"Not Laid Down for the Just"

“Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine” (1Timothy1:8-10 ESV)

Paul makes a profound point in his writing to Timothy: The law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless. In Christ, we are liberated from the law through our salvation. No longer must we work and strive to keep the law because the righteousness of God has been etched on our hearts. We understand that we cannot uphold the law and have accepted that we need a Savior, whom we have found in Christ Jesus. This understanding brings a sense of relief and freedom, knowing that we are not bound by the law but by the grace of our Savior.

Before Moses received the Ten Commandments, Israel was not notified of its sins. It was blind to them. However, once the law was introduced, it became binding on them. They were made aware of their sins, and with the coming of Moses's law, they were also bound to the 613 laws that no one could keep, not even the priests.

The law is the mirror in which one truly sees how depraved they are before a holy God. Those who follow the law wind up at a dead end, and for God’s elect, Jesus stands before them. This quote is attributed to Einstein, but I think it is applicable to what I speak, "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity." How many times will you fall prey to the same sin? How many times will you promise yourself and God you will not do it again, yet do it before you realize you cannot be righteous by your own means? Eventually, one should recognize that self-salvation is impossible.

Jesus promises to transform us at the core of our being. Our old heart is removed and a new heart replaces it, a heart of flesh no longer hardened in sin, but vibrant and alive with the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote: “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” Those following the law, those who practice morality alone, are dying by the very thing they claim to follow. But like Paul, God offers us a way out when we realize we are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and stand broken in our existence. God gives us His grace that faith may abound in us, and we choose to place that faith in Christ Jesus. This transformation is not just a promise, but a reality that we can all experience, inspiring us to live a life of faith and righteousness.

Like Paul, I was a horrid sinner. It was not until I was completely broken that God’s grace placed the gospel before me. For the first time, I heard it and was crushed in my sin. Everyone who is truly saved experiences this crushing weight of their sin to some degree. It is our attention getter. It is God saying, "My child, look in the mirror at what you are," then opening the door to what we may become.

Are you here reading this because the weight of your sins has fallen on top of you? Are you broken in heart and spirit? Has something happened in your life, and you finally realize you have nowhere to turn? Seek Christ now, speak to Him, and tell Him you need Him. You need to be saved from yourself, and He will save you for God.

Only Christ can save you, and God did this on purpose, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is a testament to God's unconditional love and grace. It reassures us that our salvation is not dependent on our works, but on God's love and grace. This knowledge brings comfort and security, knowing that we are saved not by our own efforts, but by the grace of our loving God.

Come to Christ and find true peace and salvation through the risen Son of God.

Grace and Peace!