Is There a Right and Wrong Use of God’s Law?
The author of the New Testament, Paul’s very words are essential in clarifying these issues. Based on the writings of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”
1 Timothy 1:6-8, “From which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully.”
Paul is saying that in order to correctly use the law, one has to understand God’s purpose for His law. Many unqualified teachers with questionable motives use it in an unlawful manner. Some wish to abuse power. Not surprisingly, many of the Judaizers were also legalistic in an unlawful manner. They perceived only the “Letter of the Law” and often misunderstood God’s purpose completely. Note Mark 2:23-27 for a Sabbath example. The Apostle is saying there is an illegitimate use of the law and a legitimate use of what God has given us.
1 Timothy 1:9-10, “Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.”
What is the Apostle saying to believers? Is he saying the law does not exist for good people? Yes, truly spiritual actions move one in the opposite direction from a law breaker. But the law is still in place in case we do stray into law breaking, which is sin. The definition of legalism is one who interprets the law only by the letter. Legalism is the strict adherence to the law with a lack of understanding God. This is not the appropriate approach to the law according to Jesus himself.
Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…”
Jesus is saying the law against murder is fine but a true believer must go beyond the physical act of not murdering, not even desiring to murder in our hearts. Christ is bringing the law closer to our inner being. He is putting lawful Godly thinking into our hearts and minds. This is the goal of the New Covenant. See Hebrews Chapter 8 and 10. Jesus continues:
Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Many of the legalistic may have thought if they did not act on an evil thought they had not really broken the law. Our Lord says that this is an improper use of the law. At another extreme, some may think that the law only applies to evil people and since they are not so inclined, the law doesn’t apply to them.
Romans 3:9-11, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.’”
The author of the New Testament writes that though we may not be thieves etc., all mankind is guilty of some sin. Everyone needs the pardon and grace of Jesus. No one is fully righteous. We all have some sort of weakness. The true purpose of the law is to define good and bad behavior. It is to guide mankind like a light to see the correct pathway of life and to avoid the pitfalls.
Psalms 119:104-105, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way… Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The Laws of God help us LIVE A FULFILLING life.
The Objective of the Law is Creating a Pure Heart and Agape Love
Some legalistic leaders thought that it did not matter how dark their hearts had become as long as they obeyed the letter of the law. Jesus says the heart really matters as well. Evil thinking eventually leads to law breaking actions. God needs for us to learn to obey the law in both spirit and in deed. Believers need both.
1 Timothy 1:4-5, “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.”
Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
The law helps us actualize loving, Godly behavior and as long as the negative aspects of human nature exist, the law is needed. Further, Satan––while here––will always influence men in an ungodly, unloving direction. Some, like the Pharisees, took an approach of trying to prove to others and themselves that they deserved salvation by the zealous law keeping accompanied by a self-righteous attitude.
Luke 18:9-12, “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men––extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.”
Needless to say, this attitude is not how one develops love for our fellow man or appreciation for God’s grace and love of us all.
Keeping of The Law Cannot Earn Salvation
No one can live without some level of sin and guilt. No one can obligate God to save them because of their goodness and lawfulness. That is not the purpose of the Law. However, a true believer must demonstrate a repentant spirit. This means believers desire to please God and obey His wonderful laws of liberty and LOVE.
Romans 2:13, “For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;”
Romans 2:23, “You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?”
God is not going to justify anyone who defiantly decides to break His laws. The grace of God goes to the obedient. When one slips and falls into sin, we must repent and ask for more grace, which we all need from time to time.
Romans 3:10, “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one;”
Romans 3:20, “Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
We cannot achieve salvation on our own, no matter how many rules and laws one keeps. God requires a repentant, obedient approach TO RECEIVE GRACE. The law defines sin but does not erase any past guilt; it highlights our past sins. Clearly one is saved by the sacrifice of Jesus––period! We must try not to give in to our sinful nature. Believers should become dead to sin!
Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Romans 6:15, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not!”
Remember, the purpose of the law, when used properly, is to direct one into loving behavior. God’s Laws define love. Legalism, however, can lead one into a self-righteous attitude that God despises.
