A note from our Pastor:

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”

1 Timothy 1:9-10

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

In our study verse this week, the Apostle continues to address the righteousness of the law and its appropriate use for the disciples in the New Testament age. Previously, the Apostle has established to Timothy the righteousness of the law as a creation of God. The law, being created by God and given to man from God, was perfect in its creation and without fault in its intended application. The fault occurs when it is applied by men incorrectly.

In these two verses, the Apostle clarifies the appropriate use of the law in the New Testament age. He begins by saying, the law was not made for a righteous man. By this, the Apostle is not implying there are any among mankind which are righteous of their own nature. All of mankind was guilty of and created in the sin passed down from Adam and is guilty of our own sins as we live in this world. However, after regeneration and when following the Holy Spirit the child of God does seek to serve Christ and to follow his commandments. Thus, the righteousness of Christ is applied to the child of God.

It is in this condition, of applied righteousness, when the child of God does not need the law. As the Apostle teaches in other places, the purpose of the law was to point to sin. Sin existed before the law, but the law gave it a name and declared it was against the mind and purpose of God. When a child of God is living in service to Christ the law is not needed for this purpose any longer.

With this in mind, the Apostle is telling Timothy — if men want to teach the law, their appropriate audience would be outside of the community of believers. The audience which needs to hear the law are those who are actively living in sin. The people who are actively engaging in murder, in kidnapping, and in adultery need to hear the law of God and know their actions are against God. For them, the preaching of the law is unlikely to be profitable, but it has a better chance of having value then among the saints of God.

The lesson the Apostle was teaching Timothy still bears true today. The law is righteous as it was created by God, but it does not have an application within the community of believers. The law’s purpose was to point out the sinful acts of men, not to provide them with salvation and even less to provide them with comfort. The message of the New Testament is one of accomplished salvation and peace in Christ.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah