The Right Use of the Divine Law
W. Howels. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;… When we look around us, we see that God governs all by established rules. His government enters into all the minutiae of providence. But when we leave this government, where we ought to leave it, in the hands of almighty wisdom and power, and ascend to the spiritual world, there we find the great difference there is between created and uncreated, between the imperfection of man and the perfection of God. Let us consider — I. THE INFINITE PERFECTION OF THE LAW OF GOD. "The law," says the apostle, "is holy; and the commandment holy, just, and good"; and why? because God Himself "is holy, just, and good." 1. To understand the perfection of this law we must consider also the relation subsisting between the Governor and the governed. They are all dependent for everything, both new and for ever, upon Him. No man upon earth has a right to legislate, but as the representative of God Himself. Why is a father a legislator in his own family? because he is a father? No; but because God has invested him with that right. Moreover, legislation is not a something arbitrary in the Deity; His legislation flows from His own essential perfection. It must be what it is, it cannot be otherwise. 2. Consider the law of God as to its commandments. It requires, in the first place, supreme love to God; involving the exercise of all the affections of the heart. The commands of this law require, also, fraternal love. 3. Consider the law of God as to its curse. In this respect, also, it will appear to be "just and good." Does it seem unkind? No; for it throws the sinner no farther from God than he throws himself. 4. The law of God, then, is immutable and eternal. The law of God must necessarily relate to every inhabitant of heaven, of earth, of hell. 5. Consider the law of God under the Adamic covenant. It connected life with obedience, death with disobedience. 6. Consider the law of God under the Mosaic dispensation. II. THE USES OF THE LAW OF GOD. "The law is good, if a man use it lawfully." 1. The law is abused and insulted by transgression. What is said of wisdom may be said of this law; "he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul." 2. The law is insulted and abused when men endeavour to justify them selves by it. This must arise, first, from ignorance of themselves; and, secondly, from ignorance of the law of God. Paul says of the Jews, "they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteous ness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." The whole ceremonial law taught men that they were to be justified by another — that sin was to be atoned for. 3. And the law is insulted and abused whenever men endeavour to justify themselves, in the least degree, by it. 4. And not only is the law insulted and abused when men reject the law, but also when they reject the remedy for their disobedience. The rejection of the gospel is the greatest and most dreadful act of disobedience to the law. It is an insult offered to the government of God, and a wanton rejection of His goodness.But what are the uses of the law? 1. We should view it as fulfilled by Jesus Christ. But Christ died also for His brethren, that He might bring them to a state of perfect conformity to the law, and preserve them in that state for ever. The apostle speaks of being "under the law to Christ"; this is the state of the believer on earth, and this will be his state for ever. 2. To use the law aright, is to study it perfectly, and to see its beauty as it was exemplified in Christ. 3. To use the law aright is to connect it intimately with faith. There is a more intimate connection between faith and the law of God than we can possibly describe. By believing in Christ we honour the law as a covenant, in its commands, and its curse; and when we take it as a rule of life we honour it altogether. 4. The law is used and honoured as it should be, when we make it the guide of our dally conduct, when we aim to bring all our actions as near to the law of God as possible. (W. Howels.) Parallel Verses KJV: But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; WEB: But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully,