1 Timothy, Lesson 4

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Text: 1 Timothy 1:5-11

Introduction:

Last week -  The law ends where righteousness begins.

5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

exp. RIGHTEOUSNESS makes the law completely unnecessary.

v. 9 "Knowing this that the law is not made for a righteous man."

 ill. We have laws in our home which we at times emphasize....

- don't run up the stairs....

- no rough housing....

- turn off the lights when you leave a room....

note: I'm happy to say - we do not have a house rule that says, "Do not commit armed robbery." 

 exp. The first three laws I mentioned are needed because they have been broken.

YOU DO NOT NEED LAWS WHERE THERE IS NO TRANSGRESSION.

App. Therefore, the law ends where righteousness begins.

 LAST WEEK: We considered the three things God wants in His people which Jesus made possible.

- love out of a pure heart

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

- love out of a good conscience

Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

- love out of a sincere faith.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

tonight: Our focus is on the law and how the law should properly be used. (Timothy's challenge)

 prayer:

I. The law has been perverted in the mouths of false teachers. 

ill. Joshua - "What makes one religion right and another religion wrong?"

 exp. Adam and Eve - restored through covering atonement/ Cain and Able - blood sacrifice.

 note: Able's offering wasn't accepted because God accepted Able's works, but not Cains.

MY MAIN POINT - WE HAVE TO COME TO GOD IN THE WAY THAT GOD SAYS.

exp. 

-Able's offering was given by faith in God's Word which made him trust in a blood sacrifice. 

  - Cain wanted God to accept his sincerity and his works which he did to try to please Him.

 app. The majority of false religions make the very same error as cain.

A. Because they teach works salvation, their teaching is empty.

6  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

 ill. I saw a video recently - of a woman who lost control of her car. She swerved accross a dual carriageway - amazingly missing several vehicles - as she went off roading. (Out of the way....)

exp. These false teachers - ARE NOT ON GOD'S WAY. They have swerved (turned aside) into vain jangling.

def. vain jangling: “vain jangling” comes from the Greek word mataiologia meaning “empty talking.”

 ill. Have you ever heard a comedian do "double talk?" It sounds like they are saying something, but it is non sensical?

 app. Every Lord's Day - people are content to go into churches where ministers in the name of God - speak and say nothing for God.

B. Because they teach works salvation, their ministry is not of God.

7  Desiring to be teachers of the law; 

exp. They are a "Christian teachers" they say, but they aren't called of God to their ministry.

 ill. I had an interesting discussion this week with a man who says, "I'm a right Christian."

 exp. Who in the brief time I was with him sinned incessantly with profanity and taking God's name in vain.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH TO BE A CHRISTIAN.

 app. Sadly there are a lot of things "called Christian" which have nothing to do with Christianity.

C. Because they teach works salvation, they have no foundation.

....understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

exp. They don't realize THEY HAVE REJECTED THE TRUTH (don't know what they say) and their doctrine is constantly changing (nor whereof they affirm.)

ill. Joshua - atheist - "This Pope (Francis) has changed and said things no other pope would say."

 ill. Man from CA. "Salvation is in the Catholic church." (Salvation is in Jesus)

- Peter wasn't in Rome according to the ommission of his name in Acts 16

- Peter was married

- Baptism does not save - The thief on the cross - repented and believed on Jesus.

 exp. His anchor isn't in God's Word - He's addrift - I was trying to get him back to the Bible.

ill. Joshua - "You are sticking to your guns." I said, "Sticking to God's guns." It's not our doctrine it is God's doctrine.

app. Stick to God's guns - the SOLID DOCTRINE OF HIS WORD. Do not follow false teachers.

 transition: There are a lot of false teachers preaching falsely the law for righteousness. It is impossible. The law has been perverted in the mouth of these false teachers.

II. The law is good at what it was designed to do.

8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

exp. The law isn't bad. It's only bad when people think they can keep the law and try to use the law for righteousness. WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS GOOD - when used lawfully.

A. The law is good at convicting man of his need for Jesus.

9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient,

ill. Young muslim - "What will happen to you after you die?"

"Are you good enough to get into Heaven?" (God is completely sinless.)

1 John 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

ill. Man - "I'm a right Christian. I was raised a right Christian." I said, "So if I was raised a right Christian and I murder someone - what then?" (For some reason he didn't want to talk about sin.)

exp. If he acknowledged his sin - the law would convict him.

THE LAW IS WHAT MAKES MEN UNDERSTAND THEIR SIN.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

app. If God's Word is taught correctly - THE LAW AS MAN'S TEACHER makes them understand - they have got to get to Jesus for mercy through His death. (Because they are LAW breakers.)

Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

B. The law is good at condemning men at the Great White Throne Judgement.

note: We live in a day where lies are declared in God's name - GOD'S WORD has not changed - MAN CAN EDIT IT ON EARTH - but they can not reach into heaven.

Psa 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

exp. God's law will have no problem condemning the guilty.

9 ...for the ungodly (irreligious) and for sinners, for unholy and profane (scoffers), for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers (the perversity of the human heart), for manslayers,

10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind (sodomites), for menstealers (kidnappers, human trafickers), for liars, for perjured persons (false swearers),...

exp. If men do not respond to the law in life - it will stand in judgment upon them at the judgment.

ill. I like to ask people who say they are a good person, "What would the law say if called before God to testify of you?" Would it not say, "Liar, blasphemer, scoffer, unbeliever, unthankful, unholy"

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

exp. No good person will escape this judgment - because there is no such thing.

ill. Neighbour - Church of Christ - religious - "good person" "baptised" did much in God's name.

Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 exp. These people tried by THEIR SUPPOSED GOODNESS to do what they could not do to make themselves righteous. THE LAW WILL CONDEMN THEM when they stand before God.

app. Nobody will be cast into Hell INNOCENT - the law will prove their guilt as WORKERS OF INIQUITY ARE JUSTLY CONDEMNED BY GOD. 

III. The law is satisfied by God's mercy in Jesus Christ.

...and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

exp. The law condemns all. However - THE GOOD NEWS - Gospel - IS SOUND DOCTRINE - Bible truth that declares man can be made righteous in Jesus Christ.

ill. The muslim girl - "God is light and in him is no darkness at all."

1 John 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

exp. The light is truth - if we get in the truth - receive the blood of Jesus - the law is satisfied and we are no longer UNDER THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

app. Have you accepted the glorious Gospel? Jesus paid it all (ill. Lift - both feet on, faith)

conclusion: Timothy's Challenge - refute the false teaching of the law -