The Beautiful Treasure

The Beautiful Treasure

What is this beautiful treasure that was committed to Timothy by the Holy Spirit? It was the pattern of sound words which he had heard from Paul. Paul puts it like this: “That form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” Rom. 6:17.

We can ask, “How valuable is this form of doctrine?” We read further that they had been set free from sin and had become servants of God by being obedient to this form of doctrine. This was a beautiful treasure that Paul asks Timothy to keep. It has become evident throughout the ages that it is not easy to preserve this treasure.

If we are obedient to the “form of doctrine,” our life will fit into this form. Our life will then be molded according to the sound words in the Scriptures. This means that we are being “conformed to the image of His Son.” Rom. 8:29. Looking back, there has always been a lot of arguing about doctrines, which has even led to religious wars. In these days we see that religious people are divided up into more denominations than ever because of these various doctrines. Then we can ask this question: “What do they obtain by their forms of doctrine which they consider to be such a beautiful treasure that it induces them to fight against each other?” One thing is obvious, namely that they are not being set free from sin through their various forms of doctrine. They do not become one as the Father and the Son are one. They fight against others and against each other. They have, in other words, lost that beautiful treasure which Timothy had received from Paul by the Holy Spirit.

We can read how greatly Paul esteemed this beautiful treasure. “But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Phil. 3:8. Further on we read of the form of doctrine by which we can partake of the righteousness of God on the basis of faith.

Peter writes about what we, through the knowledge of Him who called us, have received and can obtain. “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and power, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises . . . .” 2 Pet. 1:3-4. Here we can see what great things we can obtain through this knowledge and how beautiful this treasure is. Peter gives us the manner by which an abundant entrance will be supplied to us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. V. 11.

The apostle exhorts us not to be led astray by these various and strange doctrines that have not profited those who have been occupied with them. Heb. 13:9. It is also clear that when those who insist on their doctrines do not become one and are not being set free from sin, we should not have anything to do with them.

To be able to keep this beautiful treasure we have to do what Paul exhorts us to do: be obedient from the heart and take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine. Then we will experience spiritual progress and growth. 1 Tim. 4:15-16. We must be faithful to the truth in love to be able to grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. Eph. 4:15. This is the intention, and it is possible by means of this beautiful treasure. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals this beautiful treasure to us when we hear God’s Word. The “many” are enemies of the cross of Christ; they hate the truth. They are occupied with theological discussions to their own and others’ ruin. Phil. 3:18-19. We shall turn away from such people and by means of “sound words” receive the grace that chastens us to godliness so that sin will no longer rule over us. Tit. 2:11-13; Rom. 6:14.