1 Timothy 1:8-11 - The Law is good

1:8

The Law is good. The place of the Law in the gospel, the church and the life of the Christian has always been a contentious issue. In the early church there was the famous council in Jerusalem (Acts 15). It was the key issue in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and cropped up in many other letters, especially Romans. The gospel is not opposed to the Law, and the Law is not opposed to the good news. However, the role of the Law needs to be properly understood. If it is understood properly then it is useful. In Paul’s day the primary danger was people, particularly the Judaisers, making observance of the law a requirement for salvation, or at least for being a “full” member of God’s people. Today the primary danger is probably considering it to be of no account, “Oh that’s just the Old Testament”. The truth is that the Law is the word of God and reflects something of God’s heart, as well as pointing forward to Jesus Christ.

1:9a

“The law is not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels”. What does this mean? A wrong understanding of the law is to think that it can bring righteousness. It cannot, and Paul explains all this on Romans. Instead it has a twofold purpose. First, it highlights sin, and our sinfulness. It shows that by nature we are lawbreakers, but can do nothing to change that nature. Secondly, it helps to restrain the effects of the sinful nature. It shows us what is good and what is bad. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to transform us, but this is a process, and one that takes time.

1:9b-11

We now get a long list of various lawbreakers. The first part is very general and includes everyone! Then we get specific sins. It includes murder and sexual immorality. Homosexual acts are mentioned, and parts of the church today would do well to pay attention to this instead of thinking of ways to get round it. Note that sexual immorality covering all sorts of sexual sins and perversions comes first, homosexual acts are just one example. Slave traders, interestingly, are mentioned. Sceptics often accuse the Bible of being in favour of slavery, thinking in terms of the slave trade. It is not! It is consistently against slave trading, but not all slavery fell into this category. Liars and perjurers come next. There is a rough correlation between this list and the ten commandments.

Notice that Paul then speaks about everything that is against sound doctrine. Wrong actions are against sound doctrine.Note also that the gospel is about the glory of God. We need to keep this sharply in focus. It is about God’s glory, not man’s glory.