7/13/03 INI I Tim. 1:8-15

In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of the Sheep,

Who do you trust? We talk about college students who make a habit of cheating in school; politicians more loyal to themselves than to their country; lawyers who are not legal beagles, but legal vultures. The other day we saw a car with a license plate that advised: "Trust no one!"

Does that mean me?" Did the driver of that car have a bad experience with his minister? Is it possible that there are ministers who should not be trusted? Jesus said that there were "blind leaders of the blind," in His day. He warned that they cause their followers to "fall into the ditch" with them. Likewise in our day, many spiritual leaders are so hopelessly blinded by their own reason, pride, and self-righteousness, that they cannot begin to lead others out of the wilderness of sin to eternal damnation.

Could I be or become such a blind pastor, who should not be trusted to lead and feed the flock of Christ? When you call your next pastor, will you know and remember

THE FIRST QUALIFICATIONS OF A FAITHFUL SHEPHERD?

The apostle Paul begins by saying: "Teach no other doctrine." There had been trouble with false teachers in the congregation at Ephesus. Some had left the Christian Faith, and tried to impress men with their knowledge rather than with the simple truths of the saving Gospel. So, Paul instructed the young pastor, Timothy, to stay in Ephesus to correct those who were teaching a doctrine and way of salvation other than the way of the Gospel of Christ.

False teachers had been saying that the Old Testament Law and tradition were necessary for salvation. But Paul says: "Teach no other doctrine, except the LAW properly." Because of Christ's life and death, those who trust in Him are freed from the Law, and we are to preach a message of liberty to those who are still held captive to the Law. Now this doesn't mean that our children should no longer learn the Ten Commandments. "We know that the Law is good," Paul writes in Romans 7. The Law comes from our God -- It must be good, just as He is good. Many spiritual leaders will not preach and teach the Law plainly because it cuts into the pride and offends the self-righteous nature of their congregations. But that's worse than a medical doctor who covers a festering sore with salve, instead of cutting to the bottom of the problem with a surgeon's knife.

The God-pleasing spiritual leader knows that the Law of God is good and must be used. But it must be used properly. "Knowing this," Paul says: "that the Law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners," etc. What doe she mean? The Lutheran "Formula of Concord" of 1580 declares on the basis of this passage that the Christian is free from the curse of the Law. Neither should the Law, or threats of its punishments be used to force the Christian to do good works. He needs no threats or instructions from outside forced upon him. Insofar as he is a true Christian, his faith in the gospel of Christ moves him to freely love God and to serve his neighbor. Those who need the Law with its threats and curses are those who deny the Law and serve their own lust and desires; the impenitent and the rebels against God, who indulge in evil against God and man. There's a long but not complete list of examples in vs. 9-10. (Read!)

The Law must be used against such in order to reveal and convict them of their sins. "For by the Law is the knowledge of sin," Paul writes in Romans 3. The qualified, God-pleasing spiritual leader, knows this. He uses the law, not to save sinners by preaching obedience to it, but in order to MIRROR THEIR SINS TO THEM, so that they might really know the depths of their condemnation before the holy God. This "lawful" or "proper" use of the Law IS "according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God," Paul says in v. 11. The proper use of the Law prepares the convicted sinners for the joyous reception of the Gospel of Christ as his sure salvation and comfort! A man who is not thirsty will not care for a dozen glasses of water. But one who is really thirsty will gladly receive even one small glass of refreshing water! As Luther put it: "After the Law has shown disease, the Gospel brings remedy, health, and strength."

A God-pleasing, spiritual leader knows the gospel far better than the Law, and he wants to proclaim and teach the Gospel faithfully. Paul had already learned that seeking salvation by one's own works is like playing around with a lion that has not shown its teeth. On the road to Damascus the Law bit Paul as never before. For the first time in his life he realized that ALL his works had left him far "short of the glory of God." Jesus sent Paul to Ananias where he heard the Gospel of grace and forgiveness in the blood of Jesus.

Paul had been a "blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor" against the Church of Christ. But he had learned from the Gospel that "the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." (V. 14) Now Paul was able to say from his heart: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," is a "faithful (or trustworthy) statement, deserving full acceptance." (V. 15)

Through the Gospel of Christ Paul had received unconditional pardon for his great sins. So it was that he preached an unconditional Gospel. He did not preach half of a Savior -- A Jesus who teaches us how to live by the Commandments so that we can save ourselves. Paul did not preach salvation on the condition that the sinner first "change his life." But as the Law condemns all mankind unconditionally, so the Gospel must be proclaimed as a free and unconditional pardon of sinners for Christ's sake!

Pray, brethren, that all of your spiritual shepherds may

preach the Law in all its killing severity, and the Gospel in its full sweetness. For it is our God ALONE who makes and preserves qualified shepherds.

God-pleasing, faithful shepherds are to teach no other doctrine, except the Law, properly, the Gospel faithfully, with confidence, humbly. With confidence. Read Paul's epistles and you will know of how confident he was about His Savior's Word of grace, His love and truth. Paul did not compromise the truth; he strongly and boldly opposed all error for the sake of Christ and the souls Christ purchased with His own blood.

But neither Paul's intelligence, personality, voice, or any other personal quality took the place of true humility before God. Think of the leaders of the Jewish religion at the time of Christ and the Apostles. They were all well-trained in the teachings of Moses and Jewish tradition. But, because of their self-righteousness and pride they were not God-pleasing spiritual leaders. Jesus had to warn His disciples to "beware of the leaven (teachings) of the pharisees."

Again, think of the spiritual leadership of the middle ages, when popes and bishops -- puffed with power -- became tyrants over the consciences of men, making demands of penance and obedience to church laws as conditions of salvation. In bold contrast to these was the lowly monk, Mart Luther, who bowed himself before the holy God as a miserable sinner without any merit of his own. He gave all glory to God for His gracious salvation in Jesus Christ. So it was with the Apostle Paul. Although he was confident about his message, he did not boast of his accomplishments. He gave all glory to God. Himself He considered to be "chief of sinners." (V. 15)

So it must be, and shall be with all who are true and God-pleasing spiritual leaders of Christ's flock. Only the heart which truly knows its own need for the Savior and its own spiritual helplessness, can show others the way, counsel, correct, and encourage in the way of Christ. May God grant His servants grace, so that all who serve you may teach the Law properly, the Gospel faithfully; and with confidence, humbly. And may you always be led to hear their teaching and receive their counsel as from your Savior Himself. Amen