The Good Law
Recent events are no doubt affecting the lens I am reading this passage.
Bottom line...the law is for ME. I am ungodly, sinful, etc. Now, some will argue and say, "No. You are righteous. God made you righteous. You are holy and forgiven because you are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ." And they would be 100% right. The difference here is that it is God who is making me and declaring me righteous, not me. When I look in the mirror and state the truth, "I am righteous and holy and perfect and forgiven." Do I say that with an attitude of "I" did it and "I" am doing it? (Although I would never really admit that was the attitude I have.) Or, do I say it with, "Only by the grace of God."?
You see, I need the law. It is good when used right. When it points out my fault and points me to Christ and sends me to my knees in brokenness, confession, humbleness, worship - THAT is good. Unfortunately, I too often use it and abuse it because I either think of the laws I am obeying and thus puff up myself, or I use it to point out the faults of others and compare how I am obeying the laws they aren't.
The law is good when it points me to Christ not when I use it to point me to me. As soon as I think I am exempt from the law or I only see those things that I am obeying, I am no better than the self-righteous pharisees Jesus condemned and called snakes and white-washed tombs.
Bottom line...the law is for ME. I am ungodly, sinful, etc. Now, some will argue and say, "No. You are righteous. God made you righteous. You are holy and forgiven because you are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ." And they would be 100% right. The difference here is that it is God who is making me and declaring me righteous, not me. When I look in the mirror and state the truth, "I am righteous and holy and perfect and forgiven." Do I say that with an attitude of "I" did it and "I" am doing it? (Although I would never really admit that was the attitude I have.) Or, do I say it with, "Only by the grace of God."?
You see, I need the law. It is good when used right. When it points out my fault and points me to Christ and sends me to my knees in brokenness, confession, humbleness, worship - THAT is good. Unfortunately, I too often use it and abuse it because I either think of the laws I am obeying and thus puff up myself, or I use it to point out the faults of others and compare how I am obeying the laws they aren't.
The law is good when it points me to Christ not when I use it to point me to me. As soon as I think I am exempt from the law or I only see those things that I am obeying, I am no better than the self-righteous pharisees Jesus condemned and called snakes and white-washed tombs.
