The Good Use of the Law

1 Timothy 1:8–11 (ESV)

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 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, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

The Law is Good

What does this mean?

False teachers will misuse the law, good teachers use it properly.

The question to ask is: What is the proper use of the Law?

What is the intended purpose of the Law?

The law is used to convict the sinner of their sin.

Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 2:19 (ESV)

19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

Galatians 3:11 (ESV)

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Galatians 3:24 (ESV)

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

The Law shows us our need for a Savior

The law is designed to drive a person to faith in Christ.

Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

What about after salvation?

Does this mean that the law is worthless to believers? No.

The law is a guide of obedience for believers, but we are under a different law.

Romans 10:4 (ESV)

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV)

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

Galatians 3:11 (ESV)

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 3:20 (ESV)

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

How do false teachers use the Law?

False teachers use the Law to control people.

Galatians 6:13 (ESV)

13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

False teachers replace the work of Christ with the work of self-righteousness.

Romans 10:3 (ESV)

3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Galatians 2:21 (ESV)

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

The False Teachers were the ones listed in verses 9-10

Ungodly and Sinners

Unholy and Profane

Strike their mothers and fathers

Murderers

Sexually Immoral

Enslavers

Liars

Perjurers

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV)

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 (ESV)

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Are false teachers the only ones who misuse the Law?

Sometimes, we place the Law over the Law of Grace.

How?

Traditions

Church based standards instead of Biblical based standards

We attempt to do the work of the Holy Spirit by making rules

We make sin what God has not made sin.

Matthew 15:2 (ESV)

2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

How to believers use the Law?

Philippians 1:27–28 (ESV)

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

We are to use the Law to guide our behavior and conduct.

We use the Law to grow in our sanctification.

We do this by working with God by His Grace.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (ESV)

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.