=eternally-gratefull;3338993]In Paul’s letter to timothy he exposes those who are taking the law out of context, and trying to add it to The Christian way of life.
1 Tim 1: 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
Notice, Paul wants timothy to remain in Ephesus to expose and teach men who are teaching strange doctrines, instead of furthering the Administration of God, focusing instead on Faith and love. Instead o focusing on myth on myths and genealogies, which lead to speculations, instead of truth. And who were these men?
6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
These are men who are attempting to teach the law, however, they are only making assertions, which are not true, for they do not understand the law, even though they make confident assertions what they teach is true.
I disagree with your premise here. The Mainstream Preachers of that time were the Jews who Jesus said were "Transgressing the Commandments of God by their own traditions, they were "Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men". We know they had corrupted God's Sabbath, they were preaching man made traditions and doctrines.
There were Jews who understood the truth, just not "many".
Luke 1:
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name
was Elisabeth.
6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
So here are two examples of religious Jews here.
One example taught for doctrines the Commandments of men.
Another example followed the instructions of God without their own doctrines and traditions.
These who Paul warned of were not trying to teach God's Law, they were furthering man made doctrines and traditions, "
fables and endless genealogies". As Jesus instructed us, they were "preaching for doctrine the commandments of men".
Had they just taught what God instructed and not added their own righteousness, they would not have been rejected.
Then paul tells Timothy (and us) what the law is really about.
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
It is only Good if it is used according to the rules and guidelines for which it was originally intended. In other words. Taking the law out of context. Using it outside of its original intended purpose, Makes the law not a good thing, But a Bad thing. According to paul, it causes division and destroys godly edification. And does not lead to truth. Which is never a good thing.
They didn't take the law out of context, they created their own law. Their own doctrines based on their own traditions. This is important to understand.
The law is good if you use it lawfully. What do we use God's Law for? To show us sin, Yes?
1 Tim. 1:
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man,
but for the lawless and disobedient,
What does the Law do for the lawless and disobedient? Does it show us we need to change, repent? Does it, like a mirror, show us who we are? So what good is the law if we don't obey it (Use it lawfully)
Paul tells of the same thing in;
Rom. 2:
17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18 And knowest
his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal,
dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery,
dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
through you, as it is written.
In other words, how is breaking God's Law using it lawfully? Desiring to be teachers of the Bible, the gospel, the law and prophets, it's all the same. How can you use the Gospel by disobeying it? How can you preach to obey Jesus while living in disobedience to Jesus.
It is just like preachers today. They desire to be teachers of the Bible, of the Gospel, yet they reject it's Words. They claim Jesus as their instructor, but reject His instruction.
They preach to keep the first and greatest commandment while promoting an image of God they created in the likeness of some handsome long haired Levi Jean model.
"thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?"
They preach to love thy neighbor, yet they preach to them man made doctrines and traditions, a direct rebellion and disobedience to what Jesus taught, and certain rejection from the Kingdom of God. So they preach to love the brethren, but they deceive them in following a path that the Bible teaches leads to destruction.
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate,
How is a man righteous before God? By living in direct rebellion to God's Commandments? No, that makes him disobedient and in need of God's Laws for correction.
first. Paul goes on to who was the law written for?
1. The righteous, Who are the righteous, according to Paul?
Phil 3: 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
You omitted some important Biblical facts that shed a more truthful understanding on what Paul is preaching here.
Phil. 3:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews;
as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Did the Pharisees believe in Jesus? No, they were still promoting the Levitical Priesthood ceremonial, sacrificial "works of the Law" for remission of sins as did Paul when he was one. The Pharisees taught there was no righteousness without the ceremonial. sacrificial "works of the Law" for justification of sins. When Paul sinned, he bought a turtle dove, gave it to the Levites, and his sin was cleansed. That was his righteousness from the law.
9 And be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
But now he believes in Jesus and His atoning blood, not in the "Works of the Law" prescribed by Moses "Till the Seed should come". You should know this desiring to be a teacher of the Bible.
1. It is of faith only, Not by following some law, so just because someone may be obeying the law and doing what the law says, does not mean they are righteous.
This is a very deceiving statement. Jesus said, before He became a man, that there will come a time when He will write His laws on our hearts. Why? So we can disobey them?
The Bible teaches almost the exact opposite of what you say here.
1 John 2:
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
I know you are only preaching Mainstream doctrine and you mean well. But Jesus warned us to "Take Heed" that those who come in His name don't deceive us. Are you preaching that satan will deceive us into obeying God's Instruction.
You say "
so just because someone may be obeying the law and doing what the law says, does not mean they are righteous."
But Paul says; Rom. 8: "6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Name one single time in the Bible where a person who is said to be obeying God was not considered righteous.
You can't EG, this is just more furthering of Mainstream doctrines and commandments of man.
2. It is something given, not something done, or earned
3. It is made for sinners,
2 Cor 5: 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
It is something given, based on what Christ did on the cross.
Jesus cleansed my past sin on the cross. All sin past sin. If I slip us I repent and have faith that Jesus will forgive me. That is different than completely rejecting His Words and "Transgressing God's Commandments by my own righteousness, or doctrines and traditions.
Rom 3: 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
When has there ever been a time apart from God's Laws? You see EG, you don't have any idea what you are preaching, just as Paul warned Timothy about. In all due respect, you still refuse to accept the "ADDED" Levitical Priesthood in any of your preaching. Abraham was justified "apart from the laws of justification which was "ADDED" until the seed should come. (Gal. 3:19)
Who was Paul preaching about in Romans 3?
Rom. 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
And what law did the Jew center their whole religion on? The 10 Commandments? The Sabbath? No!! The Levitical Priesthood "works of the Law" for remission of sins.
Rom. 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works?
What was the law of works the Jews had their faith in EG? Paul is explaining to the Gentiles the reason why we don't kill goats for the remission of sins even though it was part of God's Law.
Nay: but by the law of faith. There is still a law EG.Abraham was blessed because he obeyed this law. (Gen. 26:5) Not the Levitical Priesthood "Works of the Law" for remission of past sins, but the good, perfect, holy, just laws of God. He had faith in that God and showed this faith by his works, and his faith saved him.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith(obedience to God) without the deeds of the law.(blood of goats and ceremonial "works" performed by Levite Priests)
1. again, not of the law
2. it is given to all who believe
3. no one is righteous by being obedient all have sinned and fall short.
4. it is freely paid for by the redeeming act of Christ.
Our past sins are freely forgiven, IF we turn to God, repent and bring forth works worthy of repentance. That is what Jesus and Paul taught.
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should (ALL) repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Conclusion, the law is not for true Christians, who were given righteousness by being redeemed, it is given only for sinners
A true "Christian" would know as long as we are in this body, as long as this world exists, we have sin in us. God told us from the very beginning to "Rule over it". And with His help, His instruction, we can despite all the preaching from those who come in Christ's name to the contrary. And as Jesus said, He that endures to the end SHALL be saved.
I wanted to honor your post with a thorough response. I know you can't accept what I have written, but I didn't want to just blow your OP off. Since I believe the very foundation of your belief is built on old man made doctrines and traditions we have been taught for years, there is no sense in addressing any more of this OP. It is my hope you might actually consider some of what is written herein.