Lawful Law

Tuesdays with Timothy  #6

1Timothy 1:8-17 

In the effort to not miss the Smoky Mountains for the white oak before us, we are going to take a gander at the broader context and then might circle back around and check out the gray hue of the bark.

Paul had given the charge, to which I believe is the charge to gospel fidelity. He had just said the unfaithful preacher desires to be a preacher of the law, but doesn't really know what he is talking about.

So that Timothy not misunderstand, we see the clarification - the law is not the problem if you know what you are talking about. If you use the law in the right way, if you understand both what the law is saying and what the law is for -- have at it. If you understand the purpose and the uses of the law, you are following the charge of gospel fidelity. So we can see now that the context shows us there are two different "laws" or "commands" going on in this introduction. The command to Timothy to preach true doctrine, and commands of the law of God. The law (of God) is OK to preach if it is preached lawfully (according to Paul's gospel charge). 

How is the law used with gospel fidelity? It is used to bring the sinner to Christ. The law is to show the lawless, disobedient, the ungodly, the sinner and any other thing that is opposed to sound doctrine; that they are not, in fact, righteousness but worse than they imagine.  Sound doctrine is both law and grace. The law to show the sinner they need a savior which is in accordance to the glorious gospel (vs. 10-11).  The law is not the problem. The preaching of the law is not the problem.  The problem is using the law as an alternative to the gospel. Sound doctrine and a sound gospel is in accordance with a sound teaching of the law. 

Paul isn't making all this up as he goes along and he isn't being a stickler for his own particular brand and style of preaching. Paul charged Timothy - he commanded him and any other man who preaches the Word, because Paul was also given a command. The Lord Jesus Christ put the gospel in his trust. He called him to preach, gave him the message, committed its truth to him and gave him the power to preach it.  His entire life was an illustration of the truths that he preached, the doctrine he loved, and the Saviour he served. The law is for the wicked men he enumerated with all their ungodly deeds (vs. 9-10) and they had nothing on him. The men Paul preaches to are small time compared to him. And God saved him. Jesus showed mercy to the chief of sinners and this is a saying that you can take to the bank, Jesus Christ saves sinners. The whole reason Christ saved Paul was so Jesus could show that he is a great Saviour of great sinners and that anyone who thinks they are beyond salvation need just took at Paul and follow the pattern set before them (set before you, dear reader) - repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Praise the eternal, immortal invisible, wise God with honor and glory forever - TRUTH!