USE IT LAWFULLY. 1st Timothy 1:8. The law was never meant for us to use as an ego trip to prove to others and ourselves that we are worthy of heaven or even a specific service. It was not given so that others get the impression that your Christianity is for hire as a paid minister or pastor who is a good law-keeper. It is given so we all understand that God's righteousness is perfect and that we will face the fact that we fail to meet all that righteousness demands in ourselves.
The purpose of the law is to teach right from wrong and to ensure sinners understand there are consequences for sin. God’s standard of justice is reflected in the words of the law; therefore, the law is good. When sinners become aware of their sinfulness, the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. The law is holy because it reflects God’s holiness, as He is the source of the law. It is good because of its intent. The result of the law's convicting power is for our benefit. It awakens us to our need, leading us to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ when the law is properly taught and applied to ourselves.
When we use the law lawfully, we recognize that God's righteousness far exceeds what sinful man can achieve through any work or claim. Our efforts will not save our souls. When we use the law correctly, it stirs our conscience to confront the sinful nature we have inherited and the sinful acts we've committed during lives of self-centeredness. The law exposes our guilt and need, and our souls long to be freed from sin’s grip. At that point, the law has fulfilled its purpose, and God’s free grace appears with the solution to our deepest needs. It reveals God’s character through the Gospel we hear, showing that His righteousness means He cannot accept us until we are born again.
The law’s proper application led us to admit our guilt. It has moved beyond mere legalism to where we sincerely recognize our need for God’s mercy. In ourselves, we are unworthy of His grace, and we cannot be acceptable to God because of the righteousness we need but are unable to produce or obtain.