1 Timothy Part 3

"The Lawful Use of the Law"

1 Timothy 1:8-11

Paul has been accused of negating the Law and leading people into antinomianism. In our passage before us, Paul tells us that there is a good use for the Law. It is useful for something. But, one has to use the Law in a lawful manner. Paul's play on words comes through even in the English translation here. Paul declares the Law good in other contexts as well. He mentions this in both Romans 7:16 and Galatians 3:15-29 especially Galatians 3:24. Basically, the Law was given to lead men to Christ and show them the need for a Savior.

This brings us to the question of for whom the Law is intended in the first place. First of all the Law was not intended for the Righteous. The Law will not make you righteous, as Paul declared in the Galatians passage cited earlier. The Law will be a guide to the righteous but they will follow because of their love for the Lord, not out of fear. Instead of for people to obtain righteousness, Paul lists several types of sinner. This list corresponds loosely with the Ten Commandments. The first statement was a summary statement (the Lawless and Disobedient). Next are the ungodly and sinners which correspond to the first two Commandments which are to worship God alone and without images representing Him. Then the Unholy and Profane show the third and fourth commandments which are about blasphemy and keeping the Sabbath. Those who would strike their father or mother are definitely not honoring them per the fifth commandments. Murderers are breaking the sixth commandment while the sexually immoral and homosexuals both break the seventh commandment. Those who would enslave others commit the ultimate act of theft when they steal another human being. Liars and Perjurers both bream the 9th commandment which is to not steal. The tenth command against coveting is not explicitly stated, but is covered by Paul's last thing of whatever else contradicts sound doctrine. Paul gives specifics in the list, but ends with an all-inclusive statement that covers anything which is contrary to sound or healthful teaching. Paul was countering how the false teachers were using the Law by showing how it applied to peoples lives in a plain way.

Paul ends this paragraph by describing sound doctrine. This gospel, or good news, showed God's glory. The grand scheme of God's redemption brings Him glory. Every sinner who puts his faith in Jesus Christ for the remission of sins brings glory to God. It is only through God that blessedness can come. There is only one way to God. Jesus Christ provided this way when He died in the place of sinful man upon the cross. His death paid the penalty which God's justice required for sin. This allowed God to be both just and provide for man's justification (Romans 3:26). I love this verse. It shows God's heart for sinners in that He wants to save them, but also His commitment to justice. God must be just. He cannot just overlook sin. We seem to want a God that would, but we would demand the resignation of a judge who acted in this way. God must punish sin. He punished sin in His Son, Jesus Christ. The good news is that whoever trusts Christ for salvation will have it. God showed His love in that whoever believes in Christ, or takes Him at His word regarding the promise of salvation will have it (John 3:16). We cannot work for it and that is Paul's point in the passage. The Law shows us just how sinful we are and just why we need a Savior. We could never live up to God's standard. That is why He sent Jesus Christ who did live up to the standard of the Law and died as a perfect sacrifice. Praise God for His precious Gift!!

1 Timothy Part 2

I Timothy 1:3-7

Paul had urged Timothy to stay on at Ephesus and confront certain false teachers which were active in the congregation. These teachers taught not only different doctrine, but also speculation about the Old Testament Law. Paul does not tell us exactly what they were teaching, he doesn't have to. The point is that there was error in their teaching and Timothy had to teach what was right and stop them from teaching otherwise. Instead of using the Law lawfully (next post) they were focusing on interpreting it in a mystical way to fit their wants. They had abandoned their stewardship which was to make disciples and instead they were seeking their own glory. In fact, Paul had warned the church at Ephesus earlier that their pastors would even start teaching error. We see this in Acts 20:30. Paul also gives extensive teaching as to the qualifications to be a leader. Evidently, there were those in leadership who were not qualified.

The end of the gospel should be different than what these teachers were leading the congregation to. The gospel should lead to love. This love comes from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. The false teachers had veered away from these. They had gone into worthless discussions instead. They would pine away at things that didn't matter. They wanted to be like the Jewish Rabbis which had honor and were respected for their teaching. They wanted to be recognized as teachers of the Law, yet they had no idea what they were talking about. They were dogmatic without being knowledgeable, a bad combination.

What does this have to do with us. We also can be attracted to novel teaching. We want to know things that are maybe hidden to other people. We see this all over the religious realm. Preachers and teachers will go beyond the Bible in their speculation in order to have something "new." Be careful. Evaluate everything based upon the Bible. The Church's mission is to make disciples. We should not get bogged down in things which do not bring us to that end. The things may be good, but making disciples must take precedence.