Thoughts on 1 Timothy 1:8-10

The law is good and is given for a purpose. However, we can and do abuse it. We must always understand that righteousness is not through the law but through faith (Gal 2:21) and we must never use the law to try and attain salvation. If we do that it will only reveal more sin in us (Gal 2:18). We must also never use the law as a measure of righteousness but instead as a tool to show us where sin exists in our lives. If we make the mistake of using the law to measure righteousness we will inevitably fall into the trap of putting ourselves on a scale of goodness in comparison with the rest of mankind. That will cause us to lose sight of our need for a Savior because inevitably we will compare ourselves with those not as “righteous” as we are and pat ourselves on the back because of our goodness. The truth is that we are all sinners, guilty before God, and that none of us, apart from God, does good (Rom 3:10-12).

We are to use the law and not the other way around. We should understand the law’s role in our lives and use it accordingly. When we let the law control us and use us we become legalistic. We find ourselves trying to obey 613 laws daily and have no freedom to worship Christ. We become shut off to the culture around us, which Jesus actually prayed we would not do (John 15:17).

When we read verses nine and ten we have to understand that we are among the group called “lawless and disobedient, ungodly and sinners, unholy and profane, striking our fathers and mothers, murderers, sexually immoral, homosexual, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and doing whatever else is against sound doctrine.” Do not make the mistake of thinking yourself included with the “just” because there is only one person who has ever lived who can be put into that category. It is precisely because he is in that group that Jesus has the ability to save us. In going to the cross and becoming our substitutionary atonement Jesus swapped places with us by becoming all the sinful things listed above and taking our deserved punishment on the cross. Conversely we get to take the place of Jesus and be seen by the Father as just and righteous and get to spend eternity in heaven with God (2 Cor 5:21). Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!