[T]he grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1:12-16

[T]he grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14

Oops!  I am not hosting and leading worship services at the Gardens and the Lodge until next Sunday 29SEP on behalf of my church.  Although I did make a mistake on timing, I did prepare using the correct content that I will be using next Sunday - the RayFowler.Org Fruit of the Spirit Sermon series, and for next Sunday 29SEP, the focus is the Fruit of Love.  This said, given much of my preparation for next Sunday is near complete and that will focus on completing it early to mid-next week, until then I return to my study of 1 and 2 Timothy using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series - picking up with 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Part 3 with the video entitled Faith and Love Are the Overflow of Grace. 

Excerpts from the video:

• Focus on v14; mercy and grace are the kindness of God, treatment better than we deserve (as we deserve death per Romans 6:23)
• This grace is all the more amazing given how Paul describes himself prior to his election by God on the road to Damascus (see also v13)
• Faith refers to Christ and love "probably" refers to love towards others; see also Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 1:15-16, 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4, Philemon 5 - this is what overflows from grace as the "giver" of this faith (see also Ephesians 2:8-10)
  
• Only in union with Christ is there saving faith and genuine love for others
• Faith conquers unbelief, love conquers persecution and hate; Paul was given grace before even the creation of the world; see also for how this grace works 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:10 
  

Get to know God, His amazing grace and how this unending overflow of grace flows for believers!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace and how it never ends.  Of course I am undeserving - this is the nature of grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:14

This morning, I am going to pause my preparation to host and lead worship services at the Gardens and the Lodge this Sunday 22SEP as I have largely worked through all three core themes of the message from RayFowler.Org Fruit of the Spirit Sermon series - the Fruit of Love.  As I pause, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion for today, which explores how believers "have the unspeakable privilege of knowing Yahweh as our Father — I AM WHO I AM — the God."  John Piper shares more about how we have this privilege by first sharing how Jesus responds to Pharisees who questioned how He could have seen and known Abraham - he responds that He is the Alpha and Omega in see John 8:56-58.  Piper continues by sharing awe in Jesus' response and how this response expresses how Jesus "took up all the majestic truth of the name of God, wrapped it in the humility of servanthood, offered himself to atone for all our rebellion, and made a way for us to see the glory of this infinite, absolute, all-sufficient God — without fear."  Piper concludes by referring us to Psalm 9:10a.  Indeed - know and trust God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace - giving us Yourself so that we can have unity and fellowship with God - eternally.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such amazing grace and for my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Galatians 5:22-23

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34

I continue preparation to host and lead worship services at the Gardens and the Lodge this Sunday 22SEP on behalf of my church - using the RayFowler.Org Fruit of the Spirit Sermon series, and for this upcoming Sunday, the focus is the Fruit of Love.  The sermon follows the following broad themes and this morning my focus theme #3.

1. Love and God
2. Love comes first
3. Growing in love

In introducing theme #3, the sermon shares how the Bible provides a number of ways to grow in love, including:

A.  Meditate much on God’s love for you in Christ: Referring us to John 13:34 and 1 John 3:16, the sermon shares that as we realize how much God loves us we "can’t help but change [our] attitude towards others."  We should know God and as we get to know Him, all of His attributes, with love being the most important, we inevitably grow in our love for God and others.

B.  Choose to forgive others when they wrong you: Referring us to Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13-14, the sermon shares that we are to forgive, recognizing that this is sometimes difficult.  We are reminded that love is not a feeling but a commandment: "[i]t is a commitment. It is a choice. When you choose to forgive someone, you are choosing God’s way of love. You still may not feel like forgiving, but that’s okay. Sometimes you just need to make the right choice first and let your feelings catch up with you later. So, that’s a second way you can grow in love. You are never more like Jesus than when you are forgiving someone who has wronged you."

C.  Seek to honor other people above yourself:  We are referred to Romans 12:10 and Philippians 2:3-4.

D.  Ask God to develop the fruit of his love in your life: Referring us to Luke 11:9, 13 and James 4:2, the sermon shares that "[o]f course, we can’t do any of this without God’s help. Remember what we learned last week: the fruit of the Spirit is something God does rather than you do. So finally, ask God to develop the fruit of his love in your life."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are love, love comes from You, and You never stop loving us - despite our sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love nor my salvation.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Galatians 5:22-23

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

I continue preparation to host and lead worship services at the Gardens and the Lodge this Sunday 22SEP on behalf of my church - using the RayFowler.Org Fruit of the Spirit Sermon series, and for this upcoming Sunday, the focus is the Fruit of Love.  The sermon follows the following broad themes and this morning my focus theme #2.

1. Love and God
2. Love comes first
3. Growing in love

In introducing theme #2, the sermon shares how "the Bible tells us how love comes first. Love comes first in three ways: 1) Love is the greatest commandment. 2) Love is the greatest thing of all. And 3) Love is the first fruit which contains all the others."

We are then referred to Matthew 22:37-40 where Jesus states (in response to a question from the Pharisees who sought to test Him) love as the greatest commandment and that "[o]n these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

As we continue, the sermon then shares that love is not just the greatest commandment but "the greatest thing of all." We are referred to 1 Corinthians 13:13 as the sermon describes that "[e]arlier in the same chapter Paul tells us how love is greater than anything you can speak, know, understand, possess or give away. Love is greater than faith or hope. Faith has to do with the present, and hope is for the future, but love is for all time. Faith will become sight, hope will ultimately be fulfilled, but only love continues for all eternity. That’s the second reason love comes first. Love is the greatest thing of all."

The final point for this theme is that "[l]ove is the first fruit which contains all the others" and we are referred to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Colossians 3:12, 14.  We are also referred to Jonathan Edwards, who "called love “the sum of all grace."  

The description of this theme concludes with a quote from Donald Barnhouse:

 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Thank You Jesus for loving me first, while I was still an enemy of yours, hostile to you and faith.  Thank You for Your amazing grace.  I am not deserving of Your love and amazing grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

This morning, I begin preparation to host and lead worship services at the Gardens and the Lodge this Sunday 22SEP on behalf of my church - using the RayFowler.Org Fruit of the Spirit Sermon series, and for this upcoming Sunday, the focus is the Fruit of Love.  The sermon follows the following broad themes and this morning my focus is theme #1.

1. Love and God
2. Love comes first
3. Growing in love

Love and God

First, scripture:

• describes God as not only loving, but also that God IS love (1 John 4:8, 16) and it shares that all love comes from God, and that "whoever loves has been born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7).  

Second, scripture:

• shares that God showed his love by sending Jesus (1 John 4:9-10); this is not just an emotion but "an action determined by a fixed attitude." God loved us so much that He sent us His One and Only Son Jesus Christ. We are exhorted to see how love is about giving and sacrifice and God gave and sacrificed.

Third, scripture:

• shares that God wants to develop His love in the lives of believers (1 John 4:11-12). "Remember, the fruit of the Spirit is part of your witness for Christ. People can’t see God, but they can see God in you when you allow God to develop his love in your life."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You saved me and continue to work in my life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and for all the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

John 16:22

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22

Today I pause from my preparation for leading Sunday school today and listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys devotion for today entitled The Only Enduring Happiness, which describes the joy a believer has and how this joy is eternal.  John Piper shares: "your joy comes from being with Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus means that you will never die; you will never be cut off from him.  So two things have to be true if your joy is never to be taken from you. One is that the source of your joy lasts forever and the other is that you last forever. If either you or the source of your joy is mortal, your joy will be taken from you."  Piper recognizes that many in this world do not have this joy as they have "settled" for a source of joy that is mortal, whatever that might be.  He urges these people to "seriously consider" Jesus as the source of their joy.  As he concludes the devotion, Piper refers us to Romans 8:38-39 as an encouragement and as additional text to confirm Jesus as the eternal source of joy.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You give me eternal joy and salvation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such amazing grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[M]y God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

[M]y God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Today I pause from my preparation for leading Sunday school tomorrow and listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys devotion for today entitled God Will Supply All Your Needs. Encouraging us in our battles with anxiety, John Piper points first to Philippians 4:6, where Paul exhorts us to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  Piper then moves to v19 where Paul promises us that God will supply all that we need. Piper expands on this by sharing: "[i]f we live by faith in this promise of future grace, it will be very hard for anxiety to survive. God’s “riches in glory” are inexhaustible. He really means for us not to worry about our future." We are also referred to Isaiah 41:10, where Piper describes how it has personally encouraged him in his life.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion, providing for all of my needs, including my salvation!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving of these gifts.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-10

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, where our focus will be 1 John 1:5-10 and DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John.  Today, I listen to a DesiringGod.com podcast episode entitled Is Sanctification the Pursuit of Perfection? which explores 1 John 1:5-10 as well as other text.  A listener calls in asking about two questions (1) how can a believer balance a pursuit of holiness while also moving past failures to be holy, and (2) is pursuing holiness the same as pursuing perfection?  

John Piper starts with question (2) - excerpts from his response:

• In this life, we will not achieve perfection but scripture shares that we are commanded to be perfect (Matthew 5:48, 22:37, 2 Corinthians 7:1, James 1:4).
• Our victory over sin in this life is incomplete (James 3:2, Philippians 3:12)
• In response to whether we should pursue perfection, we should strive for something that only He can achieve, knowing that we will stumble and that ultimately we will be perfected in the presence of God (face to face).
• In our pursuit of perfect holiness in the presence of Christ, let us seek to be as holy as a justified sinner can be.

On question (1):

• We enjoy our salvation when our holiness remains imperfect as described by 1 John 1:6:-9; walking in the light is essential to show that we are being (process) cleansed and during this process we will continue to be sinful; confession allows us to bridge our failures and move forward - regular sincere confession of sin.  
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Light and Truth and You give me the Holy Spirit, Your Word, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ as a means to not only save me but to assist me and give me power and strength to pursue holiness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all of these blessings - my cup overflows.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dsutin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, where our focus will be 1 John 1:5-10 and DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John.  To provide another angle on my preparation, today I lean on the commentary to 1, 2, 3 John from The Christ-Centered Exposition Series, specifically, as it describes this text with the following divisions:

1. The World Must Know What God Says about Himself (v5): 1 John 1:1-4 describe Jesus Christ as "from the beginning" (v1), "the Word of life" (v1), "the eternal life" (v2), the Father's Son (v3), the source of fellowship (v3), and the source of joy (v4). "This is God’s witness concerning His Son and our Savior. This is what He thinks about Jesus Christ. Having met this Savior in repentance and faith, we have a divine assignment that involves the proclamation of a specific gospel with a universal scope (2:2). This message is for the whole world....[This] is an abiding and permanent mandate to get it to the nations, to all 16,500 people groups in the world, with 6,900 still unreached (JoshuaProject.net, as of Feb. 10, 2014)....That “God is light” is an embedded aspect of faithful gospel proclamation. It highlights the contrast between who God is and who we are without Him. The word “light” occurs in some form over 275 times in the Bible (95 times in the New Testament). It is a popular theme throughout the Scriptures....An essential component of faithful gospel proclamation is an understanding of the nature and character of God.  This is a theme that John will raise several times. For example, he teaches us that God is light (1:5), God is love (4:8,16), and God is true (5:20)....[T]he image of light...sometimes it points to God’s holiness, moral purity, and goodness. Other times the focus is on truth and revelation. It is certainly possible John wished to communicate all these ideas here....In the light of God is the fullness of the life of God, and there is no lack of life in Him at all. This is a non-negotiable tenet in faithful theology and faithful gospel proclamation. This is a message we must be passionate to share with the world."    
   
2. The World Must Know What God Says about Sin (vv6-10): "If we say we have fellowship with God—that God is our intimate friend, known in light and life—yet we walk in darkness—in death and all that accompanies spiritual death and darkness (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3)—we lie and do not practice or live out the truth. The verb “walk” is in the present tense and speaks of a continuous and consistent pattern of life. In essence, we say to others, “I know God,” but our beliefs and behavior contradict our words. By denying that Jesus is God in the flesh and downplaying the seriousness of sin, we lie to others about who we are....Those who live in death and darkness do not just lie to others, saying one thing while believing and living another. Eventually they lie to themselves, becoming self-deceived....It should be noted that the apostle John does not deny our need to be seen as sinless. He simply notes that we cannot find it in ourselves. We need an advocate. We need an atonement. We need another....John says...[if you] lie to others (1:6) and lie to yourself (1:8), and soon you will lie about God. In fact you will actually call God a liar....Someone else’s word says we have no sin problem. But God says we are sinners and need a Savior."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good!  You give me the breath of life, amazing grace and mercies every day that never cease and You give me my salvation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, where our focus will be 1 John 1:5-10 and DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John.  This morning I return to part 1 of the video for 1 John 1:5-10, entitled Fake Christians Walk in Darkness as this video digs into vv5-6. As I watch this video for a second time, I listen intently on John Piper's core question he seeks to answer in this video, which is: if we have sin what is walking in light?

First Piper defines light and points to John 1:4 where it says "[i]n him was life, and the life was the light of men."  Piper describes this verse by sharing that people were originally walking in darkness then God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to be light and life. We are then directed to John 8:12, 12:36, 1:14, and 1 John 2:8-11 to see how this works:

1. If we follow Jesus, we will have the light of life.
2. If you believe in the light, you become the light (note this is a journey or a process known as sanctification)
3. We see God's glory in Jesus and this is light, and shine this light and it manifests itself as love

We should be aware of where we are in this journey of shining this light and ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to point out when we are not being this light.  Light exposes sin, and the Holy Spirit, the Word, and our brothers and sisters in Christ all serve to shine light on our sin so that we can better battle this sin.  Another DesiringGod.com resource that is helpful for us in our understanding of this text is this John Piper sermon where v5 is defined as the foundation upon which vv6-10 build.  The commentary of 1, 2, 3 John from The Christ-Centered Exposition Series outlines two divisions for vv5-10 with the first division covering v5 and summarized as "the world must know what God says about Himself."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word and thank You for being the Light so that I don't walk in darkness.  I am not deserving of how You give me light and life.  My sin continues...daily.  Please do forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

In preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, I continue with 1 John 1, yesterday using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John which examines 1 John 1:5-10. This morning I step back to look at 1 John as a whole, using commentaries to look at key themes, including history and background of this book.  Excerpts from the introduction of the commentary to 1, 2, 3 John from The Christ-Centered Exposition Series:

• "Obviously sin is not a popular subject in our day. People will go to great lengths to hide it, rationalize it, or deny it. But we must understand that when they deny their sin they call God a liar. They challenge His Word and question His character. They say sin is not serious and Jesus did not need to die."
• "First John 1:5 is the basis for 1:6–2:2 and the foundation for 1:6–3:10, the first half of John’s letter. First John 1:5–3:10 emphasizes the truth that God is light. The second half of the letter, 3:11–5:12, emphasizes the truth that God is love."
• "To think correctly about Jesus, you must think correctly about sin. When you see sin for what it is you will immediately see your need—the world’s need—for Jesus as your advocate (2:1) and your “atoning sacrifice” (2:2 NIV). You will also avoid the error of calling God a liar."

Excerpts from the MacArthur Bible Commentary for 1 John:

• "John and James, his older brother (Acts 12: 2), were known as “the sons of Zebedee” (Matt. 10: 2– 4), whom Jesus gave the name “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3: 17). John was one of the three most intimate associates of Jesus (along with Peter and James— cf. Matt. 17: 1; 26: 37), being an eyewitness to and participant in Jesus’ earthly ministry (1: 1– 4). In addition to the three epistles, John also authored the Fourth Gospel, in which he identified himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” and as the one who reclined on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper (John 13: 23; 19: 26; 20: 2; 21: 7, 20). He also wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1: 1)."
• "Most likely, John composed this work in the latter part of the first century. Church tradition consistently identifies John, in his advanced age, as living and actively writing during this time at Ephesus in Asia Minor."
• "Furthermore, the heresy John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of Gnosticism which was in its early stages during the latter third of the first century when John was actively writing. Since no mention is made of the persecution under Domitian, which began about A.D. 95, it may have been written before that began. In light of such factors, a reasonable date for 1 John is c. A.D. 90– 95. It was likely written from Ephesus to the churches of Asia Minor over which John exercised apostolic leadership."
• "Although he was greatly advanced in age when he penned this epistle, John was still actively ministering to churches. He was the sole remaining apostolic survivor who had intimate, eyewitness association with Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension."
• "As the last remaining apostle, John’s testimony was highly authoritative among the churches. Many eagerly sought to hear the one who had firsthand experience with the Lord Jesus."
• "After the Pauline battle for freedom from the law, Gnosticism was the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries....some asserted that Jesus’ physical body was not real but only seemed to be physical (known as Docetism from a Greek word that means “to appear”)....another form of this heresy which John may have attacked was led by a man named Cerinthus, who contended that the Christ’s spirit descended on the human Jesus at his baptism, but left him just before his crucifixion.  Such heretical views destroy not only the true humanity of Jesus, but also the Atonement, for Jesus must not only have been truly God, but also the truly human (and physically real) man who actually suffered and died on the cross in order to be the acceptable substitutionary sacrifice for sin (cf. Heb. 2: 14– 17). The biblical view of Jesus affirms His complete humanity as well as His full deity. The gnostic idea that matter was evil and only spirit was good led to the idea that either the body should be treated harshly, a form of asceticism (e.g., Col. 2: 21– 23), or sin committed in the body had no connection or effect on one’s spirit. This led some, especially John’s opponents, to conclude that sin committed in the physical body did not matter; absolute indulgence in immorality was permissible; one could deny sin even existed (1: 8– 10) and disregard God’s law (3: 4)."
• "A lack of love for fellow believers characterizes false teachers, especially as they react against anyone rejecting their new way of thinking (3: 10– 18). They separated their deceived followers from the fellowship of those who remained faithful to apostolic teaching, leading John to reply that such separation outwardly manifested that those who followed false teachers lacked genuine salvation (2: 19)."
• "Since the heresy was so acutely dangerous and the time period was so critical for the church in danger of being overwhelmed by false teaching, John gently, lovingly, but with unquestionable apostolic authority, sent this letter to churches in his sphere of influence to stem this spreading plague of false doctrine."

 Looking specifically at 1 John 1:1-10, the commentary for this text from the The Christ-Centered Exposition Series shares six divisions (including one division proposed by the commentary that continues through 1 John 2:2:

1 John 1:1-4

1. Have a passion to know this life (vv1-2)
2. Have a passion to share this life (v3)
3. Have a passion to enjoy this life (in a Godly manner) (v4)

1 John 1:5-10

1. The world must know what God says about Himself (v5)
2. The world must know what God says about sin (v6-10)
   
3. The world must know what God says about Jesus (2:1-2)
   

Believers, we must be a light in this world of darkness!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are light, love and truth...You are also love and my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the amazing grace You already poured out for me and the grace You continue to pour out for me in inexhaustible supply. My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1 John 1:5-6

In preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, this entire week my focus is on our course of study which is 1 John.  This Sunday, in particular, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John, we explore 1 John 1:5-10 which is covered in two parts.  Excerpts from Part 1, entitled Fake Christians Walk in Darkness:   

• This video explores vv5-6
• V5 describes how God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all; if you have fellowship with God you are in light and cannot have darkness
• V6 describes how if say we have fellowship with God while walking in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth
  
• See also 1 John 4:7-8 which describes a similar message, and Piper shares how we can exchange light for love because God is both attributes; people are originally darkened, then upon election and justification, they have fellowship with God and walk in light see also 1 John 1:1-4, John 8:12 
• See John 12:36, John 1:14, and 1 John 2:8-11; Piper uses these texts to describe how this light produces light and life and it is given in connection with Jesus; you see and become, then shine this light; Piper describes how you can exchange Word for light, and glory for light when you see the light.
  
• God is light - He sends Christ as the light of life, then as we have light, we shine with light and love others; when you come into relationship with Christ, You are given life and light that shines and this is love.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good - Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and You enable me to walk in obedience to You.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I know I continue to stumble as my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards Your.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

Psalm 116:12-14

What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Psalm 116:12-14

Because John Piper is still working on the DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 and 2 Timothy, and I am slightly ahead of him, I am again leaning on the Solid Joys daily devotion series, which today looks at Psalm 116:12-14 where the psalmist rhetorically asks how to repay the Lord for all the benefits He provides.  Piper himself looks at that question and at first glance is very nervous, thinking to himself that there is no way to pay back the Lord for all that He has done for those of whom He has saved.  Piper points to Acts 17:25 and 1 Corinthians 15:10 where Luke and Paul describe how in Piper's words "you can’t give anything to God or do anything for God that he hasn’t first given to you and done for you," and "none of our work can ever be a payment to God, because the very work is another gift from God. With every deed we do for God we go deeper into debt to grace."  Piper then shares how the psalmist answers the very question raised rhetorically in v12. 

• In v13a: "I call on the Lord to fill the cup. To pay back the Lord means to go on receiving from the Lord so that the Lord’s inexhaustible goodness will be magnified."
• In v13b: "I will call for more help. What shall I render to God for graciously answering my call? Answer: I shall call again. I will render to God the praise and the tribute that he is never in need of me, but is always overflowing with benefits when I need him (which I always do)."
• In v14: "[Vows to the Lord] will be paid by holding up the cup of salvation and by calling on the Lord. That is, they will be paid by faith in the promise that more grace — all-sufficient grace — is always on the way." 

God's grace never runs out - unbelievable!  See also this post.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and is full of compassion for me - extending me grace in an inexhaustible supply. Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1

But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:13b-14

I return to my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Part 2.  Excerpts from the video entitled Do Ignorance and Unbelief Deserve Mercy?: 

• Here, Piper zeroes in on how despite Paul "acted ignorantly in unbelief" he received mercy and Piper examines why this is and he states unequivocally up front that this mercy hinges on v16 where Christ's perfect patience is on display.
  
• Piper then seeks to challenge those who might read v13b and think Paul is saying that he received mercy because of his ignorance and unbelief which then might lead some to believe that this ignorance and unbelief causes or makes Paul more deserving of mercy....Piper points to Matthew 13:58 (unbelief does not cause mercy but instead cuts you off from mercy), Romans 11:19-20 (Jews were cut off from Christ because of their unbelief), Romans 2:4-5 (ignorance, hardness of heart stores up wrath), and Romans 10:1-3 (ignorance does not lessen guilt)
  
• Piper then shares how a more appropriate reading (based on Paul's intent) is that Paul received mercy because that is what he needed not because he deserved it
• We ALL need God's mercy! 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me as You saved me and You continue to pour out Your mercy for me every single day...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and mercy.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:35

Because John Piper is still working on the DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 and 2 Timothy, and I slightly ahead of him, I am leaning on the Solid Joys daily devotion series, which today looks at Romans 8:35 and how Jesus Christ's love is present and powerful, and how it will - no matter what happens to us in this life - carry us safely home to Him to be with Him for eternity.  Using Romans 8:35, John Piper describes three things about the love of Christ in this text:

• Christ is loving us right now; see 8:34 where Paul describes how Christ is alive, sitting on the right the right side of God in Heaven, and He is still loving us right now as He rules and intercedes for us.
  
• Christ's love for His people - His elect, those who He has saved - is effective in protecting us from separation; this is the same love from Ephesians 5:25 where Christ loves the church - we as believers are part of the church
• While Christ's love for us does not spare us from calamities in this life, we are sealed for eternity.  Piper shares: "[d]eath will happen to us, but it will not separate us. So when Paul says in verse 35 that the “sword” will not separate us from the love of Christ, he means: even if we are killed, we are not separated from the love of Christ." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know that You are alive and love me every moment and always will.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the grace and mercies You have already poured out for me and continue to do so.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 1

But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:13b-14

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Part 1.  Excerpts from the video entitled Was Paul Found Faithful or Made Faithful?: 

• Paul picks up where he left off in v11 by referring to himself as someone entrusted to spread the gospel
  
• In v12 Paul deems himself trustworthy in his service to Christ Jesus and Paul describes and thanks Christ as giving Paul both grace and strength to be trustworthy to perform this service; the same Greek word used in Acts 9:22 where Christ is described as giving believers power to perform their appointed mission and to live the Christian life; see also Philippians 4:12-13 for another reference to the power for believers.
• Piper also describes v12 where Paul is judged faithful through the appointment in Christ's service; God counted Paul as more significant (faithful) than he was, see also Philippians 2:3, 1 Timothy 6:1, James 1:2 where the same word count (or similar) is used.
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - thank You for giving me the same power You gave Paul to life his life and to perform his appointed mission.  It is You who count me trustworthy and faithful even though I know I am undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I know I am not deserving.  My sin is great - anger, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

1 Timothy 1

...in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:11

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:8-11; this video is part 3 of 3 on this text.  Excerpts from the video entitled What Difference Does God's Happiness Make?: 

• This video of course builds on the previous two videos that examine unhealthy and healthy teaching and the second of the third video refers to one of the criteria as being in accordance with the gospel
  
• The core focus of this message is John Piper's exploration of the word blessed in v11 where Paul refers to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God. The original Greek word from scripture here is makarios, which is defined as "happy, blessed, as a noun it can depict someone who receives divine favor."
• For similar references by Paul of makarios, see also Titus 2:13, Romans 4:7-8, 1 Corinthians 7:40, where this happy, blessed is also used; Piper's concise definition of is happy, joyful, content, or profoundly satisfied; in the text it is God who is happy, etc. 
• See John 15:11, Matthew 25:23, Matthew 17:5 for other text where God's joy is also discussed; in particular Matthew 17:5 where God is speaking and refers to Jesus and God is "well pleased" with Jesus and Piper refers to this as massive and the highest and most essential joy of God.
  
• Psalm 135:6, 115:3, Isa 46:9-10, Psalm 149:4, Zephaniah 3:17, Jeremiah 32:40-41 where God is pleased and He rejoices, including with His people 
  
• See also book by Piper, The Pleasures of God
• God's happiness matters because in Heaven, Believers get to enter into the pleasure of God - unbelievable!
• Also, we must remember that we exist to pursue the glory of the blessed or happy God!
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who gives me satisfaction and a living water where I no longer thirst for anything above You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient...and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

1 Timothy 1

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient...and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:8,10b-11

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:8-11; this video is part 2 of 3 on this text.  Excerpts from the video entitled What Is Healthy Teaching?: 

• The focus of this video is Paul's reference to sound doctrine or healthy teaching - see also 2 Timothy 2:16 that illustrates unhealthy talking using the example of gangrene which if not addressed kills; 1 Timothy 6:3-5 also discusses unhealthy teaching and how it results in "envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."
• In the text today, healthy teaching is first defined as "in accordance with the gospel of the glory."  See also Ephesians 1:4-6, John 1:14, and 2 Thessalonians 2:14 where God's glory is described in reference to the gospel.
• From the text and also from 1 Timothy 6:3-5 healthy teaching is then defined as accords with the words of the Lord, and it accords with godliness.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - thank You Jesus! Thank You for the gospel and for how it teaches perfectly and provides a lamp to my feet!  I am not deserving of Your Word, how it teaches and for the many teachers I have had that sharpen me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me for my many sins and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

1 Timothy 1

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:8-11

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:8-11. Excerpts from the video entitled How Did the False Teachers Misuse the Law? - this video is part 1 of 3 on this text.

• Referring to the previous text in 1 Timothy 1:3-7, Paul now describes how these false teachers were unlawfully applying the law as laid down in the Old Testament or Mosaic Law.  They were teaching that the law was for the just (Christians declared just and righteous see also Titus 3:5-7), but Paul is being specific for whom the law was originally laid down; see also Romans 7:4-6 where the New Covenant in Jesus Christ replaces law-keeping as bearing "fruit for God" or being "released from the law." 
  
• The list of sins as described by Paul in the text according to Piper remarkably maps to the Ten Commandments with exception to "do not covet" which Piper believes is effectively captured by Paul in v9; the Ten Commandments are referenced by Paul because they represent a summary of the Old Testament and Mosaic Law; v10 then serves as a "catch-all" for "whatever else is contrary to healthy teaching or sound doctrine."  Anything that is outside of sound doctrine - that which is the gospel.  
• In summary these false teachers were trying to apply Mosaic Law illegitimately to the righteous, but Christians are on a new footing per Romans 7:4-6 and per 1 Timothy 5:7. 

Beware of false teachers and their "myths and speculations!"

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God from whom the Word is given as a means to speak to me and for me to know, love and become more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide the Word, the Holy Spirit, godly teachers, etc.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

1 Timothy 1

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:6-7

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:5–7. Excerpts from the video entitled Where Does Empty Talk Come From?:

• The text for this video overlaps with the post from yesterday where in the video v5 is also used; with that post exhorting us to "love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
  
• In this video, Piper shares how the main and most crucial point is from vv5-6 where Paul shares how swerving from and departing from a real authentic faith - that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience - leads us to teaching with vain or empty words; see also 2 Timothy and Titus for the other pastoral epistles where we see NT scripture for "abiding" purposes; the teaching is not doctrine but instead exhortations urging us to faith where we are to hold fast to Christ; if we lose our passion for the purpose as defined in v5 our teaching is empty and meaningless.
  
• From v7, Piper shares background from the day how some in the church wanted to be teachers, but became empty talkers because they were not correctly interpreting matters of OT law; see also Titus 1:10, 13-14, 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:16-18, Matthew 22:23, 31-32 (which points to Exodus 3:6); Piper does emphasize that Biblical scholars are not certain exactly what these false teachers were teaching so this verse should not focus on what was wrong about the teaching referred to here but simply that the teaching was wrong because of how they swerved or departed from authentic faith. 
  

Be aware of false teachers!

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good and Your Word is true and perfect - thank You for giving me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, gospel-centered teachers and mentors, etc.  What blessings!  I am not deserving of my salvation or such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.