“WHATEVER ELSE – THE GOSPEL ETHIC” (I Tim. 1:8-11)
INTRODUCTION
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly (I Tim. 1:8).
1. The Purpose of the law:
a. A deterrent to sin
b. Punitive, to condemn sinners and drive them to Christ
By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). … But I would not have known what sin was except through the law” (Romans 7:7). … “So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24)
c. Educative, to teach and exhort believers.
“And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us …” (Rom 8:4). “…he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8).
i. All the law and the prophets hands on two commandments, loving God with all our being and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
ii. Calvin: “The Law is the best instrument both to teach us the Lord’s will and to exhort us to do it. For by frequent meditation upon it believers will be aroused to obedience, be strengthened in it and be drawn back from the slippery path of transgression.”
2. Is the law only for the non-justified? Only for those not yet saved?
“The key antithesis, that the law is not for the righteous but for lawbreakers (9), cannot refer to those who are righteous in the sense of ‘justified’, since Paul insists elsewhere that the justified do still need the law for their sanctification.” (John Stott, pg. 48). …“And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us …” (Rom. 8:4).
a. Obviously if a person is perfectly ‘righteous,’ that is ‘right living’ he does not need the law.
THE LAW IS FOR LAWBREAKERS
1. Who is the law for?
a. Lawbreakers and rebels – First Commandment, You shall have no other gods (Ex. 20:3).
b. Ungodly and sinful – Those who do not honor the Lord’s name, You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God (Ex. 20:7).
c. Unholy and irreligious – Those who do not keep any day holy at all. Fourth commandment, Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Ex. 20:8)
d. Those who kill fathers or mothers – Even striking a parent was punishable by death in Israel (Ex. 21:15) and under Roman law. Fifth Commandment, Honor your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12).
e. Murderers – Sixth commandment, You shall not murder (Ex. 20:13).
f. Adulterers and perverts – Seventh commandment, You shall not commit adultery (Ex. 20:14). All sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful.
g. Slave traders – Kidnapping and stealing of slaves was common in the ancient world for they were a valuable commodity. Eighth Commandment, You shall not steal (Ex. 20:15).
h. Liars and perjurers – Ninth commandment, You shall not give false testimony, (Ex. 20:16).
2. What does “whatever else in verse 10” mean?
We also know that law is made … for WHATEVER ELSE is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God ….
a. The list of 9 commandments all refer to “moral behavior” so whatever else certainly refers to moral behavior.
b. Contrary means contradicts, adverse to, in opposition to.
c. Sound doctrine refers to healthy, wholesome moral teaching. “Sound” is an ancient medical term meaning health giving (Gk: hugiainein) from which he get “hygiene.” Various translations use the word wholesome, healthful, health giving. Another word of “doctrine” is teaching.
d. Conforms to the Gospel – Is not in accordance with, does not suit the Gospel message.
e. Free Translation: The law is made … for all behavior that is at odds with wholesome moral teaching that suits the Gospel message.
3. QUESTION: What other moral behavior might be at odds with the Gospel message? What was Paul referring to?
a. Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7)
i. Anger and murder (5:21-22)
ii. Lust and adultery (5:27-28)
iii. Hate instead of loving enemies (5:43-44)
iv. Unforgiving spirit (6:14)
v. Worry, anxiety re food, clothing
b. I Timothy 3:2-3, 8: No self control, drunkard, violent, quarrelsome, materialistic, dishonest
c. I Corinthians 13:4-7: Impatience, unkindness, envy, boasting, rudeness, self-seeking, harboring wrongs
d. Others precepts, stipulations, instructions, pointers, decrees, laws, ethic found in the New Testament: Unthankfulness, faithlessness, harshness, grumbling, complaining, selfish ambition, unloving attitude, gossip, causing discord, prayerlessness etc.
4. Summary statement on the Law and Gospel Ethic
a. We are not justified or saved by keeping OT Law or Gospel Ethic.
Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. (Gal. 2:16).
b. Jesus opened and emphasized the implications of OT law in the light of the two great commandments to love God and love your neighbor. In a sense he sharpened and made the law more penetrating, taking it to a deeper, more intense level.
c. As an automobile is made up of thousands of pieces, so love, which is the core of the law, can be broken down into many components. All of the ethics, commands, instructions etc we find in the NT from Jesus and Paul just show us what love looks like in our daily lives.
d. Any act or attitude that cannot be justified and supported by the commandment to love God and love our neighbor is contrary to “wholesome moral teaching that conforms to the Gospel message.”
e. As Christians we should love the law as David did: Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors (Psalm 119:24). Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage (Psalm 119:54) O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day (Psalm 119:97).
5. “LAWPHOBIA” OR UNIVERSITY OF LAW-PHILIA
UNIVERSITY OF LAW-PHILIA (ULP)
a. UNIVERSITY PURPOSE STATEMENT: To train our students how to love God with all their heart, soul, strength and mind and how to love their neighbors as they love themselves.
b. School Motto: O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day (Psalm 119:97).
c. CURRICULUM – MAJOR – LOVING GOD
i. Core Curriculum
1. Loving God with all my heart
2. Loving God with all our soul
3. Loving God with all our strength
4. loving God with all our mind
ii. Courses
1. Developing a thankful heart
2. Worship, what it looks like
3. Prayer in daily life
4. Winning over worry … a course in trusting God
5. Hearing the voice of God in every day life
6. Giving to God
d. CURRICULUM – MINOR – LOVING MY NEIGHBOR
i. Kindness as a way of life
ii. Patience, when it seems impossible
iii. Honesty is the best policy
iv. How to develop self-control
v. Goodness, how to be a “good” guy / girl
vi. The Good Samaritan factor
vii. Humanitarian Aid – The Impact of a Cup of Cold Water
viii. Getting to the root of envy
ix. Forgiving as a way of life
x. Etc, etc.
e. GRADUATION
i. Time …. When you separate from your body
ii. Place …. In heaven before Christ
6. SOME GREAT PROMISES TO HELP US THROUGH OUR TRAINING
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life (Romans 6:22).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Phil. 2:12-13).
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6).
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever! Amen (June 24-25).