1Ti 1:8 | KingComments | STEP | . Opposite the ignorance of the so-called ‘teachers of the law’ Paul puts the “we know” of the Christian faith. This is the Christian knowledge that you may possess through good teaching, in contradiction to the false teachers. Only a person who is informed of the truth of God can put everything in the right place. You do not need to have any doubt regarding the law and the use of it. From Paul impressively explains how to understand the law. These verses are of huge importance for the Christian. In general terms, the reformed part of professing Christianity holds on to the law ‘out of gratitude’. But also regarding the evangelic part of professing Christianity the stream that makes a plea to reinstate the law, or some parts of it, by keeping them again, is getting broader. Paul judges both those who engage themselves with fables and genealogies and the teachers of the law. Though there is a huge distinction. The fables and genealogies come forth from the imagination of man, while the law comes from God. Therefore the law is good ( ). The point in this is how you use the law. You ought to use the law “lawfully” which means in accordance with the purpose of it. So you should know the purpose. It is important to bear in mind that the law is given: 1. at Mount Sinai, approximately 2500 years after Adam or 1500 years before Christ, so it was not from creation ( ; ); 2. to Israel, that is to only one nation ( ); 3. in order to separate this nation from the other nations ( ); 4. as a tutor until Christ ( ), which indicates its temporal character. Furthermore, the power of the law is in its judgment. The law brings about wrath ( ) and is the ministry of death ( ). The law cannot give the power to fulfill God’s holy demands. The law clearly puts sin as a transgression in the light ( ) and passes an unmerciful and righteous judgment on it ( ). . Therefore Paul wants you to realize first “that law is not made for a righteous person”. Just like in the previous verse this ‘knowing’ is the knowing of the Christian truth in contradiction to Judaism. It is the ‘knowing’ that all possess who live by faith and who live in the era of faith. A righteous person is somebody who by faith in Christ is declared righteous before God ( ). The law of God cannot possibly be applied to such a person anymore, because Christ has already freed him from all his sins by bearing the judgment Himself on these sins. The demand of the law has had its full effect. Christ went into death. He who believes in Him has gone into death with Him. It is foolishness to apply the law to somebody who is dead. In addition to that, it is so that the law cannot possibly be fulfilled by anyone. The law is not to blame for that, but man. Every man, whether he is a Christian or not, who puts himself under the law, even if it is out of gratitude, puts himself under the curse by doing that ( ). The believer is not under the law ( ; ), for he is in Christ ( ) and Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes ( ). I hope that this is enough to convince you that you, ‘a righteous person’, have got nothing to do with the law as a means to put your relationship with God in order. Whom are you supposed to apply the law to? The law is from God and can be used lawfully (in contradiction to the ‘fables’ of ) as a sword for the conscience of the sinner. In that way the sinner can be convinced that he is a sinner. Paul highlights a number of categories, in order to conclude with an all comprehending category. He starts with some categories which he combines with the word “and”. The first couple consists of the “lawless and rebellious”. A ‘lawless’ person is someone who refuses to acknowledge any form of authority. A ‘rebellious’ person refuses to obey a command. The law should be presented to such people to make clear to them that they bring God’s wrath on themselves. “The ungodly and sinners” form the second couple. An ‘ungodly man’ doesn’t consider God; he doesn’t care about God at all. A ‘sinner’ misses the goal of God for his life. With the next couple, the “unholy and profane”, not only is something missing, but it has a negative meaning. An ‘unholy person’ lives in connection with corruption. A ‘profane person’ is not only ungodly, but treats God disrespectfully; he provokes Him by his life style. The previous couples clearly show the inner corruptness of man and his alienation from God. In the next categories it is about the deeds that come forth from the man who lives in such a condition. These deeds form a direct violation of a command. Those “who kill their fathers or mothers” violate the fifth commandment ( ). “Murderers” violate the sixth commandment ( ). . “Immoral men and homosexuals” violate the seventh commandment ( ). This commandment regards all sins of sexual nature, regardless of heterosexual sins or of homosexuals. “Kidnappers” violate the eighth commandment ( ; ). “Liars” and “perjurers” violate the ninth commandment ( ). After this enumeration Paul doesn’t conclude the list with ‘every other thing that contradicts the law’. This is important to notice. Instead of that he concludes with a higher measure to determine what sin is. It is “whatever else is contrary to sound teaching”, that is the healthy making teaching. In that teaching the holiness of God is fully maintained. That teaching is pure and without mixing with strange, human thoughts. The sins mentioned in the previous verses are not only judged by the law. They are also in contrast with the sound teaching of the New Testament. . That sound teaching is fully in accordance with “the glorious gospel of the blessed God”. God is the blessed God Who finds all blessing in Himself, but Who also wants men to partake of His blessing through the gospel. This gospel goes far beyond the law. In the gospel God doesn’t speak by thunder and lightning from Mount Sinai, but therein He speaks in the fullness of His grace and truth in Christ to show mercy to lost sinners. At Mount Sinai His fullness was not seen. There God revealed Himself in His demands, that means in what suits His holiness and righteousness. The ‘glory of God’ on the contrary is the totality of all His perfections that above all became visible in Christ on the cross. In ‘the glorious gospel’ the glory of God is revealed in Christ ( ). Your eyes have been opened for the glory of God. The sublime effect of this gospel is that you can be more and more changed according to Christ. Therefore you should be occupied with the glory of Christ ( ). This gospel has been “entrusted” to Paul. He learned about it when he was on his way to Damascus ( ). The glory that he then saw is the starting point of his ministry. When Paul speaks about the gospel he enthusiastically mentions that it is “entrusted” to him. He takes it as a matter of honor that he is allowed to proclaim the gospel. Is that also the case with you? Now read 1 Timothy 1:8-11 again. Reflection: Mention some differences between the gospel and the law.

‏ 1 Timothy 1:8

The Law and the Gospel

1Tim 1:8. Opposite the ignorance of the so-called ‘teachers of the law’ Paul puts the “we know” of the Christian faith. This is the Christian knowledge that you may possess through good teaching, in contradiction to the false teachers. Only a person who is informed of the truth of God can put everything in the right place.

You do not need to have any doubt regarding the law and the use of it. From 1Tim 1:8 Paul impressively explains how to understand the law. These verses are of huge importance for the Christian. In general terms, the reformed part of professing Christianity holds on to the law ‘out of gratitude’. But also regarding the evangelic part of professing Christianity the stream that makes a plea to reinstate the law, or some parts of it, by keeping them again, is getting broader.

Paul judges both those who engage themselves with fables and genealogies and the teachers of the law. Though there is a huge distinction. The fables and genealogies come forth from the imagination of man, while the law comes from God. Therefore the law is good (Rom 7:12). The point in this is how you use the law.

You ought to use the law “lawfully” which means in accordance with the purpose of it. So you should know the purpose. It is important to bear in mind that the law is given:

1. at Mount Sinai, approximately 2500 years after Adam or 1500 years before Christ, so it was not from creation (Rom 5:20; Gal 3:19);

2. to Israel, that is to only one nation (Rom 9:4);

3. in order to separate this nation from the other nations (Eph 2:14-15);

4. as a tutor until Christ (Gal 3:24), which indicates its temporal character.

Furthermore, the power of the law is in its judgment. The law brings about wrath (Rom 4:15) and is the ministry of death (2Cor 3:7 ; 9). The law cannot give the power to fulfill God’s holy demands. The law clearly puts sin as a transgression in the light (Rom 3:20) and passes an unmerciful and righteous judgment on it (Heb 10:28).

1Tim 1:9. Therefore Paul wants you to realize first “that law is not made for a righteous person”. Just like in the previous verse this ‘knowing’ is the knowing of the Christian truth in contradiction to Judaism. It is the ‘knowing’ that all possess who live by faith and who live in the era of faith.

A righteous person is somebody who by faith in Christ is declared righteous before God (Rom 4:5 ; Rom 5:1 ; 9). The law of God cannot possibly be applied to such a person anymore, because Christ has already freed him from all his sins by bearing the judgment Himself on these sins. The demand of the law has had its full effect. Christ went into death. He who believes in Him has gone into death with Him. It is foolishness to apply the law to somebody who is dead.

In addition to that, it is so that the law cannot possibly be fulfilled by anyone. The law is not to blame for that, but man. Every man, whether he is a Christian or not, who puts himself under the law, even if it is out of gratitude, puts himself under the curse by doing that (Gal 3:10). The believer is not under the law (Rom 6:14 ; Rom 7:4 ; 6; Gal 3:23 ; 25), for he is in Christ (2Cor 5:17) and Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom 10:4).

I hope that this is enough to convince you that you, ‘a righteous person’, have got nothing to do with the law as a means to put your relationship with God in order. Whom are you supposed to apply the law to? The law is from God and can be used lawfully (in contradiction to the ‘fables’ of 1Tim 1:4) as a sword for the conscience of the sinner. In that way the sinner can be convinced that he is a sinner. Paul highlights a number of categories, in order to conclude with an all comprehending category.

He starts with some categories which he combines with the word “and”. The first couple consists of the “lawless and rebellious”. A ‘lawless’ person is someone who refuses to acknowledge any form of authority. A ‘rebellious’ person refuses to obey a command. The law should be presented to such people to make clear to them that they bring God’s wrath on themselves.

“The ungodly and sinners” form the second couple. An ‘ungodly man’ doesn’t consider God; he doesn’t care about God at all. A ‘sinner’ misses the goal of God for his life.

With the next couple, the “unholy and profane”, not only is something missing, but it has a negative meaning. An ‘unholy person’ lives in connection with corruption. A ‘profane person’ is not only ungodly, but treats God disrespectfully; he provokes Him by his life style.

The previous couples clearly show the inner corruptness of man and his alienation from God. In the next categories it is about the deeds that come forth from the man who lives in such a condition. These deeds form a direct violation of a command.

Those “who kill their fathers or mothers” violate the fifth commandment (Exo 20:12). “Murderers” violate the sixth commandment (Exo 20:13).

1Tim 1:10. “Immoral men and homosexuals” violate the seventh commandment (Exo 20:14). This commandment regards all sins of sexual nature, regardless of heterosexual sins or of homosexuals.

“Kidnappers” violate the eighth commandment (Exo 20:13 ; Exo 21:16; Deu 24:7).

“Liars” and “perjurers” violate the ninth commandment (Exo 20:16).

After this enumeration Paul doesn’t conclude the list with ‘every other thing that contradicts the law’. This is important to notice. Instead of that he concludes with a higher measure to determine what sin is. It is “whatever else is contrary to sound teaching”, that is the healthy making teaching. In that teaching the holiness of God is fully maintained. That teaching is pure and without mixing with strange, human thoughts.

The sins mentioned in the previous verses are not only judged by the law. They are also in contrast with the sound teaching of the New Testament.

1Tim 1:11. That sound teaching is fully in accordance with “the glorious gospel of the blessed God”. God is the blessed God Who finds all blessing in Himself, but Who also wants men to partake of His blessing through the gospel.

This gospel goes far beyond the law. In the gospel God doesn’t speak by thunder and lightning from Mount Sinai, but therein He speaks in the fullness of His grace and truth in Christ to show mercy to lost sinners. At Mount Sinai His fullness was not seen. There God revealed Himself in His demands, that means in what suits His holiness and righteousness. The ‘glory of God’ on the contrary is the totality of all His perfections that above all became visible in Christ on the cross.

In ‘the glorious gospel’ the glory of God is revealed in Christ (2Cor 4:4). Your eyes have been opened for the glory of God. The sublime effect of this gospel is that you can be more and more changed according to Christ. Therefore you should be occupied with the glory of Christ (2Cor 3:18).

This gospel has been “entrusted” to Paul. He learned about it when he was on his way to Damascus (Acts 22:6 ; 11). The glory that he then saw is the starting point of his ministry. When Paul speaks about the gospel he enthusiastically mentions that it is “entrusted” to him. He takes it as a matter of honor that he is allowed to proclaim the gospel. Is that also the case with you?

Now read 1 Timothy 1:8-11 again.

Reflection: Mention some differences between the gospel and the law.