“…that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” (1 Timothy 1:3)

Note the urgency of the mission for which Paul left Timothy in Ephesus. It was a charge to keep some from teaching any other doctrine than that of the LORD Jesus Christ and His redeeming, justifying, reconciling work at Calvary. What was the cause of this charge to Timothy? Here particularly, it was those who went about preaching a justification conditioned on something done by man, or in man. One was a condition of works, the other a condition of heart, but nonetheless, to make justification a condition of anything other than Christ and His finished work at Calvary is to stand in opposition and contradiction to the clear revelation of the Gospel of our LORD.

We have the same charge to keep today. There are those who allude to the Gospel of Grace in their preaching, and yet keep their shoe laces loose, so that they can take their ‘Gospel shoes’ off or put them on when convenient. They prefer to walk barefooted at times rather than to have their feet always shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. How so? Yea and nay preaching, 2 Corinthians 1:18-19:

1). Making the justification of sinners at different times and circumstances (in eternity, at faith, through works), rather than accomplished wholly, completely and exclusively at the cross upon completion of Christ’s work there, Romans 5:9-10.

2). Insisting that forgiveness of sins is conditioned on believing first rather than believing being dependent on sins having already been put away at the cross, Colossians 2:13.

3). Thinking that somehow, in spite of all that Christ accomplished at Calvary, our salvation was merely secured and that somehow we continue under the wrath of God until we believe. Either Christ satisfied God’s justice or He didn’t. Either He put away the sin of His people once for all or He didn’t. There is no question that all are born into this world enemies of God in their minds and hearts, Colossians 1:21. However, God, in love and grace, looks upon each one of His elect as redeemed, justified, and already reconciled by the blood of Christ, Colossians 1:21-22, and therefore, in time, gives them His Spirit to reconcile them in their hearts and minds to Him, in submission to His righteousness imputed as revealed in the Gospel.