Using Law Lawfully

"But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully" - 1st Timothy 1:8

Interesting phrase - using the law lawfully - implying, of course, the law can be used un-lawfully and not be good.

Proclaiming "Our Creed is the Bible" isn't enough.

Though the Bible is now available in our own language and, for many of us, free to use as we may choose, it's not helpful unless used correctly.

So how does one use the law lawfully?! Hmmm...

Using the law (indeed, all parts of the Bible) lawfully will:

1)Be Christ centered - see how the Apostle Paul quotes from the law, substituting "Christ" for "Commandment".¹

2)Encourage living God's kind of love in good conscience and with an open/honest faith. ²

3)Bring life in the hearers - Jesus said he came to bring abundant life.³ It's the enemy who steals, kills, and destroys, so we should be able to say that using the Bible to steal, kill, and destroy is a misuse.

Yes the Bible is used to correct sin and error, but God's correction applied correctly (law used lawfully) brings hope.

- fritz

1 - Romans 10:8 / Deuteronomy 30:11-14
2 - 1st Timothy 1:5
3 - John 10:10

Great deal - if you can do it!

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; - Deuteronomy 7:9

Some are up for the challenge - Keep the commandments, love God, and get God's blessing; and how some really try!

But law condemns for incomplete adherence. Have you ever wanted what someone else had? You haven't kept the 10^Th commandment, you failed the challenge! Have you ever worked on Saturday? You haven't kept the 4^Th commandment, you failed the challenge! Actually, are there any of God's commands you have done from your heart without some failure? Me neither!

There's no balance scale to see if more good is done than bad - laws, even our own, don't work that way. Example: Stop at five (5) traffic lights but run one (1); can you still get a ticket?

James puts it this way:

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker." - James 2:10-11

We can't even keep his commandments one generation, much less to a thousand!

So we have blown that deal! Our only hope is to find an alternative; fortunately there is one!¹

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. - 1st Timothy 1:15

- fritz

^{1 - Post from 09/23/2010 Alternate Righteousness}

Commandment's Replacement

[T]he righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above: ... But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;" - Romans 10:6,8

Those in covenant with Christ have a unique perspective on Old Testament law.

That renewed rabbi and Pharisee, apostle Paul, here quotes an Old Testament scripture, Deuteronomy 10:6-8, written originally about God's Commandments. But instead of the commandment he uses the term, "Christ" (check it out)!

Our law and "commandment" is now the person of Christ, living wholly and holy unto him in the power of the Holy Spirit, and free from condemnation.

- fritz

<sup>Related links:
1. Think Covenant, August 15, 2010
2. The Faith Of Christ, August 24, 2010
3. Who the Bible was written for (September 4, 2010)</sup>