|
THE LAWFUL USE OF THE LAW
When we speak of the law we mean that Old Testament system of commandments which God gave to Israel as a nation. The Bible says about that system, “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,” (1 Timothy 1:8) and goes on to describe the kind of people for whom the law was made. Our quote shows that there is nothing wrong with the law as long as it is used lawfully or correctly. Our quote proves that there is both a right use and a wrong use of the law. Paul in another place writes, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree,” (Galatians 3:10-13). The law is a works-system. It demands perfection and since no man ever kept the law those who attempt to be righteous before God by keeping it are under a curse for failure to keep it all. Any person who claims that anyone ever pleased God by keeping the law is making a false claim. Peter addressed this issue in Acts 15:10 where we read: “Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” The law is an impossible burden and “the disciples” are not to be yoked to it. What then is the purpose of the law? In Romans 3:20 we read: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The purpose of the Old Testament law is to give people the knowledge of their sin. Try all they might, people cannot keep the law. They cannot by their attempt at good works ever please God. No natural born individual can please God by his works whether they be law-keeping or anything else. The Bible says: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God,” (Romans 8:8). Since the sinner's praying, “going forward,” “making a decision,” “opening his heart's door,” “accepting Christ,” “receiving Christ,” etc., etc. are all works those who do such things hoping to be righteous in God's eyes fall into the same category as law-keepers. Nothing that an unregenerate person can do pleases God. The new birth is not brought about by anything the sinner does! “Ye must be born again,” (John 3:7). |
