The Law is Good if One Uses it Lawfully

In 1 Timothy 1:3-7, the Apostle Paul urged Timothy to charge people to "love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 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."

This does not mean there is anything wrong with the law. On the contrary, Paul explains the purpose of the law in Romans 7:7-11. The intent of the Law is to bring life. Due to the sinful nature, the law serves to show the lost state of the ungodly and the sinner. So, Paul goes on to say in Romans 7:12, "the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good."

Our faith in the grace, mercy and peace of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, brings us to salvation apart from the written code of the law. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10). God prepared these good works for us in keeping with the law of Christ, which is also the law of the Spirit (see Matthew 5:17; Romans 13:8, 8:2-4 ; Galatians 5:14; 6:2).

"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law" (Romans 3:31). Why do we establish the law? Paul says, "we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 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, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:8-11).

Again, "the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5), with no other doctrine than "grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Timothy 1:2).

When Paul was brought before the chief priests and all their council in Jerusalem, "the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth" (Acts 23:2). After responding with words of truth, Paul confessed his own unlawful behavior due to his ignorance of who Ananias was. Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people." Nevertheless, Paul's words were of righteous and true judgment when he was struck in the mouth and responded by saying, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

Given the purpose of the commandment or law "is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5), Paul says, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:15-17).

Therefore, we uphold the law of our Lord Jesus Christ with a pure heart in accordance with the gospel.​