So to clarify how we should lawfully use the law, let's go to another passage in one of Paul's letters where he addresses this question directly, 1 Timothy 1:5-11.

1 Timothy 1:5-11: The Lawful & Unlawful Uses of the Law

Notice first the key sentence in verse 8: "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully." So here Paul alerts us to the fact that you can use the law lawfully or unlawfully. My guess is that failing to die to the law will result in an unlawful use of the law. But let's see what the context says here.

In verses 5-7 Paul says what his goal is in all his preaching and ministry and why certain people have failed in reaching this goal by the way they are using the law. He says, starting in verse 5, "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." There's the goal, and how to get there. Notice the path to love is not works of law. In other words the way to pursue love is by focusing on the transformation of the heart and the conscience and the awakening and strengthening of faith. Love is not pursued first or decisively by focusing on a list of behavioral commandments and striving to conform to them. That is what we must die to.

Law Teachers Who Do not Lawfully Use the Law

Then Paul introduces us to some men who are making a mess of the law, and not arriving at the goal of love either! Verse 6: "For some men, straying from these things [that is, "a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith"], have turned aside to fruitless discussion, (7) wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions."

These "law-teachers" do not understand that the goal of the law, which is love, is pursued not by "works of law" but by inner spiritual transformation which the law itself cannot bring about. They don't get it. Paul says they do not know what they are talking about. They are trying to teach the law, but they are turning aside from matters of the heart and conscience and faith. And that means they are not using the law lawfully. And that is why they are not arriving at the goal of love.

Oh, how we need to take heed here! There are hundreds of people today who put themselves forward in America as teachers of the law – marriage law, child-rearing law, financial-planning law, church-growth law, leadership law, evangelism law, missions law, racial-justice law. But here's the key question: do they understand the gospel dynamic for bringing about the change they seek? I say this only to alert you.

Are the radio programs you are learning from and the articles and books you are reading permeated by a lawful use of the law? Do the speakers and writers understand the dynamic of dying to the law and belonging to Christ by faith alone as the essential means of becoming the people of love that we ought to be? Who today would Paul speak these words over: "[They want] to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions"? In other words, they just don't get it. They don't understand the gospel way that human beings are changed in a way that glorifies Christ. We need to be prepared and able to assess these things. That's why Paul wrote this to Timothy.