David Bahn – Reflections

1 Timothy 1:6-11

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

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 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, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

When it comes to issues of morality fingers quickly point back and forth. Some will point out the immorality of greed and trampling of the poor. Others will point out the ungodly nature of sexual sin. Both of these, however, are equally at odds with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And there’s the rub. Our stance toward any immoral behavior must not be a matter of pointing out others’ failures.

We are not justified by pointing out  others’ sinfulness, nor are we justified by our own righteousness. Neither of these avail before God, and neither align with the gospel of God. Recently I have had an opportunity to talk with two different people, and be talked at by a third. In one case the conversation was about behavior that is not in keeping with the gospel, and person showed an attitude of humility and repentance. That is in perfect keeping with the gospel of God. In another case I was talked at (not to) by someone who is simply angry and bitter, accused of things that are not becoming one who has been entrusted with the gospel. Although the comment was hurtful and unkind, I took to heart the bit of truth expressed and made an appropriate change in behavior. I would hope such would be in accordance with the gospel. In the third case the conversation was thwarted by the other person’s blame of everyone else, and refusal to acknowledge sin. Such is not in keeping with the gospel of God.

The gospel of God is that for the sake of Jesus, our sins are forgiven. We have been called sons and daughters of God. We have been made servants of the King of all creation. This is all God’s doing. It is his gift to us by his grace. To live in light of that reality means we avoid immorality of every kind. It means we trust God for all things – especially forgiveness – and not ourselves or our righteousness. That calls us to faith in him, and not a reliance on our relative righteousness or any lifestyle that takes us farther from God.

God is always calling us to recognize his reign in our lives, to repent and to believe the gospel. That is a precious treasure with which we have been entrusted, and to which we must commit ourselves as God’s sacred trust.