith on the outside (actions) because there is true faith inside (Eph. 2:8-9; Ac. 16:11-15)

-         outward actions because of God’s inward grace & power of the Holy Spirit (Col. 1:27 …Christ in you…)

-         You talk, sing & pray about Christ & things of Christ because God has mightily & permanently changed your mind, will & motives regarding Christ – you love Him, His word, His Spirit, His ways…

-         We teach & preach the word of God because we love God & His word & we love you – no secret or hidden motives; no outward show but inward love from a pure heart…(2Co. 5:14)

C.      Sincere faith and a good conscience are closely interrelated

-         Faith without hypocrisy must function with a conscience without guilt

-         Teachers, preachers (1Tim. 1:19a), Deacons (1Tim. 3:9), Every believer (Heb. 10:21-25)

And according to verse 19, you must “keep faith” or “hold on to faith and a good conscience”.  So you see, it requires effort, diligence, discipline, self-denial, self-control; this is warfare against Satan, sin, the world, strong temptation, so you must be prepared to battle & fight off fear & unbelief & unbiblical thinking – you need the scriptures (v. 5; Ps. 119:9,11; ).  You must grow in your love for Christ & His word.  You cannot love Christ, without loving His word (Jn. 14:15).  But if you’re not a Christian, you don’t need to work & fight because you’re working & fighting a loosing cause; you’re actually working & fighting against God, not to keep the faith – you don’t have faith yet.  How do you get it?  It must be given to you as a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9)!  PREACH THE GOSPEL…