The Grace of God

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“Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say or what they affirm. But we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that be of sound doctrine; according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:5-17

Do you find yourself in the above list of law breakers? Ungodly, profane, disobedient, perhaps a liar or a thief? Maybe you identity with the manslayer, or the whoremonger, or even those who defile themselves with mankind. Can you see your name on this list of guilty persons before a Holy God? If you are honest you will admit that we are all in this list, somewhere. But what about the righteous man, the “teachers of the law” and keepers of the law, surely they are not included in this list. Or are they?

Those who teach lawkeeping, those who would go about to establish their own righteousness do not need the law, and it was not given for them. For they use it unlawfully, understanding neither what they say, or whereof they affirm. “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully”.

How is this done. How is the law used lawfully? What was it’s intent in the first place? Was it so that we might all become pious religious pharisees like the rich young ruler, only to take pride and trust in our good deeds? No. This was not the purpose of the law and in truth, not a one of us can keep it. Of course the all wise God, eternal, immortal and invisible, already knew this to be true. He gave us the law to show us we cannot keep it, in our fallen sinful flesh, and to lead us in love to the only one who could, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Have you been trying to keep the law, practice religious duty, bear “fruit” in keeping with repentance and live the “good” life? Or maybe you are one who has never tried to “save yourself”through your good works but found that to be an impossible task, and have lived the sinful life that comes so naturally to all of us. Perhaps you never found religion of any interest at all and are living out your life according to your own mind and ideas of what is right or wrong, living by your own creed and hoping for the best. Wherever you find yourself today, there is hope of salvation and eternal life for all of us and it is not found in the striving after wind of keeping the law.

God desires to set you free. Free from what you ask? Free form the demands of the law, free from the penalty of sin. Free from your inevitable death and its eternal consequences, free from the wages of sin which each and every one of us have rightfully earned, hell. He didn’t give the law to take away your hope, He gave you the law to give you hope. This is the best bad news you have ever been told. No you cannot keep the law. Its impossible. That is why Jesus came from heaven and lived the perfect life for you. Never having sinned once, He kept the law for you. When you believe on Him, his perfect righteousness is credited to your personal account with God. He did it, and you get it…when you believe on Him. Its given free, through faith alone. For God knew ahead of time that if the smallest portion of our salvation were left up to us, we would be lost. He didn’t take that chance, He wanted to give you eternal security, so He did it all Himself. He died for every sin you and I ever have committed or ever will commit. It’s all paid for by His shed blood on the cross. He did not leave salvation in the precarious hands of sinful men. He is the Saviour, we were lost in a sea of sin, He takes us all the way to the shore, alone. The law is that lighthouse, that points the way to the Saviour. It illumines our need for Him! It enlightens our utter inability in ourselves.

If you find your self in the above list, take heart, you are in good company. For the apostle Paul recognized himself as the “chief of sinners”. There is great hope for you, and it’s not found in keeping the law, but in believing on the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. ” Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.”