The Gospel Refutes Error – 1 Timothy 1:5-11

Third lesson in a verse by verse exposition of 1 Timothy. The aim of Paul’s charge in Vs. 3 is explored along with a profile of the false teachers in Vs. 6-7 and the correct understanding of the law and its relationship to the Gospel in Vs. 8-11.

1. Review of theme – Order in church practice and doctrine (2:14-15)
2. Review of previous lesson.
3. This lesson: The purpose behind Paul’s charge, further description of the false teachers and their errors concerning the Law of Moses. The refutation of those errors in the light of the Gospel truth (refer Vs. 18).

The Goal of the Charge (Vs. 5)

1. ‘end’ = the goal, aim
2. ‘commandment’ = same word as ‘charge’ in Vs. 3.
3. ‘charity’ – Divine love. The love that can only be produced in the heart of a born again individual. This was not the goal of the false teachers. They were more concerned about their reputation as “teachers of the law”. Charity = a love that can be seen.
4. The three-fold source of this love
   1. A pure heart = a cleansed heart; a regenerated heart
   2. A good conscience = the seat of moral judgment. The faculty of the spirit that either approves or accuses our actions.
   3. An unfeigned faith = un-hypocritical. A hypocrite was an actor; someone who pretended to be someone they were not in real life.

The Profile of the False Teachers (Vs. 6-7)

Their Deviation (Vs. 6)

1. ‘swerved’ = to miss the mark
2. ‘Turned aside’ = to turn or twist out (medical term; to dislocate)
3. ‘vain jangling’ = empty, meaningless words. Accomplishing no purpose

Their Desire/Motive (Vs. 7)

1. A lust for prominence – “desiring”
   1. “the law” – They claimed to be experts in the law. Likely they were teaching a works based salvation.
   2. Wiersbe Quote: “The flesh (our old nature) loves religious legalism, because rules and regulations enable a person to appear holy without really having to change his heart.”
2. An ignorance of truth – “understanding”
   1. They didn’t understand what they said
   2. They didn’t understand what they affirmed (confidently asserted)
   3. Ignorance is one of the prominent features of heresy. For example:
      1. Jude 10 “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”
      2. Colossians 2:18 “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.”
      3. Note: Truth can only be truly understood with the aid of the Holy Spirit. If someone is not indwelt by the Spirit, they are left to their own carnal thinking.

The Explanation of the Law (Vs. 8-11)

Note: The best way to counteract heresy is to preach the truth! This section of verses teaches us the correct understanding of the law in the light of the Gospel (Vs. 11). The Law and the Gospel work together in the heart of the sinner to bring Him to salvation.

The Nature of the Law (Vs. 8)

1. “But we know” – The understanding and wisdom Paul the true believer possesses stands in stark contrast to the ignorance of the false teachers in Vs.7
2. “is good” – The holy character of the law. It comes from a God who is Holy & Good. Romans 7:12 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
3. “use it lawfully” – It has a specific function. It must be used as God intended.

The Application of the Law (Vs. 9-10)

1. For whom it is not intended:
   1. “a righteous man” – one made righteous through the Gospel (justified)
   2. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Rom 10:4
2. For whom it is intended:
   1. “ungodly and for sinners”.
   2. Catalogue of 14 specific things. First 8 constitute four sets of two linked together by the conjunction ‘and’. Remaining 6 are mentioned individually.
   3. Lawless = unrestrained, refuse to recognize law
   4. Disobedient = rebellious, independent, undisciplined, not made subject
   5. Ungodly = opposite to godliness, irreverent. Displaying no regard for the things of God.
   6. Sinners = missing the mark
   7. Unholy = absence of purity
   8. Profane = Irreverence towards the things of God. Only showing regard to earthly things. Secular. Comes from the root word ‘threshold’. Denotes that which may be trodden, that which is unhallowed.
   9. Murderers of fathers = one who kills or strikes his father
   10. Murderers of mothers = one who kills or strikes his mother
       1. Ex 20:12 – fifth commandment
       2. Ex 21:15 & 17 – Death penalty for striking or cursing one’s parents
   11. Manslayers = murderers (6^th commandment)
   12. Whoremongers = one who practices fornication (7^th commandment)
   13. Sodomites = Literally male coitus; one who likes with a male as with a female (7^th commandment)
   14. Menstealers = a kidnapper (8^th commandment). Those who exploit other men and women for their own selfish desires. In Paul’s time children were often stolen and sold into slavery.
   15. Liars (9^th commandment)
   16. Perjured persons = those who commit perjury. Perjury is the wilful giving of false testimony under oath (e.g. a court hearing) (9^th commandment)
   17. False Doctrine = encompasses many other things (“any other thing”). The law is useful in exposing false doctrine.

 The Law & the Gospel (Vs. 11)

Note: The law and Gospel work together. The teaching of the law in Vs. 8-10 was in full accord and harmony with the Gospel. The Law does not save but it shows the sinner his need of salvation. Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

1. The Character of the Gospel – ‘glorious’. It reveals the glory of God (Rom 1:16-17)
2. The Author of the Gospel – “blessed God”. It is not a manmade idea.
3. The Custodian of the Gospel – entrusted to Paul

Conclusion

Counteract error with the truth!

Sermon 3 of 27 in 1 Timothy Series

Sermon Audio Id: 3616354448