1 Timothy 1:8-11 The Law is Good

But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. [1 Timothy 1:8-11 NASB]

Because I so often say that I am not under Law, but under grace, some may conclude that I hold an animosity toward the Law. Or that I believe, as some do, that the Law no longer effectively exists. This is not true. Jesus, Himself, said;

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [Matthew 5:17-18 NASB]

The Law was given for a reason. Paul said;

But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. [Galatians 3:23-25 NASB]

The Law teaches us about our need for sin. Paul discusses the role of the Law in Romans;

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” [Romans 7:7 NASB]

1 Timothy 1:9 tells us that the law was not made for the righteous, but for sinners. The problem is that there is none who is righteous; "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." [Romans 3:23 NASB]

Therefore, if you break the Law, you will be judged by the Law. But, if you are righteous, you are no longer bound to the law. We have no power within ourselves to become righteous, but Jesus paid the price of our sin, and made us to become righteous by faith.

It's not that the Law has passed away, nor have the requirements of the Law been done away with. Rather, it is that we who are in Christ have died to the Law;

Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. [Romans 7:1-4 NASB]

We are free from the Law because, in Christ, we have died to the Law. Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law. Paul said;

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:1-4 NASB]

We don't break the Law because we are not under the Law. In truth, the Law is fulfilled in those of us who believe, and walk in the Spirit of Christ.

I am not "anti-Law". But, I know that faith is greater than the Law, just as God's grace is greater than sin. I live my life under God's grace by faith, and not under the Law.

Father, I thank You for Your grace. Thank You for the forgiveness of sins. Thank You for adopting me as Your child and heir. Please give me the grace to walk in the Spirit at all times, so that Your righteousness may live through me.