1 Timothy 1:8–11 - Using God’s Law Lawfully

I want you to think about some scenarios as I read each one.
First, picture a child who’s told not to touch a hot stove.
Before the command, the stove wasn’t interesting, but once it’s forbidden,
they feel curiosity and the urge to resist. The command triggers their defiance.
Or imagine someone who donates to charity, volunteers at church,
and avoids scandalous sins, but in their heart they compare themselves to others,
and they feel secure with God because they aren’t like “those people.”
Now picture someone who publicly insists on correct doctrine and keeping moral rules,
but privately at home, they are harsh, unkind, and unrepentant.
They check religious boxes but neglect to love others.
Or imagine someone who constantly corrects others’ behavior,
and can even speak knowledgeably about biblical standards,
but they do so mainly to appear knowledgeable or to gain influence.
So, the rules are a way to elevate themselves in the eyes of others.
Now, finally, picture someone who enjoys listening to sermons, but still justifies their sin. Knowledge soothes their conscience but doesn’t change their life.
Each of these scenarios demonstrates ways sinners misuse God’s moral law.
We all naturally do this in some way.
We view His law as a way to justify ourselves, or to control others,
or to manipulate how others see us,
or we view His law as a threat to our freedom and happiness.
Various passages of Scripture – both OT and NT – describe these tendencies.
And in light of how our sinful nature reacts to God’s law,
you might conclude that His law is somehow bad or unholy.
RHF: But on the contrary, God’s law is holy and good,
and He graciously saves and sanctifies His people through Christ alone
so that we may use His law properly and glorify Him in our lives.
MP: Our goal must be to handle His law properly, as He intends.
AQ: But how do we do that? How do we use God’s law lawfully in our own lives,
with our children, with our spouse or family or friends?
Well, it begins with understanding three things about the law seen in these verses.
You can see them listed there for you.
1. God's law reflects His holy character. (v.8a)
2. God's law condemns lawbreaking sinners. (vv.8b-10)
3. God's law serves His glorious gospel. (v.11)
With a grasp on each of these truths, we will use the law as God intends.
So let’s look at each of these.
EXP:
Previously in 1 Timothy 1, we learned that some individuals in the Ephesian church were misusing parts of the OT in attempts to appear knowledgeable and spiritual.
Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to put a stop to it.
He said these people desired “to be teachers of the law,” specifically the Mosaic law –
the part of the OT given to Moses. This is the first five books of the OT,
often called the Pentateuch or the Torah. It contains a great deal of redemptive history,
and also the moral, ceremonial, and civil laws of ancient Israel.
Let me explain briefly the difference in these kinds of law.
The ceremonial laws were details about how to approach God and worship Him.
These laws were later fulfilled by Christ and done away with through Him.
The civil laws were instructions for how to function as a nation.
Those laws expired with the discontinuation of Israel as a covenant nation-state
under the Mosaic covenant, since those laws were given to govern
that particular people in that particular redemptive-historical setting.
But the moral law of God – summarized in the Ten Commandments –
still applies today as God’s enduring standard for right and wrong.
Notice the first part of verse [8] again, “Now we know that the law is good.”
If the sinful nature is inherently resists God’s law –
if we innately twist it to justify ourselves, control others,
or even turn against God as we interact with it – how can the law still be good?
Theologians have recognized what are typically called “the three uses of the law.”
I’ll say more about them here shortly, but they rest on a simple truth:
God's law reflects His holy character. God’s law is good because He is good.
ILL:
Paul deals with this in Romans 7. He writes, “What then shall we say? That the law
is sin? By no means!...if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.
For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness…sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”
APP:
This is our first lesson in how to use the law and the whole OT.
It is from God and about Him.
It’s a record of His righteous ways and redemptive plans that culminated in Jesus Christ.
God gave the law, therefore it cannot be bad.
The problem is not God’s law. The problem is the sinful human heart.
The law is still useful – in fact, extremely valuable to us – if we use it, first of all,
to know God more. The law is not just about rules; it reveals the character of God.
EXP:
Now look at the rest of verse 8. “if one uses it lawfully.”
There’s a right and a wrong way to handle the law of Moses, and really the whole OT.
It must be declared properly, according to the rules.
The speculative stories and lessons drawn from the OT by foolish teachers in Ephesus were not useful. Their approach to the law lacked understanding, see verse [9], “understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners.”
They treated the law as though it were not meant for sinners in their need.
And by doing so, they sidelined the true purpose of the law.
ILL:
God’s law is for speculation and controversy; it’s for redemptive and moral instruction.
It’s for conviction of sin and pointing to the need for Christ.
And this brings us back to the subject of the three uses of the law.
God didn’t give the written law because people are righteous.
He did so because people are sinners. The law addresses our sin,
and it does so by functioning in three ways: as a mirror, a bridle, and a guide.
God’s law acts as a mirror in that it shows us our sin.
None of us are just before God on our own merit; we are “lawless and disobedient… ungodly and sinners.” God’s law shines the spotlight on our sin for us.
Also, it acts as a bridle restraining evil, As bad as the world is, it could be much worse.
By introducing His written law, God articulated what the human heart knows to be true.
And so people often refrain from evil, not out of love for God or neighbor,
but because of the external consequences of breaking His moral law.
This restraint doesn’t change the heart, but it does limit the damage sin does.
The third use of the law is its function as a guide.
God’s law shows us how to live and glorify God,
how to walk in His ways and not wander from Him, which is the best way to live.
EXP:
Now, look at the next part of this passage. The law is laid down by God “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, [10] the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.” As Paul continues His list, you might feel increasingly righteous.
But that would be delusional and not helpful for you.
ILL:
In Romans 3, Paul says, “There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God.” He quotes the OT Psalms, “None is righteous, no, not one…no one does good, not even one.” This is every person after the fall of Adam and Eve –
except for the Lord Jesus Christ who came from heaven.
For sure, there are various sins in God’s law that you can say you’ve never committed,
but in James 2, the brother of Jesus writes, “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails
in one point has become guilty of all of it.”
APP:
To use God’s law lawfully, you must first understand that it reflects His holy character, and then, that it condemns lawbreaking sinners, which includes you.
Paul didn’t write this with a judgmental heart. If we continue reading to verse 15
as we will next week, he states, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am
the foremost.” God's law condemns lawbreaking sinners – and each of us is one.
EXP:
So we’re learning how to handle the law. We’re seeing how to read the OT.
It’s useful for showing us that God is holy and we are sinners.
But, of course, we know that’s not the whole story.
The Bible records redemptive history. It’s the history of salvation in and through Christ!
Luke 24 says, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Christ] interpreted to
[His disciples] in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Luke later says that “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” point to
the person and saving work of Jesus Christ.
Notice the end of verse 10 again. God laid down the law – He appointed His law –
to clarify “whatever…is contrary to sound doctrine.”
This could be translated as “healthy doctrine.”
The local covenant community is a body. To be healthy, sound doctrine is necessary.:
Paul then adds, verse [11] “in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” Paul and others preached Christ.
Him they proclaimed.
ILL:
In Acts 20, when Paul addressed the Ephesians elders, he said that he had declared
to them “the whole counsel of God.” This included God’s law.
The OT was Paul’s Bible. He proclaimed Christ from the Law and the Prophets.
And this leads us to another aspect of the three uses of the law.
As a mirror, God’s law shows us not only our sins, but also our need for grace.
As a bridle, God’s law not only restrains evil,
but also shows that rules cannot change the heart. Gracious heart-change is required.
And as a guide, God’s law shows us not only how to live, but also,
how Christ lived in our place. The law not only directs us away from sin,
but to Christ – for grace.
We need grace not just to be saved, but to obey.
To use God’s law lawfully, understand that God's law serves His glorious gospel.
The law supports the gospel by showing us our need for His grace.
APP:
Today, some see the OT as less directly for the NT church.
When they venture into the OT, they only see moral lessons and laws.
Yes, the OT is filled with lessons about what we should and should not do.
But these lessons don’t hold the power to change – even for those who are born again.
Christ saves and sanctifies His people to enable us to obey God,
but we don’t then muster that ability from within.
No, that ability flows from Christ – from union with Him.
Not from self-effort, self-analysis, or self-understanding,
though we do take a hard look within and make efforts.
But His finished work and powerful resurrected life in the power.
The gospel tells us that obedience to God is not the basis for right standing with Him.
Rather, obedience to Him is the fruit of His grace towards us.
CLOSING:
We face issues with right and wrong everyday.
One place this is always on display is in the family.
Parents correct their children daily, spouses and children correct each other.
How can we handle the law lawfully in our families and homes?
Yes, everyone will sin, and we do need to hear the rules.
But sin shows us not only our need for change, but also, for Christ and grace.
A child’s sin is always an opportunity to teach that child about Christ.
Your sin is always an opportunity for you to learn Christ.
If your child gets in trouble, of course you correct and discipline them.
But also, you must say “See, you need Christ, don’t you?”
Then you must offer them Christ.
And when you sin, look in the mirror and say, “See, you need Christ, don’t you?”
Both His law and His gospel declare the glory of our blessed God.
Do you have the assurance of peace with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ?
Not based on your feelings but on the facts of who Christ is and what He’s done?
Trust in Him today. Believe in His ability to make you right with God.
Believe in His ability to change you within, to transform your heart.
Put your faith in Jesus alone today.
Not what you can or should do, but in what He has done.
Christ will make you able, along and along, to conform your ways to His ways.
Begin your journey with Christ today.
Or if you’ve already begun that journey, renew your trust in Him.
Yes, His law condemns your thoughts and desires and behavior.
But you use His law lawfully for growing in His grace and walking with Him.

Let’s bow together in prayer.