Proper use/understanding of the Law
Life as the church: Book of 1 Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:18:13
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Staying with sound doctrine
Staying with sound doctrine
We need to be careful to protect the sound doctrine that saved us in the first place.
It’s a tragedy when someone trades sound doctrine
10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,
or Doctrine that is contrary to godliness
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
Or even as TItus puts it strays from sound speech
8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.
Scriptures used/referenced in this section (1Tim1:10, 6:3, TIt2:8)
It is the sound doctrine, the word of God that produces holiness in the life of the church and the life of the disciple. Many have traded it for vain teaching, who preach novelties rather than the word that saves . But wait there are those songs, claiming christian songs by christian artist that teach no or wrong doctrine. A singer has no more right to speak a lie than does a preacher or teacher has to teach or preach a lie.
Reason for the false doctrine before us this morning is a misunderstanding of the law and then the misuse of the law because of the misunderstanding of the Law.
The misuse of the O.T. Law leads people out of the liberty of grace
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
In our passage you will see a list, an uncomfortable list, one of a few like it in the scripture of people condemned by the law.
Now when the law and its purpose are understood then it is a great thing that leads man to the Savior and the glorious gospel that teaches sound doctrine to bring a person to respond to the gospel.
(Insert law and gospel picture here)
The law and the gospel go together, for the law without the gospel is a diagnosis without a remedy But the law with the gospel is the good news of salvation!
In the early church the major problem was that many did not have a proper understanding of the law. The Jewish Christians sought to put the Gentile Christians under the law that they were never in, in the first place. You can see that in (Act15:1-6) and then there were those who would keep parts of the law even as Christians, and yes, that included Paul (you can look up Act21:20)
This was such an issue Paul addressed this in other epistles, to Rome, Galatia, and Colosse, well, maybe Hebrews if you think Paul wrote it.
Apparently this was a problem in Ephesus where Paul is writing to TImothy there, just where he left him (1Tim1:2-4). there were some that strayed as in their use of the law
5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Paul in our passage tells us the the law is good when it is understood and used properly or lawfully, so let’s look at that this morning.
Our text (1TIm1:8-11)
The law used lawfully (properly)
The law used improperly (unlawfully)
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
Where the problem with sound doctrine was a problem them it is a problem today, or can be a problem today when we fail to understand the limitations of the law, the purpose of the Law and the use of the law in ways that are not lawful.
So that set’s us up for looking, biblically at the law used lawfully
Law used lawfully
Law used lawfully
Let no one tell you that the law if bad, it was good, it is good and was for a purpose and a time and it needs to be understood and used lawfully.
Used for wisdom for salvation through faith
An inference (2Tim3:14-17)
Though the passage in 2Tim does not use the word doctrine, it uses the word teaching that we need to stay, to continue in what we have learned, what we have been taught and that brings salvation through faith and what we need from there.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
(Insert proper use of the law PowerPoint)
Go ahead, I’m sure you can see the scripture is the doctrine and the doctrine brings us everything we need for salvation through faith and more.
So what does this have to do with the law, the scriptures that Paul would be referring to was the law, the O.T. law of Moses
An appeal (Act8:30-35; Act15:13-17)
With Philip and the Eunuch it was the O.T. that was used to preach Jesus.(Act8:30-35)
IT was the words of the Prophets that was spoken to the Gentiles that brought about salvation (Act15:13-17)
A recording from history (Rom4:1-8)
No greater example in the O.T. than Abraham.
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. 8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
(Transition) - there is so much we can learn from the O.T. law regarding salvation, and there is more we can learn about God from the O.T. too for doctrine.
Lawful use for doctrine
About God’s omnipresence, omnipotence and His onmiscience (ref. Ps139)
About God’s longsuffering, His mercy, His justice and even his righteous indignation (ref: Ps103)
About God’s providential working in the nations and men (ref: Dan2, 4, 5)
(Transition: you can also see the origin of sin, the fall of man (Gen1-3)the weakness of man and the need for redemption (Ps51) - ah so much we can learn about God and our need for Christ from the law.
The law for reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. (Rom12:19-21; Deu32:35; 1Pt3:8-12; Heb12:4-7)
Yep the law has principles of righteousness that remain true, true then, true today and will hold true for tomorrow.
Truths we see in our passage the condemning of sins
Admonishment by the apostles oftentimes turned to the O.T. law, let me give you an example
19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The vengeance is mine comes from Deu32:35 in case you are wondering.
If we were to look at 1Pt3:8-12, well, I was just going to summarize it, but we are talking about N.T. church and proper use of the O.T. law so let me give it to you.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 “He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
And that pulls from Ps34:12-16 and Pro16:7, you can note those down and check them out on your own.
The law reveals much about sin
The nature and spread (Gal3:19)
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Notice the word “until” the law was not permanent, was never intended to be, it was given through a mediator and now we have the promise, Jesus, and He fulfilled the law. We need to law to know that and to see that.
The condemnation (Rom3:19-20)
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Another thing we can pick up is that the law was not for everyone, it was for the Jews, those who were born under the law. So the law cannot be imposed on those who were never under the law. The law that was fulfilled was a law of works not a law of justification by faith. But the purpose of the law was to bring knowledge of sin. The law was, is needed, to know, understand the nature and the consequences of sin.
Law is useful for learning and admonition.
As seen in Paul’s epistles (Rom15:4; 1Cor10:11-12)
The things written in the past were for our learning, what things in the past? The law.
Written for our learning and our hope
Written for our admonition so that we might not fall.
In dealing with Israel
In GOd dealings with Isreal serves as an example for us, the church today.
Isreal (the people) received the promises but many of the (persons/individuals) did not
In dealing with the church and the person (1Pt2:9-10, 2Pt1:10)
As God’s elect, the church as a whole will be saved
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
but as the person you can, should make your election sure, and you can when you look at 2Pt1:10, and the verses before.
In issuing a serious warning (Heb3:8-4:1)
If you look at the Heb3:8 and following passage you will see the danger of falling into apostasy.
(Transition) so, hopefully you can see the law is good when used lawfully, properly, purposefully. There are some, many who use it improperly
Improper use of the Law
Improper use of the Law
If there is a proper way that is identifiable there is a improper way that we should be able to easily identify too. But it again takes knowing the law and the purpose and proper use so you would recognize if ever used improperly like we are going to look at.
Improper use when used for foolish arguments (1Tim1:6-7)
We read 1Tim1:6-7 earlier this morning and that was part of the warning that Paul gave to Timothy.
Or even foolish disputes (Tit3:9)
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Improper use for justification for sin
For the law cannot justify it can only identify.
As exampled in (Act15:1, 5)
1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
and a few verses later
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
And results if you do that (Gal2:21; Gal5:4)
21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Christ did not die without cause, without purpose! Thinking the law or elements of the law can save you results in
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
For binding things on the believer
Elements of the law such as feasts, sabbaths (Act16:1-3, 18:18, 21:18-26, 1Cor9:10-20
We know Paul chose to observe certain elements of the law while the temple was still standing, though he identified that they were not binding.
He would not allow the law to be bound on anyone (i.e. circumcision) for if that happened than again Christ died in vain.
Binding on gentiles that were never under the law (Gal2:3-5; Col2:16)
The Judiazers, the false teachers were trying to bind on the Gentile Christians the law they were never under in the first place
3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
Don’t judge your brother by what days they keep or don’t keep, what days they celebrate and what days they don’t they are not binding, the Jewish festival days were a shadow of what was to come, Jesus and the fulfillment of the law.
Ah, good news! Christ broke down the wall of the law between Jew and Gentile (Eph2:14-16)
You are encouraged to read that passage on your own, but to get the impact of the passage maybe back up to (v.1)!
For authority in worship (Jn4:20-24; Heb9:9-10)
Bringing in special clergy, clothing
Building of temples
Burning of incense, instrumental music and yes there are some with animal sacrifices or believe one day will return to those.
-Jesus spoke of the time to come and now was of spiritual worship
20 “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The worship under Moses and the law was symbolic was temporary was a shadow of what was to come, they were for the present time until the time of the reformation
9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.
Jesus is the reformation! We are a part of the reformation!
THe law was to be temporary and is good, and perfect, but it was to be fulfilled (Gal3:19, 23-25) and it could not redeem us from our sin (i.e., Heb10:1-4) The law cannot make even one righteous
9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
(insert have you responded to the gospel PowerPoint) - invitation
(Song) (Prayer)