Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 5

Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 3

1 Timothy 1:8-9 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, KJV

Paul now gets to the substance of his proclamation of what the purpose of God's Law truly is and that is to show sinful humanity what sin or transgression against a Holy and Perfect God really looks like. The Law of God was not given by Him to Moses to fix man or to change man, but it was to prove to man his wickedness against God the Father and to make man run to the Cross of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for, redemption, resolution, and regeneration, so Paul first writes these words to Brother Timothy, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;" (1 Timothy 1:8) (KJV). First Paul declares that it is understood or perceived that God's Moral Law 'is good' on its on or by nature and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word kalos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, honest and worthy. The Moral Law of God is Holy and every man or woman sees that to be true and cannot dispute it at all.

The English word 'lawfully' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word nomimōs meaning legitimately (specifically agreeably to the rules of the lists): - lawfully. What is the legitimate, legal, and lawful way the Law of God should be used today under the dispensation of grace and the Gospel of Christ? The answer is simple, yet made complicated by so many, it should not be used (as it is by some) as a way of attaining to a higher standard and thus making a man or woman into a righteous man or woman (for this is an impossible attainment), but it should be used as the only means to awaken the sensation of sin that is in every person born under the sun (there are no good people born into humanity, deal with this truth/reality Romans 3:10-12) and its vileness, vulgarity, and vicious nature in order to lead the sinful soul to the only cure being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Power in His Cleansing Shed Blood for every sinner, if they will see themselves as such and turn to Him only. This is what the Prophet Nehemiah said concerning the Law of God given to Moses, "You came down also upon Mount Sinai and spoke with them from Heaven and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. And You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments, statutes, and a law through Moses Your servant." (Nehemiah 9:13-14) (Amplified Bible).

This is what this same Apostle Paul said of himself when he was first awakened to his born sinfulness concerning the Law of God, "We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice {or} accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge {and} agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) {and} that I take sides with it. However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me {and} has possession of me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]" (Romans 7:14-18) (Amplified Bible). Therefore, it is only when a man or woman sees his or her old nature as the monster it actually is, can they then be open to allowing God the Holy Spirit to do His internal restoration work.

Paul now reminds Brother Timothy of this very fact by writing to him this first list of sins that are contrary to the Holiness of God the Father, "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," (1 Timothy 1:9) (KJV). When Paul says here a 'righteous man' this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning  equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just. In other words, God's Law does not have to be explained to a man or woman that has been born again by the Spirit of God and it does not condemn him, for they/we now know and understand all the things that are opposed to our Heavenly Father and are no longer in the business of rationalizing or apologizing or even justifying our sinful behavior before His Throne of Grace.

Instead we will constantly and continually do what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews with these words, "Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended {and} passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand {and} sympathize {and} have a shared feeling with our weaknesses {and} infirmities {and} liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly {and} confidently {and} boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." (Hebrews 4:14-16) (Amplified Bible).

However, Paul now refers to some as the 'lawless' and the 'disobedient' and the first English word 'lawless' is translated by the Greek word anomos meaning transgressor, unlawful, wicked, and the second English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. In other words, the lawless and disobedient are those who do as John Wesley declares with these words, "They who despise the authority of the lawgiver violate the first commandment, which is the foundation of the law, and the ground of all obedience." They do not want our Lord Jesus Christ to rule over them by way of His Holy Spirit and His Holy Word just as our Lord Jesus Himself spoke of at the end of a parable He spoke during His earthly ministry, "[The indignant king ended by saying] But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them--bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!" (Luke 19:27) (Amplified Bible), Read Luke 19:11-26 for entire parable meaning.

The English word 'ungodly' is translated by the Greek word asebēs which means irreverent, that is, (by extension) impious or wicked. The English word 'sinners' is translated by the Greek word hamartōlos which means sinful, that is, a sinner: - sinful, sinner, which is every human being born into the human family. In other words, Paul declares to Timothy that the Law of God is for those who resist, refuse, or reject the One True God and worship idols like 'Mother Nature' or the 'Stars' or the 'Moon' or anything or anybody that is not the One True and Only God Jesus Christ our Lord. The ungodly and sinners are simply all people void of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that means, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Wickens, Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers, Spiritualist, or any type religious or spiritual practices apart from or opposed to Jesus Christ.

The English word 'unholy' is translated by the Greek word anosios meaning wicked: - unholy. The English word 'profane' is translated by the Greek word bebēlos meaning heathenish, wicked: - profane (person). In other words, the unholy and profane persons would be those who mock the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and treat His Bloody Sacrifice for man's sin as a trivial thing or of no significance such as do all Atheist and some Agnostics. The two expressions Paul uses here 'murderers of fathers', 'murderers of mothers', and 'for manslayers' are pretty clear in their meanings, even without the Greek translations, that is, the people who willfully plan, plot, and perpetrate the killing of their own Father, Mother, or any other person is abominable and detestable and during the rule of Moses was subject to immediate execution themselves as written for us by Moses with these words, "Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:15) (Amplified Bible).

"The Jews used it unlawfully, as an engine to divide the Church, a cover to the malicious opposition they made to the Gospel of Christ; they set it up for justification, and so used it unlawfully. We must not therefore think to set it aside, but use it lawfully, for the restraint of sin. The abuse which some have made of the law does not take away the use of it; but, when a divine appointment has been abused, call it back to its right use and take away the abuses, for the law is still very useful as a rule of life; though we are not under it as under a covenant of works, yet it is good to teach us what is sin and what is duty. It is not made for a righteous man, that is, it is not made for those who observe it; for, if we could keep the law, righteousness would be by the law (Galatians 3:21): but it is made for wicked persons, to restrain them, to check them, and to put a stop to vice and profaneness. It is the grace of God that changes men's hearts; but the terrors of the law may be of use to tie their hands and restrain their tongues. A righteous man does not want those restraints which are necessary for the wicked; or at least the law is not made primarily and principally for the righteous, but for sinners of all sorts, whether in a greater or less measure." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…