The End or the Means?
When we went to school it was for an education to gain knowledge to make a better life for ourselves. Educated people are much more productive in science or engineering. But school was never the end in itself. It was only the means to an end. Certainly school kept us busy and gave us knowledge, but it was only a stepping stone to a successful and fulfilling life.
Those who understand this same principle in the church will be greatly blessed. One of the important roles of the Lord’s church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth by edifying and building up Christians. Jesus gave these gifts to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph 4:11-16). Learning Scripture and knowing truth are wonderful blessings. But they are not the end; they are only the important means to a greater end.
James strongly warned that the faith we gain by hearing and understanding the word of God is not enough, for “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas 2:17). Like school, we learn what we need to learn so we can do what needs to be done. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas 1:22) In the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13), the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), and the barren fig tree (Lk 13:6-9), Jesus sought to help us understand that learning and knowing are not enough. At some point we have to do the work our knowledge prepares us to do for “to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk” Phil 3:16.
We can learn all there is to learn about immorality and ungodliness, but only when we actually purge them are we “a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work” (2Tim 2:21). We are like the fig tree (Lk 13:5-9). Growing is not enough - we must bear fruit! (Jn 15:1-8).
Paul reminded Timothy that even his command not to add human wisdom to the commands of God are only the means to a greater end. Keeping doctrine pure is similar to a can opener which only exists so we can use the food inside. Commands like “whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God” only exist to remind us that “he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son” (II Jn 1:9). It is the abiding and doing the doctrine that is the important thing. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father” (Mt 7:21).
When Paul left Timothy in Ephesus he gave him the equivalent of a can opener. He left Timothy with an important duty (1Tim 1:18). He was to “remain in Ephesus” and “charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim 1:3). This charge is repeated many different ways in Scripture, but always as a means to a much more important end. Our fellowship with God (II Jn 9), the quality of our worship (Mt 15:9), and the path we walk (Mt 7:13-14) are all determined by this charge. We can become “severed from Christ” and “fall from grace” if we don’t keep it (Gal 5:3-4). But it is still only like the can opener. The can opener brings access to the food inside and doctrinal purity gives access to the doctrines inside. Jesus did not die on the cross, purchase the church with his blood, and purify his people solely for the purpose of “standing for the truth.”
Listen to Paul: “The end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned” (1 Tim 1:5). The charge was only the means to a greater end. Christians preach doctrinal purity so they can truly do the will of God. Jesus “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14) That is the end and the goal. The charge only opens the truth so we can do it. We charge others not to use instrumental music, only so all will sing and make melody in their heart (Eph. 5:19; Col 3:16. The charge is not the goal. By teaching against instrumental music we are keeping the charge, but are no closer to the end: genuine worship from the heart. Knowing truth is only the stepping stone to doing truth. As Jesus told his disciples after He washed their feet, “If you know these things, blessed are you if ye do them.” (Jn 13:17).
Some Christians successfully use the charge to preach pure doctrine. But they can forget they must do the doctrines that have been kept pure. If we can preach the truth on the need to repent, but we don’t truly repent, what does it profit? If we know how to defend the doctrine of church autonomy, but not how to work as an autonomous church, what does it profit? We can gain the whole world of doctrinal purity and lose our own soul because we haven’t learned to practice what we know how to defend.
This was the mistake the Pharisees made. They could teach and defend the Law, but didn’t do it. “whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Mt 23:3). It is such a seductive problem. We get so caught up in finding ways to defend the truth that we never quite reach the end of living and practicing that truth. It is important that we debate and prove the exact nature of the work of the Spirit. But do we have the fruit of the Spirit? Has our fulfillment of Paul’s charge become so consuming we haven’t reached the end? Truly, “these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone” (Mt 23:23).
Like Paul, we must be “set for the defence of the gospel,” (Phil 1:16), but at the same time “buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” (1 Cor 9:27). Keep the charge, but never forget the end.
Those who understand this same principle in the church will be greatly blessed. One of the important roles of the Lord’s church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth by edifying and building up Christians. Jesus gave these gifts to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph 4:11-16). Learning Scripture and knowing truth are wonderful blessings. But they are not the end; they are only the important means to a greater end.
James strongly warned that the faith we gain by hearing and understanding the word of God is not enough, for “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas 2:17). Like school, we learn what we need to learn so we can do what needs to be done. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas 1:22) In the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13), the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), and the barren fig tree (Lk 13:6-9), Jesus sought to help us understand that learning and knowing are not enough. At some point we have to do the work our knowledge prepares us to do for “to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk” Phil 3:16.
We can learn all there is to learn about immorality and ungodliness, but only when we actually purge them are we “a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work” (2Tim 2:21). We are like the fig tree (Lk 13:5-9). Growing is not enough - we must bear fruit! (Jn 15:1-8).
Paul reminded Timothy that even his command not to add human wisdom to the commands of God are only the means to a greater end. Keeping doctrine pure is similar to a can opener which only exists so we can use the food inside. Commands like “whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God” only exist to remind us that “he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son” (II Jn 1:9). It is the abiding and doing the doctrine that is the important thing. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father” (Mt 7:21).
When Paul left Timothy in Ephesus he gave him the equivalent of a can opener. He left Timothy with an important duty (1Tim 1:18). He was to “remain in Ephesus” and “charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Tim 1:3). This charge is repeated many different ways in Scripture, but always as a means to a much more important end. Our fellowship with God (II Jn 9), the quality of our worship (Mt 15:9), and the path we walk (Mt 7:13-14) are all determined by this charge. We can become “severed from Christ” and “fall from grace” if we don’t keep it (Gal 5:3-4). But it is still only like the can opener. The can opener brings access to the food inside and doctrinal purity gives access to the doctrines inside. Jesus did not die on the cross, purchase the church with his blood, and purify his people solely for the purpose of “standing for the truth.”
Listen to Paul: “The end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned” (1 Tim 1:5). The charge was only the means to a greater end. Christians preach doctrinal purity so they can truly do the will of God. Jesus “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14) That is the end and the goal. The charge only opens the truth so we can do it. We charge others not to use instrumental music, only so all will sing and make melody in their heart (Eph. 5:19; Col 3:16. The charge is not the goal. By teaching against instrumental music we are keeping the charge, but are no closer to the end: genuine worship from the heart. Knowing truth is only the stepping stone to doing truth. As Jesus told his disciples after He washed their feet, “If you know these things, blessed are you if ye do them.” (Jn 13:17).
Some Christians successfully use the charge to preach pure doctrine. But they can forget they must do the doctrines that have been kept pure. If we can preach the truth on the need to repent, but we don’t truly repent, what does it profit? If we know how to defend the doctrine of church autonomy, but not how to work as an autonomous church, what does it profit? We can gain the whole world of doctrinal purity and lose our own soul because we haven’t learned to practice what we know how to defend.
This was the mistake the Pharisees made. They could teach and defend the Law, but didn’t do it. “whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Mt 23:3). It is such a seductive problem. We get so caught up in finding ways to defend the truth that we never quite reach the end of living and practicing that truth. It is important that we debate and prove the exact nature of the work of the Spirit. But do we have the fruit of the Spirit? Has our fulfillment of Paul’s charge become so consuming we haven’t reached the end? Truly, “these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone” (Mt 23:23).
Like Paul, we must be “set for the defence of the gospel,” (Phil 1:16), but at the same time “buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” (1 Cor 9:27). Keep the charge, but never forget the end.