Some of the lines on the freeway that I travel on back and forth from my house to my church have had lane reassignments. These reassignments have left many bumps in the road and it can make for some irritating travel. Some drivers often stray from their own lanes or just pick their own way down the road because there are so many old and new lines. Anyone who drives has come to appreciate lanes. Though they have no physical means by which to keep us all in our lanes, straying into the next lane could be hazardous.
I have come to understand that the Ten Commandment are a lot like these lanes. When we can see them clearly they are helpful and keep us all safe as we travel this road of life, but if not understood or applied correctly they can be very confusing and difficult to follow. Paul the Apostle speaks toward this in his first letter to Timothy. Timothy was leading a church in the city of Ephesus and the lanes were becoming confusing. In the beginning of this letter Paul tells Timothy, "we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully." This statement is the basis for our sermon series "Lawfully" in which I will seek to explain how the law of God can be used lawfully to provide clear lanes in which we can move through this journey called life. The moral and spiritual lanes have become hard to follow and very bumpy. Let's explore some of the truth of the Ten Commandments and see if we can smooth things our a bit.
The main point here in part one is to make four observations concerning what it means to use the law lawfully. These observation are based on 1 Timothy 1:8-11. Take a moment and read that text in your own Bible.
1. Using the law lawfully provides a basis for certainty. In verses three through four Timothy was instructed to make sure that teachers within the church of Ephesus were not introducing doctrines that were separate or opposing to what had already been taught. These new doctrines were not helpful in explaining the Gospel, they only brought confusion and more questions.
It has become popular within Christianity to move away for certainty and just have conversations without coming to any conclusions. This has made the Gospel like those lines on the freeway and people are bumping around and into wrong lanes. Asking questions is healthy and in fact we can't learn without them but the goal of asking a question is to get an answer. Using the law of God lawfully gives us some certain answers to many well asked questions.
2. Using the law lawfully is founded on love. Paul point out to Timothy that the goal is his charge was love. Paul describes this love as coming from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. This love should be the goal of any corrective efforts that we exercise towards others that teach differently from that which we have received from the writers that God used to reveal His word. This loves draws clear lanes because of the danger of drifting into the other lane.
3. Using the law lawfully requires a commitment to learning. Reading verses six and seven we see that those who were addressed by Timothy had the desire to me teachers of the law but were ignorant of the law itself as well as the things by which they were making confident assertions. People who know nothing of laying down lanes simply should not. Being confident does not make anyone correct. I have confidently traveled down some roads only to make a swift u-turn upon realizing that my confidence was unfounded.
There is a growing thought within the church that a person can go from receiving a call to ministry, right into a position of ministry. This is a grave mistake and as been the cause of much undue heartache. We all need mentoring and a time of training prior to being places in any ministry position.
4. Finally when you read verses eight through eleven you see the plane statement that Paul the Apostle is making. Using the law lawfully is good. A proper use of the law in needed in order to have a full understanding of the the Gospel. The law reveals out need for a outside help. We cannot and will not stay in the right lanes unless God fills us with His Spirit and empowers us to do so. This is true on an individual and collective basis.
May you come to know that God has given you instructions and boundaries because He loves you. And may we all see our need for help understanding the logic of the law and how it resonates with our hearts.
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