1 Timothy 1:8-11 – Right Use of the Law

When Paul, in verse 7, condemns these false teachers who desire to be teachers of the law, he is not condemning God’s law at all. On the contrary, Paul affirms God’s law is good, but points out that it must be used lawfully – that is the Bible is to be applied not by engaging in wild speculations but according to its own principles. God did not reveal His moral law so that sinners could try to be good enough to earn their way into His glorious presence. Any attempt to use the law in that manner is vain. Instead, the right use of God’s law is to expose our need for a Savior. The law was not written for “the just” (in other words, those who of their own ability could obey it), but for “the ungodly and sinners.” Indeed, God’s moral law (summarized in the Ten Commandments) exposes just how sinful each human being other than Jesus actually is. The fact that none of us has kept or can keep God’s law perfectly shows that we need a sinless Substitute to pay the penalty for our sins and to live a righteous life on our behalf, that we might be counted as worthy of entering God’s heavenly presence. For those who are saved through faith in Christ, the law no longer condemns, but rather teaches us how to show our love for the God who has saved us by His grace, by warning us about those things that are “contrary to sound doctrine.”

Of particular note in this passage is verse eleven, which tells us that the only way a teaching can be considered “sound” or “healthy” is if it accords with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Any doctrine that contradicts or undermines the true Gospel in any way is a false doctrine that must be rejected.

Questions
1. What does God’s law expose?
2. How is it useful for those who are already saved?
3. What must we know of a teaching in order to consider it “sound”?

Prayer Points
1. Pray that we would use God’s law rightly.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.