1 Timothy 1:8–11 - Cameron Jungels - Eastside Baptist, Wednesday PM, January 21, 2015

“The Lawful Use of the Law” (1 Timothy 1:8–11, Message 3)

Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Wednesday PM/January 21, 2015  

1 Timothy 1:1–11 (NIV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. 

 

Ephesians 2:11–20 (NIV)

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 

 

8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. (1 Tim. 1:8, NIV)

 

The Law of Moses is good and has a proper use in the New Covenant Age.

In order for the Law of Moses to fulfill its proper use in the New Covenant age, it must be used properly.  

Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules. (2 Tim. 2:5, NIV)

 

The Law is used lawfully when it takes into account its intended purpose.  

9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,  10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-- (1 Tim. 1:9-10, NIV)

 

The Law is used lawfully when it takes into account its relationship to the glorious gospel of Christ.  

and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine  11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.  (1 Tim. 1:10-11, NIV)

 

The Law is used lawfully when it takes into account its proper place in the plan of redemption.  

24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.  (Gal. 3:24-25, NIV)

 

Main Idea: The Law of Moses has a proper place in the life of the New Covenant believer when it is used in harmony with its intended purpose and in harmony with the gospel of Christ.