But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. [1 Timothy 1:5-7 NASB]
Paul lays a three legged foundation for the Christian life: Love, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
In the previous verses, Paul refers to men teaching strange doctrines. He comes back to that subject. These false teachers have strayed from the foundation that Paul laid with his teaching. They want to be teachers themselves, but their teaching only results in fruitless discussions. In verse 4, Paul refers to "myths and endless genealogies."
Their desire to teach does not result from God's calling, but from ambition, or desire for recognition. Instead of seeking God, and studying to discern the truth of the scriptures, they pass on the myths that they have been taught. Emboldened by their success, they may even invent their own stories to pass on as "truth".
Their claim is that they teach the scriptures (the Law), but they don't understand the scriptures they are trying to teach. They are lazy, simply repeating what they have been taught instead of studying it out for themselves. Paul referred to "the Law", or the Old Testament, as the only scriptures available to them at the time. Now, we refer to the entire Old and New Testament as scripture.
People continue to teach the Bible, even though they do not understand it. For example, preachers stand in the pulpit every week and teach that we have to keep the Ten Commandments, even though Paul clearly said, "You are not under law but under grace." [Romans 6:14 NASB] At the same time, they feel completely justified in breaking the third commandment by not observing the Sabbath on Saturday as the Law dictates. Is it that they are required to keep part of the Law, but not the other parts? And how are they to know which to keep and which not to keep? And if they are required to keep the Ten Commandments, are they not also required to keep all 613 commandments of the Law, including the Levitical commandments? Or should they dismiss them because they are too hard, or "irrelevant".
An understanding of scripture would inform them that they are not obligated to keep any part of the Law, including the Ten Commandments. But as the Spirit of God produces love in a sincere heart, we will fulfill the intent of the Law without being obligated to it.
Many teachers have no true understanding of what they are saying, but they say it with such confidence that people believe them.
Paul is warning us to not stray from the foundation of the truth. It is true that God works in us for our sanctification, but we have to willingly submit to His Spirit, who is working in us.
We must make the conscious decision to humbly seek after God, and not be satisfied or complacent. We must decide to be open to His Spirit, and not close our minds to Him, and not be satisfied with what we already know (or think we know). We need to discipline ourselves to read and study His word, with an open mind, eager to learn His truth.
Challenge what you already know. Seek the truth, prayerfully, in scripture. Let Him confirm the truth you know, and establish it firmly in your heart and in your mind. Or, when necessary, let Him change your mind as you gain fresh understanding from His word. Be a seeker of the truth.
Lord, I thank You that You have made me righteous in Your eyes, and by Your grace, I am able to stand before you with a clean conscience. I pray that Your Spirit will increase the love in my heart. Please purge me of any insincerity, that my faith may be pure.
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