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.
A young professing Christian, a 19 year-old, was out to dinner with some of his Christian friends. He ordered a beer, and the waiter asked for his ID. He produced identification
to the satisfaction of the server. His friends objected when the waiter left. You have a fake ID? That is lying, you should be doing that. His response: I am not under law; I am free in Christ.
We of course see through that quite easily. But I would guess you have heard people say things like that. We are not under law but under grace. The OT was law the NT
is love. The law is bad, grace is good. There are many modern abuses and misunderstandings of God’s law.
Paul is making the point that what is contrary to the law of God is also contrary to the gospel. One commentator pointed out that those coming to the Lord 100 years
ago, due to the cultural climate, had somewhat of an understanding of what Christianity taught.
Whereas those coming to the gospel in the cultural climate of our day, come virtually ignorant of Biblical teaching and this makes them more susceptible to aberrations
and errors that are taught in the name of Christianity.
Timothy is being instructed in these few verses about the law of God…Paul says that it is good, but that it must be handled correctly. The expression that Paul uses,
“sound doctrine” occurs only in the pastoral letters. It means in essence, “to be healthy”. It is actually a medical term! It describes teaching that is not sick, but rather that which is whole, or wholesome…that which is resistant to disease or to error.
Timothy; teach and proclaim the unabridged, uncompromising truth so that when disease comes, the body has the recognition of what it is dealing with and the ability
to stand against it so that the body doesn’t become contaminated or ill.
Some years ago, I told you that I read that those who are trained to spot counterfeit money are not given primarily to all the ways counterfeiters cheat and cover their
work. Rather, they spend much time studying, becoming intimately aware of the real thing. If they are thoroughly knowledgeable of what is real, what is true, then they are more apt to spot and recognize that which is false. In a sense that is what Paul is
saying: Know what is true…know what is real and the false will become obviously clear.
That is why it is so important for us to be students of God’s Word; Careful disciples, knowing that truth inside out and backwards…students of the knowledge of God,
Christ, salvation and the Christian life of holiness and devotion to God as His Word teaches!
Paul often addresses the law in a negative way but only in the sense that a person misunderstands the law, thinking that through it, by keeping it, they can be justified
before the Lord. The law condemns those who ignore it as well as those who think that in their own strength they can keep it and in some way, earn favor with God through their own efforts. If that is what someone thinks, or if that is how a person lives, then
the law condemns.
As thy hymn writer put it: Praise the grace whose threats alarmed me, roused thee from thy fatal ease.
Praise the grace whose promise warmed thee, praise the grace that whispered peace.
But for those who have had the law chase them to the foot of the cross and are trusting in the righteousness of Jesus, the law is glorious. Just listen to what the Bible
says:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” [Matt. 5:17-18]
“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” [Rom. 3:31]
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,
for it does not submit to God’s law…” [Rom. 8:7] The assumption, confirmed by the following verses, is that the mind of the Spirit, that is, the Christian mind,
is submissive to the Law of God.
“For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.” [1 Cor. 9:19]
“…by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar…” [I Jn. 2:3-4]
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” [I Jn. 5:3]
And then this one from Romans 8: “What the Law was powerless to do, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…” [Rom. 8:3-4]
So in summary: The law of God is good but as we said Saturday morning, Timothy is dealing with false teachers and apparently, they were using God’s law to promote their
teaching but they were using it incorrectly. Remember, they were teaching but shouldn’t have been, they didn’t even realize what they were doing, verse 7.
Paul and the Bible tells us that the Law is a guide for us…it reveals the character of God. As we read this morning the law revives our soul; makes wise the simple,
enlightens our eyes…the law is much to be desired even more than gold.
Prayer: Father, I confess my sins to You; my pride, my exaltation of self and the ambitions to stand above my brothers and sisters instead of bowing low to serve
them. I confess that I think too much of myself and not enough of You or others and even use your law to hide my sin and failures. I abhor these sins that I find in my life and ask that You would go on with Your gracious and sobering work of ridding these
things from my life. I thank you for the pruning work of Your Spirit and give myself to sanctification, to being made holy, that I would be used for the glory of Christ and the purposes of my God, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Hymn: Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy