1 Timothy 1: 8-11

1 Timothy 1:8  We know that the law is good when used correctly.

This is not the law that was imposed on the early Jewish community. We would have to sacrifice animals and do all sorts of things that are not practical in this age. Jesus reset all the rules. Even Peter had a hard time until Paul disagreed with him.   

See  Galatians 2:11-21

Gal 2:11  But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. Gal 2:12  When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. Gal 2:13  As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter's hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Gal 2:14  When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions? Gal 2:15  "You and I are Jews by birth, not 'sinners' like the Gentiles. Gal 2:16  Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." Gal 2:17  But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Gal 2:18  Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. Gal 2:19  For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. Gal 2:20  My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal 2:21  I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Who knew that the 10 words in 1 timothy 1:8 could have that much meaning,

1 Timothy 1:9  For the law was NOT intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. 1 Timothy 1:10  The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching 1 Timothy 1:11  that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God. From the Life Application New Testament Commentary:

·the disobedient—who cannot be taught

·the rebellious—who cannot be disciplined

·the ungodly—who show no reverence for God

·the sinful—who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy

The second set violates the next six commandments (Exo_20:12-16):

·those who murder their father or mother—the ultimate act of dishonoring one’s parents

·those who murder other people—breaking the command not to murder

·those who are sexually immoral or homosexual—dealing with adultery and all sexual sin

·slave traders—also translated “kidnappers,” picturing the worst form of theft

·liars and oath breakers—those who violate the commandment not to bear false witness

·those who do anything else that contradicts the right teaching—covers anything that might be missed.

Paul didn't pull many punches. I think that everyone needs to be reminded of that these are sins. Jesus gave us a way to be received back into his grace by asking for forgiveness of our sins and repenting of those sins to him and asking him to be our Lord and savior. Will you sin again? Most likely but you can again as for forgiveness. This does not mean that you can sin on purpose and then ask for forgiveness if that were the case you really did not want Christ in your life. When you accept Christ you are to become a new person trying as we all do to live a life according to God's will.