The aim of our charge is love that issues in a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1.5
 

A “sincere faith” is, literally, a faith without hypocrisy, a faith informed by true teaching, motivated by a pure heart, and freely chosen as the path on which we choose to walk.

A sincere faith reflects the sincere truth of God and the work of His Spirit, bringing these to expression in our lives in the form of love.

Sound doctrine is not complete until it is lived. While teaching and professing sound doctrine are important, they are incomplete unless doctrine is also lived. We have been redeemed unto good works, as Paul explains (Eph. 2.10). And the specific good works for which we have been redeemed are those which were before ordained by God and encoded in His Law.

God has written the works of the Law on our hearts, so that our consciences may guide us by those works into the paths of Kingdom greatness (Rom. 2.14, 15; Matt. 5.17-19; 1 Jn. 2.1-6).

The Law of God, which reveals the righteousness of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, thus provides the template through which we should expect Jesus to bring His righteousness to expression in our lives (Rom. 3.31). The better we know the Law, the better able we will be to walk in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and thus to show ourselves to be His disciples indeed (1 Jn. 2.1-6) by completing the jewel of sound doctrine in lives of love for God and men.

The Law of God is thus indispensable for sound doctrine, doctrine that keeps us in the way for which we have been redeemed and guards us against swerving into vain speculations and self-serving ways.

T. M. Moore

For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethicsfrom our online store.