What Is Our Purpose?

# 12 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 1:5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, ( 1 Tim 1:5) In this one passage, we see the flow of faith. It starts with saving faith, a faith that is not hypocritical but real. This faith is a gift from God as we read in Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. This gift of faith moves us to act on the command of Jesus to be baptized, which produces a good conscience as we read in 1Pe 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Why is a good conscience produced? Because it is no longer bothered by sin! In baptism, our sins are washed away, as we read in the account of the Apostle Paul's conversion: Ac 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' There may be disagreement in the church about WHEN to baptize, but all Christians understand the importance of this act commanded by Jesus. We baptize, because it's what Jesus told us to do. Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; Now armed with the graces of a sincere faith in Christ and baptism, the follower of Christ loves from a heart made pure! This is the desired effect of faith and baptism. Acts of love, and love is defined as benevolence, which is a disposition to do good. It is this kind of love that shows the world we are followers of Christ! Joh 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (same word) for one another." Sometimes, as a believer, we find ourselves asking, “What is my purpose?” Well here it is, spelled out in the 5th verse of the first chapter of 1 Timothy! Love with a faith-filled pure heart!