Open the Bible UK Daily

We know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully.1 Timothy 1:8The second distinctive of a gospel-centred church is gospel freedom. In other words, we are drawn by grace, not driven by law.It’s clear that there were difficulties in the church at Ephesus. Some were confused about the role of the Old Testament law in the life of a Christian believer. That’s not surprising. This is a difficult issue.Paul says two things: (1) The law is good, and (2) you have to use it properly. Here are two examples of the improper use of the law.1. Using the law for self-justificationThat’s what the rich young ruler did. He recited the Ten Commandments, and he said, “All these I have kept from my youth” (Mk. 10:20). He took a superficial look at God’s law and said, “I live a really moral life, so I must be good with God.” That is a terrible use of the law!2. Using the law for self-sanctificationSome folks have the idea that Christ forgives your past sins and opens heaven for your future joy, and that in the middle it’s up to you to live a good life. So find out what the law says and do it.Here’s the problem: The law can tell you what to do. It cannot give you the power to do it. The law is powerless because it was weakened by the sinful nature (Rom. 8:3). That’s the problem with all legalism and moralism. It is so limited, so calculating, so self-righteous.The gospel does not bring forgiveness, heaven, and the law. It brings forgiveness, heaven, and the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies, not the law.Of these two improper uses of the law, which is easiest for you to fall into?

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.1 Timothy 1:5“Love that issues from…” Where does love come from? How does love grow? How can you become a loving person, and not a divisive one, at work, in your home, and in the church?Love comes from a pure heartThe word pure means “undivided.” James says the “double-minded” man is “unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:8). Set your heart on things above (Col. 3:1). Ask God to give you a stronger faith in Christ, a deeper love for Christ, and a firmer hope in Christ. Then you will be able to love.Love comes from a good conscienceThis means a conscience that is at rest with God. Is there a known sin in your life that you have allowed to remain? Your conscience is not at rest. It’s making you an angry, divisive person. It’s the root of your complaining spirit. Come clean with Christ. Be washed and receive a clean conscience. Then you will be able to love!Love comes from a sincere faithA sincere faith means that you really trust Christ. You don’t just talk about it. You trust Him whatever is happening—when you lose a job or get a new job, at the wedding and at the funeral. Peter says your trials prove that your faith is genuine (1 Pet. 1:6-7).If you receive these gifts today, you will be able to love! You will be able to love your wife, your children, and people who are difficult. You will love the church. Most of all you will love the Lord Jesus Christ who loved you and gave Himself for you.Which of these three areas might be holding you back from truly being able to love?

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.1 Timothy 1:5The first distinguishing mark of a gospel-centred church is gospel faith. We want to be about God our Saviour and Jesus Christ our hope—rooted in His truth, growing in His love. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.But some people will be distracted. “Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion” (1:6). It’s rare that anyone decides to abandon the truth. It happens gradually.There are four warning signs that a person is in danger of wandering away from the truth. Let’s look at them in the form of questions.1. Am I always looking for something new?Certain persons “devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies” (1:4). People who are deeply rooted in Christ are satisfied in Him, but if you’re always looking for something new, you could wander from the truth.2. Do I like to talk while avoiding action?Certain persons “have wandered away into vain discussion” (1:6). These folks are full of pious talk that masks an unholy life. If you see the Bible as ideas to be discussed rather than truth to be obeyed, you could easily wander from the truth.3. Do I want to teach more than I want to learn?Certain persons “desiring to be teachers” (1:7). These folks want to teach others but don’t really want to learn themselves. If you love to teach but do not love to learn, you are in danger of wandering.4. Does my confidence exceed my knowledge?Certain persons “desiring to be teachers… without understanding” (1:7). These people are supremely confident, forceful, high-handed. But Paul says they do not know what they are talking about.If you find yourself answering “yes” to any of these four warnings, ask God to help you get back on the path to truth.

I am writing these things to you so that… you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.1 Timothy 3:14-15Here, Paul tells us what his letter is about. It has been given by God to tell us what He is looking for in the church—what we are to pursue, how we are to behave, and what we are to be about.People talk about what they are looking for in a church. But what is God looking for? It’s not for us to decide what’s important and then look for Bible texts to support our passion. We start from the Bible, where God tells us what is important to Him, so that we can follow after His passion.Sometimes, a few people have a particular passion. They want the whole church to be about what they are about. That always leads to division. If Jesus Christ is not the centre of your affection, you will become a divisive person in the church.Paul says, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). We are not here to advance our own cause. We are here for Christ! For the gospel!Why is this so important? “The aim of our charge is love” (1 Tim. 1:5). The only way to have real unity is by keeping Jesus Christ and His gospel at the centre. We are to put down deep roots into God’s Word. We are to grow in our life in Christ. We are to bear fruit around the world.The book of 1 Timothy spells out for us ten distinctives of a church that stays focused on Jesus and the gospel.Are you more interested in talking about what you want in a church, or in hearing what God wants in a church?

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.1 Corinthians 6:19-20Knowing that you will one day be raised and given a resurrection body, how should you live in your present body?Recognise that you are wholly owned by Jesus Christ. Christ has the right to determine where you live and what you do. He bought you with His own blood, and over every area of your life Jesus Christ says, “Mine.” You are not your own. Your life is His to spend, and the great calling of your life is to glorify Him.Be done with everything that defiles your body or soul. “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). Paul could have appealed to laws, but instead he appeals to promises. He is going for a higher motivation.Use your mind in a way that glorifies God. Don’t pollute your mind. Fill your mind with what is pleasing to God. It’s the same with your body. Don’t use your body as a vehicle for sin (Rom. 6:13). Use your eyes, ears, hands, and feet in ways that honour Christ. Let your tongue speak words of kindness and your hands be a means of helping, not hurting others.Are you living in your body as if it belonged to you, or as if it wholly belongs to Christ?

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.Romans 6:5The resurrection body will be imperishable and glorious. How else will it be different from our present bodies?Your body will be powerful: “It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (1 Cor. 15:43).Donald Macleod says that the resurrection body is going to have more energy, more stamina, more athleticism, more speed, more coordination, and more durability than it ever had—because we’re not going to need the body less, we’re going to need it and use it more.Think about what this will mean for all of our friends who have physical challenges that have restricted their lives in this world. What will it mean when finally and fully Jesus’ words will come true in all of their fullness? The blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the lame will walk.Your body will be godly: “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body” (15:44).We are using the word “godly” here, because the word “spiritual” is often misunderstood. The resurrection body is a physical “flesh and bones” body. When Paul speaks about a “spiritual body,” he is talking about a body that is fully responsive to the Holy Spirit. In the resurrection body, you will never feel or think or say, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Your resurrected body will be as eager to do the will of God as your redeemed spirit.Here is what you have to look forward to in the new heaven and new earth—a glorious and powerful body that is adapted to life forever, and that is fully responsive to the Holy Spirit.Do you feel the limitations and weaknesses of your body? Take heart that your resurrected body will be fully and powerfully responsive to the Holy Spirit.