2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV)
Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in
the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells
within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Timothy is challenged to “follow the pattern of sound words”
that he had been taught by Paul. It is a challenge to good theology and a clear
gospel. But notice that sound words are to be followed in faith and love. Faith
and love are in Christ and are activated by the Holy Spirit. The last statement
in verse 14, “guard the good deposit,” comes back to where he started. Timothy
is to guard the gospel and live it out. Good theology and a clear gospel are
foundational to the Christian life. But if they are not guarded in faith and love
they can easily become dead orthodoxy. It is interesting that there seem to be
three kinds of Christians. There are those who focus on the word faith. They
are constantly believing, but sometimes to the point of presumption. Then there
are those who love. But often the definition of love becomes fuzzy, and love
becomes a doorway to bad theology. Then there are those who are strong on what
they believe. They can pass every test on theology and the content of the
gospel, but they fail to live it out in faith and love. Instead, they become
harsh and cold. To follow Timothy and Paul, to follow Jesus all three must be
at the core of our Christian living: faith, love, and good theology, or as was
written in 1 Corinthians 13: faith, hope, and love. And all of that is
activated in us, not by commitment and hard work, but by the Holy Spirit who
dwells within every believer. Believe God, love God and others, guard the hope
of the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is Paul’s challenge to
Timothy and God’s challenge to us.
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