Topical Bible: The Law of God: To be Used Lawfully

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Law of God, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, serves as a divine guide for righteous living and a reflection of God's holy character. It is essential to understand the purpose and proper use of the Law to align with God's intentions and to live a life pleasing to Him.

Purpose of the Law

The Law, given through Moses, encompasses moral, ceremonial, and civil precepts. Its primary purpose is to reveal God's standards of holiness and justice. As the Apostle Paul writes, "So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good" (Romans 7:12). The Law acts as a mirror, reflecting human sinfulness and the need for a Savior. It is not a means of salvation but a tutor leading us to Christ, as Paul explains: "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24).

The Law and the New Covenant

With the advent of Jesus Christ, the Law's role is transformed. Christ fulfills the Law, embodying its perfect righteousness and offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus declares, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" . Believers are no longer under the Law's condemnation but are called to live by the Spirit, who writes God's laws on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).

Lawful Use of the Law

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of using the Law lawfully. In 1 Timothy 1:8, he states, "Now we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully" . A lawful use of the Law involves recognizing its role in convicting sinners, guiding moral conduct, and upholding justice. It is not to be used as a tool for legalism or self-righteousness but as a means to point to Christ and His redemptive work.

Moral Guidance and Civil Order

The moral aspects of the Law, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, continue to serve as a foundation for ethical behavior. They provide timeless principles for loving God and neighbor, as Jesus summarized: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’" (Matthew 22:37-39).

Furthermore, the Law's civil precepts, while specific to ancient Israel, offer insights into justice and societal order. They underscore the importance of fairness, protection of the vulnerable, and the pursuit of peace.

Conclusion

The Law of God, when used lawfully, serves as a vital instrument in the believer's life. It convicts of sin, guides moral conduct, and points to the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ. By understanding and applying the Law in light of the New Covenant, Christians can live in a manner that honors God and reflects His righteousness to the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Timothy 1:8
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Law of God
... Thus was it the will of God, that this his ... And those things [in the judicial law]
which relate to ... substance and principal end, cannot be lawfully used by any ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 12 the law of.htm

The Lawful and Unlawful Use of Law.
... rule fosters the spirit of love, that is, is used lawfully, it is ... Ephesian
teachers."v.4. It seemed to them that law was pleasing to God as restraint ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xix the lawful and unlawful.htm

Whether a Man May Make Oblations of Whatever He Lawfully Possesses ...
... case of a son who offers to God the means ... Reply to Objection 2: According to the
Law, a dog ... neither offered nor redeemed, both because idolaters used dogs in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a man may make.htm

The Positive Side
... a man use it lawfully" (1:Tim.1:8). The Law is used ... their imperfect obedience to
it as the ground of their acceptance by God. ... But used lawfully, the Law is good ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the law and the saint/the positive side.htm

The Negative Side
... he had also disparaged the Law itself, he added this safeguard in v.8. To "use"
the Law "lawfully", is to use it as God intended it to be used: not as a means ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the law and the saint/the negative side.htm

The Man About whom the Apostle is Here Treating, do Far as He Is ...
... that the latter clause [in which de is used as the ... and the strokes of the whip are
heard, God may work ... in the chapter On Laws, (fol.124,) "The law causes me ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/the man about whom the.htm

Faustus Rejects the Old Testament Because it Leaves no Room for ...
... itself is always good; as the sun is always good, for every creature of God is good ...
So it is said "The law is good, if used lawfully;" and immediately after ...
/.../faustus rejects the old testament.htm

The Connection Between the Seventh and the Eighth Chapters
... forms of speech, similar to this, are used in this ... when we were still under the law,
is completed ... their members instruments of righteousness to God, as those ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/the connection between the seventh.htm

Weighed in the Balances
... friend: "I will tell you what I used to think. I ... sound doctrine.". Now, my friend,
are you ready to be weighed by this law of God? A great ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/weighed in the balances.htm

Of Repentance, of Pardon, and the Commands of God.
... I have laid down a few chief points of this law, since I ... Dei, x. 1) explains the
use of this expression as applied to God. ... [1267] Februis, a word used in the ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxiv of repentance of pardon.htm