Why the law?
“What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgression until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.” Galatians 3:19, NIV. “The law was added because of transgressions,” why? Paul answers, “The law was added to reveal people’s sinfulness. People did not know the true nature of their sinfulness. The law of Moses awakened the sinful nature of the people. When the law says do not do it, the natural response by the sinner is to do it. “Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20, 21, NET. Why was this necessary?
For an answer, we must go back to Mount Sinai, where God wanted to speak to people directly. God wanted to be with his people always. However, the people were afraid they would die from seeing the display of God’s glory. So, they told Moses, ‘You go to God, and what he tells you, we will obey.’ The people were sincere in thinking they could obey all that God required. The people were unaware that sin changed their nature. Their sinful nature, or their spirit, made them unable to fulfill God’s requirements. So, God gave the Ten Commandments to help the people realize they could not obey a command perfectly. Regardless of the people’s desire to obey, they could not because the law could not change their sinful nature. The law of Moses could not help them obey. The Moral Law could not help people to obey. It could only condemn the transgressors. Only God could make the people righteous.
The sin in the garden of Eden made the whole of humankind unrighteous and helpless to do anything concerning their sinful nature. The Ten Commandments were given to make the people realize they must rely on God for their righteousness. The law has become our guardian until Christ, who would, in the fullness of time, replace the sinful life of humankind with His perfect and eternal life. “Thus the law has become our guardian until Christ, that we could be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24. The “justified by faith” reads, literally, “justified by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.” In the eyes of God, we stand justified, sanctified, and glorified, but in Jesus Christ only. Of ourselves, we are sinners, but sinners who are saved by grace, to the glory of God.
What shall we conclude? Read the next blog.
