1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully.
The Law of God is two dimensional. The Law can be used lawfully or it can be used unlawfully.
If you use the Law as a means to have right standing with God you are using the Law unlawfully. But, if you use the Law as the means to define and express godly love you are using it lawfully.
Jesus is the end of the Law as a means to have right standing with God for all who believe.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Jesus is the end of the Law as a means to have right standing with God but He is not the end of the Law as the means to define and express godly love.
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,”and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
When you use the Law as the means to have right standing with God you are drawing your value and self worth in the eyes of God by how well you obey the Law. When you use the Law as the means to evaluate your position with God you become judgmental and critical of others.
Luke 18:11-13 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.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Being judgmental and critical of others is a sure sign that you are drawing your value and self worth by how well you obey the Law.
When you use the Law, as a means to evaluate your standing with God, you have fallen from grace and put yourself in bondage.
Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
This is what the debates were all about all throughout the New Testament. What is your motive for obeying the Law? Is it because you love God or are you trying to earn your way into the kingdom of God?
If we can truly understand that God loves us and accepts us in Christ our day to day short falls won't utterly destroy our faith and relationship with Him and we will be guilt and shame free. We will let others love God and others according to their understanding of what pleases God and neighbor.
The grace of God protects our relationship with Him because our relationship with Him is the most important thing to Him. If you love God and you're walking in love the best way that you understand God's definition of love you can't out sin the grace of God.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
The Law of God defines righteousness but it also defines godly love. Christ is our righteousness so we can love God and others free of guilt and shame that is produced by our short falls. In Christ we can boldly come into the presence of God without fear. Now go, and by faith love others the way God defines love, in this our faith will be complete.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
Jesus in us, loving through us by how God defines love is the new creation.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Christ in us this way is the hope of glory.
The Law of God is two dimensional. The Law can be used lawfully or it can be used unlawfully.
If you use the Law as a means to have right standing with God you are using the Law unlawfully. But, if you use the Law as the means to define and express godly love you are using it lawfully.
Jesus is the end of the Law as a means to have right standing with God for all who believe.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Jesus is the end of the Law as a means to have right standing with God but He is not the end of the Law as the means to define and express godly love.
Romans 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,”and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
When you use the Law as the means to have right standing with God you are drawing your value and self worth in the eyes of God by how well you obey the Law. When you use the Law as the means to evaluate your position with God you become judgmental and critical of others.
Luke 18:11-13 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.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Being judgmental and critical of others is a sure sign that you are drawing your value and self worth by how well you obey the Law.
When you use the Law, as a means to evaluate your standing with God, you have fallen from grace and put yourself in bondage.
Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
This is what the debates were all about all throughout the New Testament. What is your motive for obeying the Law? Is it because you love God or are you trying to earn your way into the kingdom of God?
If we can truly understand that God loves us and accepts us in Christ our day to day short falls won't utterly destroy our faith and relationship with Him and we will be guilt and shame free. We will let others love God and others according to their understanding of what pleases God and neighbor.
The grace of God protects our relationship with Him because our relationship with Him is the most important thing to Him. If you love God and you're walking in love the best way that you understand God's definition of love you can't out sin the grace of God.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
The Law of God defines righteousness but it also defines godly love. Christ is our righteousness so we can love God and others free of guilt and shame that is produced by our short falls. In Christ we can boldly come into the presence of God without fear. Now go, and by faith love others the way God defines love, in this our faith will be complete.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
Jesus in us, loving through us by how God defines love is the new creation.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Christ in us this way is the hope of glory.
Last edited:
