How to Maintain Sound Doctrine

Introduction

Paul first met Timothy on his first missionary journey to Galatia. Timothy was in Lystra. Paul took him with him on his second missionary journey.

Paul was writing to Timothy after the release from his first imprisonment in Rome.

Timothy was remain in Ephesus to ensure that false doctrine which was springing up in the church was corrected.

The Jewish fables (probably teachers using apocryphal books and legalistic teachings) were causing confusion and threatening to shipwreck the church.

Understand The Goal of the Commandment

The aim of Paul’s writing was love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

Purity of Heart is what happens when you have been cleansed from your sin by the grace of God.

A Good Conscience understands what is right and wrong by God’s standard and aligns accordingly.

Sincere Faith trusts God and is in relationship with Him.

The false teachers did not understand the purpose of the law.

A young man given a sports anchor job, but doesn’t know sports. Bases loaded Home run - “He strikes the ball, its a long drive, its at the twenty, the ten, the five, GOOALLL! What a Slam Dunk!”

False teachers try to use the law to gain a following and impress with useless knowledge.

4 Purposes of the Law:

To Be a Restraint on the Sinfulness of Man - Romans 7:7 “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.”” Psalm 19:7 “7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”

To Hold a Mirror to Our Sin and Bring Conviction - Romans 3:19–20 “19 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.”

To Provide a Guideline for Godly Living - Romans 13:8–10 “8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Ultimately the Law Points us to Christ

Galatians 3:24–26 ESV

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Here Paul points to the use of the law in convicting sin by breaking the commandments. Commands 1-4, 5-6 (honor parents, murder), 7 (sexual immorality, homosexuality), 8 (stealing people), 9 (liars, perjurers) are applied.

Remember The Grace of Salvation

Paul points to the cure, the grace and mercy of the Lord in the salvation of sinners.

If anyone understood the law, Paul did - Philippians 3.

Paul points to his own testimony. Though he considered himself righteous he was really a blasphemer (rejecting Christ), persecutor, and arrogant.

God’s mercy and grace intervened and produced genuine faith and love.

Paul’s testimony at the end of his life went from the last of the apostles (1 Cor. 15:9-11), to the “less than the least of the saint” (Eph 3:8), to the chief of sinners (1 Timothy.

It’s all because of God’s mercy in Christ!!!!

Do All for The Glory of God

The goal is genuine love for God and others, that is reflected in humility and a desire to bring glory to the King forever!