1 Timothy 1:5-9 (NIV)
"5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers…”
If we would walk in righteousness — walk in the Spirit — then the law is not to be our reference point for action — to where we consider where we are at and what to do by processing God's law. Our reference point is the immediate presence of Jesus Christ. All we need to know is the next thing on His heart for us to do, and do that. And the net effect of such careful listening will be love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
