"Understanding this ..."

THE LAW IS NOT FOR THE JUST: 1 Timothy 1:9-10

... understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murders, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine ...

Now Paul is coming to the heart of his understanding of the law; and we see here what will become Martin Luther's first purpose of the law, viz., to restrain evildoers. But on a deeper level, we understand that all of us transgress the law at one point or another, in one particular or another. We understand also that, even if we are able to keep up an external appearance of righteousness, we all transgress inwardly in our desires, intentions, and thoughts. By ourselves and under our own power we are all, as Jesus accused the Pharisees of being, "whitewashed tombs". Only God is truly just.

The old theological category of "concupiscence" -- a term not much heard anymore, at least not in the circles I worship in -- is helpful here. Concupiscence is that "tinder of sin" which, like the tinder one gathers to start a campfire and becomes a roaring blaze -- or which can become a massive forest fire from one carelessly tossed match -- still resides even in the redeemed while we are in the flesh. So we, too, even filled by the Holy Spirit, need the guidance of God's law to tame our unruliness and as a check to bring us under submission to the Father, that God may be "all in all".

As the lines from Charles Wesley's hymn have it:

Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.


Lord Jesus, set my heart at liberty this day. Put your law within my heart once more and in a fresh way, so that I can be free to serve you fully and truly. My flesh continues to put itself first. Tame my unruliness but make me wild for Your holiness. Lord, I ask this for Your dear Name's sake. Amen.


Prince Frederick, Maryland (Providence)