2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience… With pure conscience. There is no music in the world comparable to this. It is "the voice of melody," and it enabled Paul and Silas to sing in prison. The conscience, "that sole monarchy in man," was supreme in his nature under the Lordship of Christ. I. IT WAS A CLEANSED CONSCIENCE, AND SO PURE. St. Paul is never weary of preaching the great doctrine of the atonement - that we are redeemed and renewed through the precious blood of Christ; and he rejoices to know that the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin. II. IT WAS AN OBEYED CONSCIENCE, AND SO PURE. We have to consider that the conscience may speak truly and authoritatively, and be enlightened by the truth, and yet we may not obey the truth; for duty may be recognized as duty, and yet not discharged as such. Conscience may not be pure as regards the question of accountability. III. IT WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, AND SO PURE. "The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us" is an expression of St. Paul's; and only so far as we have the "indwelling of the Spirit" in thought, imagination, conscience, and desire, can we be said to be pure within. - W.M.S. Parallel Verses KJV: I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; |
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