Charity from a Pure Heart: The End of the Commandment
There is a clarity in Paul’s words to Timothy that settles the heart and sharpens the focus: “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1 Timothy 1:5, KJV). This is not a peripheral truth—it is the very purpose of divine instruction. When all is said and done, when doctrine has been taught and principles laid down, this is what God desires: love that flows from purity, integrity, and genuine faith.
Charity, in its biblical sense, is not merely kindness or sentiment. It is the expression of Christ’s life formed within the believer. It is the labour that emerges from a heart shaped by truth, a conscience kept clean, and a faith that is sincere and rooted in Scripture. This kind of love does not originate in the flesh, nor is it sustained by religious habit. It is cultivated through the work of faith—the ongoing process of studying the Word of God, submitting to its authority, and yielding to its correction.
A pure heart is not assumed; it is examined. Before any action, before any judgement, the heart must be searched. Bitterness, envy, strife, and malice must be identified and removed. The believer must ensure that love is the sole motive—unmixed, unforced, and unpretentious. When the heart is pure, the conscience clear, and the faith genuine, the believer is equipped to approve things that are excellent and to walk in the charity that fulfils the commandment.
