Chapter 14
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
(Galatians 3:19-25)
Before we study the purpose of the Law, let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come into Your presence in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father God, please open our eyes, our ears and our hearts so we can better understand and comprehend Your Word. Help us to more clearly understand and comprehend the purpose of Your Law with respect to Your promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Amen
RECAP
In our previous four studies we discovered the following three principles of the Christian faith. The first principle was the fact that,
WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
As Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith, so are we,
Galatians 3:9
"[9] So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."
The second principle we found was that,
THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FROM THE LAW
This truth was revealed to us in,
Galatians 3:11
"[11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith.""
The third and last principle we learned is that,
GOD'S PROMISE IS NOT NULLIFIED BY LAW
We discovered this by reading from,
Galatians 3:17-18
"[17] What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. [18] For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise."
INTRODUCTION
With the above principles in mind let us explore the question of; “What was God’s purpose for putting into place the Law?” To answer this question we begin by reading the following excerpt from Paul’s letter to the Galatians,
Galatians 3:19-25
"[19] What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. [20] A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. [21] Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. [22] But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. [23] Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. [24] So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. [25] Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."
Within the above Scriptures we find that God set the Law in place for at least the following three reasons:
1. BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS.
2. TO LEAD US TO CHRIST.
3. SO THAT THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE WOULD BE GIVEN TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.
With the above in mind, we begin this study by exploring the circumstances under which the Law was given. In doing so we will find that,
THE LAW WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANGRESSIONS
To see this we will read about Israel's bondage to and deliverance from the nation of Egypt. It is important to note that at this time of Israel’s history God had not yet given the Law. With this in mind let us read about why,
ISRAEL WAS ENSLAVED BY THE EGYPTIANS
To read what happened to the nation Israel after the Pharaoh, who elevated Joseph to be second in command over Egypt died, we go to
Exodus 1:8-14
"[8] Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. [9] "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. [10] Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country." [11] So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites [13] and worked them ruthlessly. [14] They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly."
As a consequence of their bitter life and hard labor, the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for mercy and deliverance. God heard their prayers and,
GOD SENT MOSES TO DELIVER THEM
This is recorded for us in,
Exodus 3:1-10
"[1] Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. [2] There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. [3] So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." [4] When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." [5] "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." [6] Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. [7] The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. [8] So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. [9] And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. [10] So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.""
After God inflicted a whole series of plagues and judgments upon the nation of Egypt, Pharaoh and the people of Egypt are convinced to release the nation of Israel from their slavery. Unfortunately, even with all the miracles and God's promise to lead them and guide them into a land of their own,
DURING THEIR EXODUS FROM EGYPT ISRAEL CONTINUALLY GRUMBLED, COMPLAINED AND DISOBEYED HIS COMMANDS
In other words, during their journey they lost faith in God and His ability and willingness to fulfill His promise and safely bring them into the Promised Land. For example, we find that the people complained about the water
AT MARAH
This is recorded for us in,
Exodus 15:22-25
"[22] Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. [23] When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) [24] So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" [25] Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet
They also complained about the lack of food
IN THE DESERT OF SIN
Not only did the people complain about the lack of food, but they also wished they never left Egypt. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 16:1-3
"[1] The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. [2] In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. [3] The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.""
After this incident, God miraculously provided the people bread from heaven. He also gave them specific rules for how the manna, which was the bread from Heaven, was to be gathered. However, the people sinned and did not follow His commands
WHILE THEY GATHERED THE MANNA
Their disobedience is recorded in,
Exodus 16:19-28
"[19] Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." [20] However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. [21] Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. [22] On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. [23] He said to them, "This is what the LORD commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'" [24] So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. [25] "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. You will not find any of it on the ground today. [26] Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any." [27] Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. [28] Then the LORD said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?"
As we continue to read about Israel's exodus from Egypt we also find that the people complained about the lack of water.
AT REPHIDIM
Not only did the people complain about the lack of water but also accused God of purposely trying to kill them. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 17:1-4
"[1] The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. [2] So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" [3] But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" [4] Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.""
Finally, after only three months of following God to the Promised Land of Canaan, God called Moses to Mount Sinai. It is here, because of their transgressions,
GOD GAVE MOSES THE LAW
To read about it let us go to,
Exodus 19:9-19
"[9] The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. [10] And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes [11] and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. [12] Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. [13] He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain." [14] After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. [15] Then he said to the people, "Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations." [16] On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. [17] Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. [18] Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, [19] and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him."
Notice that God descended upon Mount Sinai with thunder, lightening, billows of smoke and fire. In other words God came down in anger and in judgment. This is when God put the Law into place.
As we read and study the law God gave to Moses we find there were two components. The first component of the Law was
THE MORAL LAW
This is Ten Commandments and are recorded in,
Exodus 20:1-17
"[1] And God spoke all these words: [2] "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. [3] "You shall have no other gods before me. [4] "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. [5] You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, [6] but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. [7] "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. [8] "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. [11] For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. [12] "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. [13] "You shall not murder. [14] "You shall not commit adultery. [15] "You shall not steal. [16] "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. [17] "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
The New Testament teaches us that the purpose of the Moral Law was to reveal to the Israelites and now us that we are sinners and by nature disobey God. To see this let us consider,
Romans 3:19-20
"[19] Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. [20] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."
This brings us to the second component of the Law which was,
THE CEREMONIAL LAW
This is where God gave Moses and hence the Israelites all the laws, regulations for the Temple activities and the sacrificial system. God used these laws and regulations to remind the Israelites of all the things He did for them. In addition, God also put into place what was required of them to make atonement for their trespasses. The main elements of these laws are recorded throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers.
As we study and explore the New Testament and its relationship to the Old Testament, we discover that God had a second purpose for instituting the Law. Specifically,
THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO LEAD US TO CHRIST
To see this let us first read God’s second purpose for,
THE MORAL LAW
To do this we go to,
Galatians 3:22-25
[22] But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. [24] Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith
This brings us to God’s second purpose for,
THE CEREMONIAL LAW
The temple service and the sacrificial system teaches us that the forgiveness for sin and the deliverance from sin was to come through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thus, those who place their faith and trust in Him will, as Abraham, receive the promise of eternal life. To see this let us prayerfully consider,
Hebrews 9:1-15
"[1] Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. [2] A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. [3] Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, [4] which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. [5] Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. [6] When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. [7] But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. [8] The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. [9] This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. [10] They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order. [11] When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. [12] He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. [13] The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. [14] How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! [15] For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."
Thus, God’s third purpose for instituting the Law was so that,
THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE WOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE BORN AGAIN AND ARE LIVING BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
To have a better understanding of this aspect of the Law it is necessary for us to recognize and believe that,
THE LAW CAN NOT IMPART LIFE
We find this truth revealed to us in the following Scripture,
Galatians 3:21
"[21] Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law."
The reason for this is because the Law is spiritual and we in our natural state are carnal beings, this means we are unspiritual or living in the flesh. Consequently, we do not have the power to live in accordance with the spiritual Law. To see this let us consider,
Romans 7:14-24
"[14] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. [15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. [21] So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God's law; [23] but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
The answer to the question in verse 24 is: "Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." To see this let us continue our reading from,
Romans 7:25-8:4
"[25] Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
"[8:1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, [4] in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
Hence, we find that the Law reveals to us that without Jesus Christ we are held prisoners to sin and spiritually dead. This is exactly what the Holy Spirit teaches us in,
Galatians 3:21b & 3:22a
[21] … For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.”
And,
"[22] … the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin ...”
In reflecting upon the above, one might ask: "Why?" Or “Why did God do this?" The answer to this question is simply so that,
OUR LOVING GOD MAY EXTEND HIS MERCY AND GRACE TO US ALL
In other words, knowing that in our natural state we are unable to comply with His righteous demands God, through the Law, bound all men to disobedience. He did this so He may extend His mercy to us all. To see this we go to,
Romans 11:32
"[32] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."
As we read the New Testament we find that God's Mercy and Grace are extended to each and every one us through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. To see this let us consider the following,
John 3:16-17
""[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
CLOSING
As one reflects upon these things one cannot help, as did Paul, express the following words of awe and wonderment with respect to our God.
Romans 11:33-36
"[33] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! [34] "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" [35] "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" [36] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
Shall We Pray?