by Joe R. Price
Synopsis: Sometimes we lose sight of what is truly important. Joe emphasizes the goal toward which divine commandments are directed, namely "love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
God's commandments are not beyond our ability to know and obey, nor are they mysterious nor oppressive. Moses said to Israel, "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it" (Deut. 30:11-14, NKJV). Jesus said, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). We can know and obey God's commands (Eph. 5:17).
The commandments of God are for our good. The Lord revealed the purpose of His commands to Israel when Moses said, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" (Deut. 10:12-13). When Israel carefully obeyed God's commandments, they thrived in His blessings. Yet, the nation fell into trouble and suffered disintegration when it rebelled against His word (Deut. 28-29; 30:15-20; 2 Kings 17:5-23; 2 Chron. 36:15-21).
Now, as then, a fear of the Lord is the basis for obeying His commands (Deut. 10:12; Phil. 2:12). Reverent regard for God is foundational to faithful obedience. Without it, one will not walk in His ways, love Him, or serve Him with the whole heart (Mark 12:30).
Love motivates reverent obedience. Love is described as our motive to obey when Jesus said, "If you love me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:10, 8).
At the same time, love itself is a command of God. God commands us to shape and mold love in our hearts for Him and our fellow man (Matt. 22:36-40; Col. 3:14). Obeying God's commandments is how we develop love in our hearts and lives. The apostle John explained, "Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this, we know that we are in Him" (1 John 2:5). Love is made whole by keeping God's commands. Obedience expresses our faith in God that His way is right and that He blesses us when we diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Loving God does not give us the right to lay aside the commands of God. Just the opposite is true: "This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it" (2 John 6).
The gospel of Christ reveals the purpose or goal of God's commandment. 1 Timothy 1:5, says, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith." The Greek word telos, rendered "purpose," means "to set out for a definite point or goal…the conclusion of an act or state (termination…result)" (Strong, 5056). Scripture says the purpose of God's commandment is love. Although men attempt to pit law (commands) and love against each other, God inseparably links them. For instance, careful obedience of commands is loving the Lord (Josh. 22:5). God's law is the object of love and daily meditation (Ps. 119:97). Loving God's law brings "great peace" and the hope of salvation because of our obedience to it (Ps. 119:165-166).
God is love, and His commands are aimed at instilling love in our lives. Love (agape) is active goodwill toward its object (1 John 4:7-11). In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul explains the nature of the love that is the goal of the commandment.
The heart is the seat of one's will, intentions, emotions, and motives (Heb. 4:12). Without question, our words and deeds reflect our heart (Prov. 23:7; Matt. 12:34-35; Jas. 3:13-16). The pure in heart are blessed by God (Matt. 5:8). The pure-hearted call on the Lord and draw near to God (2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 10:22). God's commands guide us in purifying our hearts so we can love Him and others properly. He commands, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (Jas. 4:8). Purification of the soul comes by obeying the truth (1 Pet. 1:22). Obeying God purges our heart of sin's impurities and implants His word within us so we can love as we have been loved (Jas. 1:21-22). Love from a pure heart is fervent (1 Pet. 1:22). A pure heart expresses the motives and character of love (1 Cor. 13:1-8). Keeping God's commands shows this love, and assures our hearts before Him (1 John 3:16-23).
The conscience should serve as a moral compass. To operate dependably, the conscience must be calibrated to God's word as its true north. The commands of God train our conscience in truth and love, rendering it useful. When trained by obeying God's commandments, the conscience becomes a reliable monitor of our thoughts, words, and deeds, helping us remain faithful to the Lord (John 8:9; Acts 23:1; 24:16; 2 Tim. 1:3). When we keep God's commands, we will carefully maintain a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:18-19).
Faith is the expression of our trust in God. It is an active response to His word in our lives. Without obedience, faith is profitless, dead, unseen and barren (Jas. 2:14-20). Genuine love proceeds from an unfeigned, unhypocritical faith. Such faith dwelt first in Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5). Timothy was to teach others that God's commandment cannot be kept (it cannot fulfill its purpose of love) when faith is held in pretense and hypocrisy. Christ often addressed and rebuked hypocritical attempts at obedience because many displayed hearts void of genuine faith (Matt. 6:1-18; 15:7-9; Matt. 23:1-36). Without sincere faith in the heart, obedience becomes a display of self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14).
The goal of God's commandment is not to enslave and oppress, but just the opposite. When we abide in the word of Christ, we are freed from sin's bondage to live in the love of God (John 8:31-36; 14:21, 23-24). Being careful to keep God's commands is not evidence of self-righteousness, nor is it an attempt to earn one's way to heaven. Rather, we obey Christ as loyal servants doing our duty (Luke 17:10). We must commit ourselves to God's truth. Obeying His commands fulfills His will, showing that we love Him with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves.
God knows our hearts (Luke 16:15). He knows whether our obedience expresses love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Let us not neglect to obey God. The goal of His commands is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. In faithful obedience, may we fulfill the purpose of the commandment of God.
Strong, James. The New Strong's Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996.
Author Bio: Joe has preached the gospel for over forty years, working the last twenty-three years with the Mt. Baker church of Christ in Bellingham, WA. His teaching material is available at bibleanswer.com and swordtips1.wordpress.com. He can be reached at joerprice@mail.com.
