Sermon or Lesson:  1 Timothy 1:8-11 (NIV based)
[Lesson Questions included]

TITLE:  Accountable To Use The Word Properly

INTRO: Have you ever loaned out to someone a tool, appliance, or piece of equipment, and when you got it back, you were very perturbed to find it was bent, broken, or significantly worn down?  Upon observing this damage, what is the first thing you suspected?  You investigated and determined that the person used your tool, appliance, or piece of equipment in an improper or careless manner, which resulted in damaging it.
     God is likewise very displeased when we violate the proper use of His Word, which He has entrusted us with to use properly.
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READ:  1 Timothy 1:8-11, with verses 5-7 for context

BACKGROUND:
- - In the beginning of 1 Timothy, Paul is again urging Timothy to confront the teaching of false doctrines and myths in his ministry in Ephesus.  (v.3)
- - Those persons teaching false doctrines or myths in churches or ministries are to be commanded to immediately stop their false teaching activities.  (v.3)
- - The content of false doctrines and myths has no righteous value and instead has inherent destructiveness.  (v.4; cf. v.11 in Titus 1:9-11)
- - People who follow false doctrines and myths have turned away from maintaining the disciplines of the faith and have turned towards ignorance, falseness, incorrectness, or error in Bible doctrine that has no validity before God nor any propriety in ministries.  (vv.4-7)

v.8 - READ

[Lesson Question:  What are some main implications of the phrase "if one uses it properly"?]

SECTION POINT:  People who teach the Word will be held responsible for handling the Word properly.

- - The law or Word of God is "good", and its "usefulness is good, valuable, and virtuous" as long as it is used "properly", "legitimately" and "lawfully" - i.e. in accurate accordance to what the Word says and what God intends.  (Strong's #2570 - "good", #3545 - "properly")
- - When doctrines are formulated, before they are adopted, they must be tested to ensure they are accurately based on and in thorough agreement with the Word of God - not contrary to parts of the Word (vv.10b-11) or used improperly (v.8) or used for a purpose that goes outside of what it was designed for (from AMP).
- - Teachers of false doctrines are using the Word improperly, drawing incorrect interpretations, conclusions, applications, which are then used to formulate and or justify false doctrines, myths, meaningless talk about the Word, ignorant teaching, and etc.  (vv.3-4,6-7)
- - Wanting to be a teacher of the Word is good, under the condition that the person is willing to go through preparatory adequate advanced education and training so that the doctrines being taught are sound and not false or in error.  (v.7)
- - As a teacher of the Word, you are to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" - 2 Timothy 2:15.
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vv.9-11 - READ

[Lesson Question:  Why are these numerous types of sinners listed here and what relationship does this listing have with the topic here of teaching false doctrines?]

SECTION POINT:  People who do evil will be held accountable for following false doctrines, which pervert and exceed sound interpretation and meaning of God's Word.

v.9
- - Even though the law has many functions, it is not designed to be brought to bear against those persons who are "righteous" - who are conforming to it.
- - Instead, the law is made for and is brought to bear upon those persons who are evildoers - who do not conform to its commands, its doctrines.
- - There are various kinds of evildoers listed in verses 9-10, perhaps signifying that the reach of the law applies broadly, to the entire spectrum of evil that is committed.
- - As evidence of this, the phrase "and for whatever else is contrary" in verse 10 states that this listing is not exhaustive nor intended to be exhaustive, but perhaps this listing is broadly representative in order to signify inclusiveness - i.e. the range or variations of sins that the law applies to is every kind of sin.

-- In a technical sense, every kind of sin is a form of adhering to a false doctrine of some kind in some way.
Some possible examples are:
- - - - "Lawbreakers" follow the false doctrine: "It is permissible to pick which laws you want to follow and which ones you want to break".
- - - - "Rebels" follow the false doctrine: "God's laws are ridiculous, so you can ignore God's laws and invent your own laws to follow, if any."
- - - - "Ungodly" persons follow the false doctrine: "There is no all-powerful divine God."
- - - - "Sinful" persons follow the false doctrine: "Do what comes natural and you will be fine as long as you do not get caught, in which case you then make up excuses."
- - - - "Unholy" persons follow the false doctrine: "God loves everybody and therefore accepts everybody just the way they are, so you do not have to worry about or be concerned with your sins."
- - - - "Irreligious" persons follow the false doctrine: "All religion is garbage, and should be thrown in the dumpster."
- - - - "Murderers" of parents and others follow the false doctrine: "Terminate any person who gets in your way - they do not deserve to live because of what they are doing to you or probably will do to you."

v.10a-b
- - - - "Adulterers" follow the false doctrine: "Our sexual drives are natural and need to be satisfied in order for us to feel fulfilled."
- - - - "Perverts" or "homosexuals" follow the false doctrine: "Our sexual drives are natural for us, and do not judge us because it is natural for us to have our sexual drives satisfied just like everybody else does in order for us to feel fulfilled."  (Strong's #0733)
- - - - "Slave traders" or kidnappers follow the false doctrine: "Some kinds of humans are inherently inferior, and thereby deserve to be treated as property."
- - - - "Liars" follow the false doctrine: "Manipulate information to achieve your goal, and do not be concerned about anyone who becomes a victim along the way."
- - - - "Perjurers" follow the false doctrine: "Testify to whatever suits you but make it sound believable and be sure they will not be able to prove you are lying."

vv.10c-11
- - The law is made to righteously come down against all of these kinds of false doctrines and "whatever else is contrary" to "the sound doctrine that conforms".  (vv.10-11)
- - This includes whatever else is contrary to and/or does not conform: to God's law; to proper interpretation and use of the law; to the "gospel" of the glory of God; to the "blessed" God who is "holy, worthy to be honored and worshipped"; to God's Kingdom; and to God's program.  (vv.8-11; from AHD - 'blessed'; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6)

- - The implication here is that those persons who pervert the "sound", "healthy, correct, true" "teaching, instruction", and "doctrines" of the law are just as guilty as those who blatantly break the law.  (v.10; Strong's #5198 - "sound"; #1319 - "doctrine")
- - In the same way God uses the law to hold evil people accountable, He will use the law to likewise hold accountable those persons who pervert its meaning, who formulate false doctrines, who teach their resulting false doctrines, and who promote their false doctrines to further their agenda.

- - We believers, like Paul, have been "entrusted" with the gospel and the law to present them soundly, with sound doctrine, and not distorted.  (cf. Titus 2:1; 2 Timothy 4:2-4)
- - The "gospel" is the "good news" that through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus Christ took the full punishment for all of the sins of each person who believes in Him so that those believing persons are given eternal life in heaven.  (Strong's #2098; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; cf. Romans 3:19-25a)
- - The gospel and the law complement each other, fit together, work in combination with each other, and function together to accomplish God's purposes, which the law was not designed to do just by itself.  (Romans 3:19-21)
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BIG IDEA:  Those persons who teach false doctrines will be held accountable by God for how they have perverted the true meaning and proper usage of His Word.

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APPLICATIONS:

- - It is time for each of us to do a doctrine check.
- - Take some time right now to review and inspect the various doctrines you personally hold.
- - Are any of your doctrines in conflict or contrary to the sound interpretation, or the true meaning, or the proper usage of God's Word?
- - Has anyone ever taught you, told you, or confronted you that a doctrine you hold is contrary to God's Word?
- - Do you try to justify a questionable doctrine you hold by citing evidence based on feelings, emotions, or experience while dismissing specific Bible passages or sound interpretation of God's Word?  (2 Corinthians 5:7)
- - Do you have some sort of agenda that you are trying to accomplish by or with a questionable doctrine you hold?
- - Do you try to achieve some sort of shortcut to spiritual maturity through the practice of a questionable doctrine?
- - Do you put into practice a questionable doctrine that may possibly be in reality the well-disguised counterfeiting activities of the Kingdom of Darkness?
- - Have you brought disharmony, dissension, or division to a church or ministry because of a questionable doctrine you hold and promote?

- - If you hold a questionable doctrine, then in response to these verses 9-11, you should immediately search the Scriptures thoroughly, find and compile all the passages you can that seem to support your questionable doctrine and all passages that contradict your questionable doctrine.  Then, analyze, research, and compare all of that data regarding the positives and the negatives of your questionable doctrine, while genuinely, seriously, and prayerfully seeking God's enlightenment and guidance on which is correct and which is not correct before God.
- - It is abundantly clear in 1 Timothy 1:3-11 that God takes very seriously the holding and teaching of false doctrines.
- - Therefore, each of us should likewise take very seriously whether we personally hold and teach any false doctrines.
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Works Cited:
The American Heritage Dictionary (AHD). 3rd ed., ver. 3.6a (CD-ROM). Cambridge, MA: SoftKey International Inc., 1994.

Bible. The Comparative Study Bible: A Parallel Bible Presenting New International Version, New American Standard Bible,
     Amplified Bible, King James Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.

“Strong's Greek Dictionary.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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Updated: September 12, 2016