In the year 2007 the 16th Sunday after Pentecost is on September 16 with the following three readings assigned: Ezekiel 34:11-24 (God as Shepherd); 1 Timothy 1:5-17 (Purpose of the Law) and Luke 15:1-10 (The Suffering Shepherd or popularly known as the Lost Sheep). The text chosen to analyze is 1 Timothy 1:9a which reads “knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person…”

Context is king of interpretation as this passage makes clear. For how many have used this passage to deny the third use of the Law; namely, that Christians also need to hear from God’s Word what the will of God is for such knowledge is not known automatically when one becomes a Christian? This verse has been used by those who now support homosexuality and marriage between same gender individuals.

However, from a Law/Gospel perspective, the word “law” here has a specific meaning. While it can refer to the 10 commandments, or to moral, civil or ceremonial law or to the first 5 books of the Old Testament or to a principle of life, etc. etc., in this context the rest of verse 9 clarifies its meaning. For the law that is necessary for the “lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners,” etc. is both the first and second use of Law.

The first use is God’s use of the Law in the temporal realm to curb wickedness and crime. The righteous has no need of such law because of their obedience and thus, in light of Romans 13, have no need to fear those who wield the sword. The second use of God’s use of the Law in the temporal realm is to be a mirror so that people can realize their true sinful nature.

Though the Christian is righteous in God’s sight and in his new man, his old man still has need of both the curbing and mirror use of the Law. However, insofar as we do fruit of the Holy Spirit from a free and joyous heart in Christ, there is no necessity for the motivating force of the Law or the Law as mirror to show our sinful nature.

In heaven, we will have no need of the Law’s compulsion to do things out of self-interest because of the presence of Him Who died and rose to bring us into a right relationship with the Father and Spirit. In that realm, sin will never rear its ugly head in thought, word or deed as we exist in an eternal bliss motivated by the love God has for us.