7. 1Tim. 1.3-11 Guard the Faith Pt3

Last week we looked at this text defining what the goal of all Biblical instruction is: love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. These certain persons had departed from the narrow scope of the goal of sound biblical teaching and preaching. We also saw that the issue of adding to the gospel the works of the Law was not unique to Ephesus.

Tit 1:13-14  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,  (14)  not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

The book of Galatians is devoted to the right understanding of justification by faith alone and not by the works of the Law. The whole issue of perverting the gospel of Jesus Christ with mixing in the works of the Law really goes back to Acts 15

Act 15:1  But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

It was because of this that it was brought to the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem to make a final ruling and it was there decided to send a letter to the churches.

Act 15:19-21  Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,  (20)  but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.  (21)  For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Some errors refuse to die and so the fight for the true gospel goes on to this very day. Let us now read the text for this morning.

1Ti 1:3-11  As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,  (4)  nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.  (5)  The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  (6)  Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,  (7)  desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.  (8)  Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,  (9)  understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,  (10)  the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,  (11)  in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Prior to verse 8 we might not have the highest view of the law. But now Paul puts it all in proper perspective. It is not the Law that is the problem, it is the false assertions about the Law from these certain persons that is the problem. This morning we are going to look at the right understanding and use of the Law in the Christians life.

I. The Right understanding

In the Greek the word know is the very first word. Paul is putting an emphasis on it. The word he uses for know is denotes a growing in knowledge of over time, to perceive, to understand. The same word is used in verse 9. The next word in the Greek is the word deh, which can be translated as now or but. In the ESV the word is translated as now, in that NAS, KJV and NKJV the word is translated as but. There are two good reasons why each has used the English word they did. Those that translate it as ‘but’ did so to emphasize the contrast between the right understanding of the Law verses the wrong understanding of the Law. The ESV chose to translate it now to emphasize the verb to know or perceive, understand. (The knowledge that comes in time) What is the significance of this translation? It is an indirect way to show both Paul and Timothy, at one time, had an incorrect view of the Law. This is where, when we are doing background studies of those mentioned in the letters bears fruit in understanding the context of the verses. Before Paul was converted on the Damascus road he was a Pharisee.

Php 3:3-6  For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—  (4)  though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:  (5)  circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

He isn’t saying that he was justified or made perfect under the law but from external appearances to everyone one around him he labored to be obedient to it.

What do we know about Timothy? That his mother was a Jew who later became a Christian. It is implied that Timothy was raised with his mother being his instructor in the things of God. Did she first raise him in the Jewish faith before she was converted? If so, then he too would not have had a right understanding of the Law.

Now is a reference to time. Now we know that the law is good is one uses it lawfully. They did not just now come to a right understanding of the Law but at some point in the past carrying on to the present. What would have precipitated that change in understanding?

1Ti 1:12-15  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,  (13)  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,  (14)  and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (15)  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 

It is a new heart and a new life given in the power of the Spirit renewing, regenerating, and applying the work of our Lord Jesus Christ to us. That is the absolute first step in having a right understanding of the Law.

Paul next says that the law is good if one uses it lawfully. Paul is fencing it in so to speak so that we do not go to the extreme on one side or the other. First let us qualify Paul’s use of the term Law. When we speak of the Law in the OT it covers three aspects of the nation of Israel: moral, ceremonial, and judicial. All were set the nation of Israel apart from the nations around them The judicial and ceremonial flowed from the moral and practically worked out the right application of the law in regards to the society and the worship of Israel. With the institution of the New Covenant, the people of God are no longer set within the established borders of a nation but include people from all over the world and the testimony of Scripture is that in heaven there will be people from every nation tribe and tongue worshipping the risen Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer. We are no longer governed by the judicial law. The Lord Jesus being that once and for all time sacrifice.

Heb 10:4-14  For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  (5)  Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;  (6)  in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.  (7)  Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”  (8)  When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),  (9)  then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.  (10)  And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  (11)  And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  (12)  But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,  (13)  waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.  (14)  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

The next question is how do we know which aspect of the Law Paul is referring. We see in the context of these verses that it is in regard to the moral law.

(9) understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, (10) the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.

These verses provide a summary of the 10 commandments. The Law justifies none, but reveals sin and the just condemnation of the law breaker.

Gal 3:10  For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

Rom 3:19-20  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.  (20)  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The wrong use of the Law is to assert that in keeping it we add anything to the justification we have in Christ by faith before God. The right understanding of the Law is that it shuts all up under sin. Is there no practical use then for the Law for NT Christians? The answer is an absolute, emphatic YES! It was the law once transcribed on stones that has now been written on the tablets of every Christian in fulfillment of the promise that God made in Jeremiah 31.

Jer 31:33  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The writer of Hebrews affirms its fulfillment in every believer in Christ Jesus.

Heb 10:14-17  For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.  (15)  And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,  (16)  “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”  (17)  then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

II. The Right Use of the Law

In understanding the right use of the Law we look back at verse (5) The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. That sound doctrine that is accordance with of the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.

1. The purpose of the law in the believer’s life was first it revealed sin in us and then became our tutor to lead us to Christ.

Rom 7:7  What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Gal 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith

2. The purpose of the Law is to teach us how to love.

Mat 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" (37) And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (38) "This is the great and foremost commandment. (39) "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' (40) "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Joh 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him."

It is here that we will focus on our application for this morning. First there are two principles of interpretation that are important to grasp. One is understanding that obedience to the law is not limited to external acts only but governs our thoughts and the attitude of our heart. Jesus expanded this application of the Law in His sermon on the mount.

Mat 5:21-22  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’  (22)  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Mat 5:27-28  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  (28)  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

The second principle of interpretation is this: The negative command that is explicitly stated also includes the positive is implied.

What exactly does this mean? We will take a couple of examples.

Example 1 Exo 20:13  “You shall not murder. Here we see the negative command explicitly stated. Implied is that not only shall you not murder but also you shall protect and preserve life. What does this look like worked out in our day-to-day lives?

Mat 25:31-40  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.  (32)  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  (33)  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  (34)  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  (35)  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  (36)  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  (37)  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  (38)  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  (39)  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  (40)  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Notice for what they were commended. And what is the need to ultimately preserve and keep life if not the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.

Example 2: Exo 20:14  “You shall not commit adultery. The positive implied is that you not only not commit adultery but you do all to protect, keep, and honor your marriage to the one whom God has given you by the covenant made before Him.

Eph 5:25-30  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  (26)  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  (27)  so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.  (28)  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  (29)  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,  (30)  because we are members of his body.

The is the positive implied. As men we will spend the rest of our lives fleshing this out. Even as our wives from the previous verses in Ephesians will be applying the principle of submission to there own husbands even as the church submits to Christ.

These two examples are in accordance to the charge preaching and teaching sound doctrine for the purpose of love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. What are the new testament commands if not an exposition or explanation of the moral law set forth in the 10 commandments on tablets of stone but now inscribed on the tablets of our heart.

May God through the mighty working of His Spirit grants us not only a right understanding of the Law but to help us also practically work it our in love to Him and to others.

Joh 13:34-35  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (35)  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Amen