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1 Timothy 1:8-11
The law that the Apostle Paul is referring to is the law given to Moses on Mount Sinai by God; this includes the Ten Commandments along with some other 600 plus laws that were God’s instructions for a man to live a holy and righteous life in the eyes of God. The intent was not that God believed any man could actually achieve this lofty goal but that all men would see that it is impossible to obey all the law all the time. The intent was to show man his need for more – for more than he could accomplish on his own. The intent was to convince man that he needed to put his faith in God to guide him through this world – to trust Him, to follow His will for man’s life through his obedience and submission to God’s will while putting aside the desires of man’s own will. This same law that Paul refers to is the law that convicts one’s heart and leads them to repentance and humbles every man to the foot of the cross, seeking forgiveness.
This is a promise that if one follows the law properly, it will lead him/her to realizing and understanding the need for God to save them from the evil desires of the world.
The list of the ungodly and lawless that the Apostle Paul gives in 1 Timothy 1:8-11 (NKJV) should convict us all as he states, “8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9knowing 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, 10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” This covers us all as Paul includes “any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:10).
We all have strayed from sound doctrine at some point in our lives, and most likely each day as even our thoughts betray the requirement for righteousness. Jesus declared in Matthew 5:21-22a, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, [Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”
Have you ever been angry with someone only later to realize and come to an understanding that you were wrong in your anger? I suspect we all have. The point is that we have all fallen to the law and we are all convicted by it through the imperfect lives we have lived. This is not to point fingers or point blame as if to better oneself than another, but to convict us all to humility before the throne of God and the foot of the cross of our Savior who died on it to pay for all our sins so we may, through Him, be saved through faith in Him that He really did die for our sins – to believe in Him and start a new life of obedience to His love for us for dying for us and saving us to a new life that only He can give. It is victory to be found, not sorrow or defeat, but victory in Christ Jesus for all who will believe in Him.
Dear LORD,
The law was given to convict our hearts for the sins we have committed, but it is the gift of Your love for us in everlasting life through believing in Christ Jesus that saves us from the sinfulness of this world. Jesus said in John 8:34-36, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Most assuredly LORD, make us free indeed. In Jesus name I pray, amen.