1 Timothy 1:8-11 says, “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine; according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”

“The law is good.”  We also read in Romans 7:12 that, “…the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.”  The law came from God, so it is certainly good and holy.  The Apostle Paul never spoke against the law.  In fact these verses we have before us came from the pen of Paul as he was inspired by God.  However, we see that “the law is good IF a man use if lawfully.”  Notice that the law is not for ‘a righteous man.’  A righteous man is one who has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her savior.  We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  The saved person doesn’t need the Ten Commandments in order to live a holy life.  A person can use so much time trying to be obedient to the statutes of the law, yet his heart be far from his savior.  2 Corinthians 5:14 tells us, “For the love of Christ controls us…” (NASB)  As believers we should focus our attention on the love of Christ for us and that should motivate us to want to live to please Him.  When we want to truly please Him, we will search His Word to learn exactly what it is the Lord wants us to do…so that we might please Him.  How it fills the Lord with joy when we learn His Word and live our lives in obedience to it.  3 John 4 tells us, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Indeed, the law is not made for the righteous man, but it is made for “…the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine…”  What is the ‘lawful’ use of the law towards these types of people?  We use the law to show others how they have ‘come short’ of God’s standard.  We use the law to help others see that they are sinners, who have failed to keep God’s perfect commandments and are therefore guilty before God.  Romans 3:19 tells us, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD.”

We learn in Galatians 3:24-26, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”  Once a person comes under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, he can then appreciate that Christ shed His blood on Calvary for his salvation.  He can then, by faith, receive the love and grace of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Once he becomes saved, he is through with the law.  As we just read, “we are no longer under a schoolmaster (the law).  We are free to love and serve the Lord according to His instruction.  Dear fellow believer, does the love of Christ control you?  Are you learning more and more about the Lord in His Word and being filled with His Spirit?  Is your heart’s desire to please the one who loved you and gave Himself for you?  May we be so aware of the love of Christ for us that we might truly say, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)  (204.4)