The
First of the Apostle Paul to Timothy
Chapter
1:9
9
Knowing this, that the Law is not given unto a righteous man, but
unto the lawless and disobedient, to the ungodly, and to sinners, to
the unholy, and to the profane, to murderers of fathers and mothers,
to manslayers,
No
man is naturally righteous since Adam, excepting the man Christ
Jesus: some that are righteous in their own opinion, and in the
esteem of others, are not truly and really so; none are righteous, or
can be justified in the sight of God by the works of the law; those
only are righteous men, who are made so through the imputation of
Christ's righteousness to them: and such a righteous man is here
intended, who believes in Christ with the heart unto righteousness,
who lays hold on Christ's righteousness, and receives it by faith; in
consequence of which he lives soberly, righteously, and godly, though
not without sin, since there is no such just man upon earth. Now for
such a man the law was not made; which must be understood not of its
original constitution and make, for it was certainly made for, and
given to Adam, who was a righteous man, and was written upon his
heart in a state of innocence; and who had a positive made also for
him. Likewise in all this, the law was made for Jesus Christ; he was
the end, the mark, and scope at which it aimed, and for whose sake it
was given to Israel, that he might be made under it, and fulfill it.
Nor does this expression deny all use of the law to a righteous man.
All that are justified by Christ's righteousness, need it not for
such a purpose, because they are already righteous; and sinners can
never attain to righteousness by it, since it cannot give life unto
them: it is made therefore not for the former with the view now
mentioned, but for the latter, and that both for the restraining of
sin, and punishing of sinners.
The
law does not lie upon a righteous man, or against him. It does not
lie as a weight or burden on him; its precept does not lie on him, as
a task to be performed; nor does its penalty, the curse, lie on him
as a punishment to be bore by him: it does not lie upon him, nor
against him, as an accusing law, its mouth is stopped by the
righteousness of Christ, by which he is denominated a righteous man;
nor as a terrifying law, and bringing into bondage by its threats and
menaces; nor as a rigorous law, obliging to obedience in a forcible
and compulsive way; seeing there is no need of it, the righteous man
delights in it, and cheerfully serves it, and the love of Christ
constrains him to obey it freely. And much less does it lie on him,
or against him as a cursing or condemning law, since Christ has
redeemed him from the curse of it.
However
the Law was given for the lawless and disobedient; by the "lawless"
are meant, not the Gentiles, which were without the written law, but
such who have it, and despise and reject it, and live not according
to it, but transgress it: and "the disobedient" design such
who are not subject to it: who are sons of Belial, children without
the yoke; who cast the law of the Lord behind their backs; who are
not, nor can they be subject to it, without the powerful and
efficacious grace of God. Now the law lies upon, and against such
persons, as an accusing, terrifying, cursing, and condemning law. It
is for the ungodly and sinners and are intended, such as are without
God in the world, who neither fear God, nor regard man, who neglect
and despise the worship of God, and say to him, depart from us, (
Job 21:14 Job 21:15 ) and by "sinners" are designed
notorious ones, who are exceeding great sinners, always sinning,
making sin their constant business and employment; on and against
these the law lies. It is for the unholy and profane who are
destitute of inward principles of truth and holiness, and who live
unholy lives and conversations; and "profane" persons are
those who profane the name of the Lord by cursing and swearing, and
who profane his day, doctrines, and ordinances, and live dissolute
and profane lives, being abandoned to all sin and wickedness.
In
all, the Law condemns all those who have yet to confess Christ as
their Redeemer from the Law, which rightly convicts under God’s
standards of righteousness. Yet be not deceived yourselves, for while
your confessions may be made by the mouth it is the heart that God
views. True redemption comes from Christ, however it is still the
individual that must now endeavor to live within the guidelines of
that righteousness.
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