The Purpose of the Law

Intro

- Illustration- drug commercial

- In this chapter Paul has given us a pretty good understanding of what the law can and cannot do.

o The law cannot give the power of the Holy Spirit

o The law cannot justify

o The law cannot add to the promise

o The law does bring a curse

- So how are we as Christians supposed to view the Law? How does it factor into our understanding of God’s plan for us and what He expects from us?

- All of Paul’s talk about the Law leads us to the same question that many of the Galatians were probably wanting to ask as well, and Paul knows this.

Why would God establish the Law in the first place?

- It doesn’t seem like a lot of good comes from it!

A. The Law was necessary because of sin

1. The Law defined sin and its consequences in order to help God’s people avoid doing wrong and provoking God's wrath

2. 1 Timothy 1:8-11 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 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 murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

B. The Law was temporary

1. It had a beginning and an end

2. Until the offspring should come

C. The Law was inferior to the promise

1. The promise was directly from God

2. The Law had a mediator

a. From angels on behalf of God to Moses on behalf of the people

b. This implied that there were two parties in this covenant- each bore responsibilities, each had conditions

3. God gave his promise directly to Abraham and his offspring and God alone bore the responsibility of fulfilling it- it was not conditional

Is their conflict between God’s Law and His Promise?

A. Our justification cannot be through both Promise and Law

1. The Law that was given to Moses was not meant to give life- only a temporary blessing

B. So how do they relate? Law and Grace

1. The Law says God has an absolute standard and he condemns those who do not meet it

a. It imprisoned all things under sin in that it revealed the sinfulness of all men

2. Grace says God loves and accepts anyone no matter who they are

a. Only when we realize our own sinfulness and inability to achieve righteousness on our own can we fully embrace the promise of God

(1) Necessity of repentance

(2) Before we are saved, we must understand that we are lost

3. Rom. 5:20-21 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C. So does that mean the law is gone and we are purely under grace? Are we free to live how we want?

1. Rom. 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

2. The Law emphasizes God’s justice, the Promise emphasizes his Grace

a. But remember God is unchanging- he demands justice today just as much as he did in the Old Testament under the law of Moses

- Illustration- human history

there was a time when people believed that in order to have a functioning nation, everyone had to share the same religion- they all had to be under the same standards and law or there would be chaos- led to religious wars- Crusades, Jihad, etc.

3. The world says these cannot exist, you must choose one or the other

a. Either there is a demand for justice according to God’s standards which is unloving, or there is grace, love and forgiveness despite wrongdoing which is not just

4. They come together in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ- showed both God’s justice and grace

a. 1 Pet. 3:18- For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God

b. The law did not disappear. God didn’t say the law doesn’t matter anymore. It was fulfilled completely by Jesus.

c. God’s demand for justice was satisfied- sin’s price was paid

5. Illustration of refugees fleeing a country that has a dictatorship- when they come to the US they don't have to live like they used to, but they aren't just free to do whatever they want, they are simply under a new rule

a. Followers of God are no longer under the rule of the law, but the rule Christ by his Spirit

(1) Hebrews 8 talks about a new covenant, a new law- because God’s people could not keep the old.

(2) Quoting Jer. 31 (8:10) I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

b. Gal. 2:19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

D. This is how we can speak the truth in love to others- both God’s demand for justice and his wonderful grace that forgives us

1. What are we focusing on- in our own lives and as we view the world around us?

2. We are naturally pulled one way or the other

a. To law apart from grace, forcing myself and those around me to pursue a set standard of living righteously (even if they don’t know Jesus)

b. Or to grace apart from law, declaring yourself free from any set standard and showing love to those around you with little or no standards and expectations- just love

c. We can and must do both- show them God’s demand for justice, how it was satisfied in Christ’s death, and how God rightfully pours out his grace on us

Illustrations of the Law’s Purpose

A. Prison Guard

1. Given for all men to know they are sinners

2. but also given to the Jewish people for a time to supervise them

B. Guardian

1. Word here means someone who supervises, disciplines- not instruct or educate- slave that would have charge of a young boy and keep him in line

2. That role ceased when Christ came

3. We are no longer under the supervision of the law, but under the rule of Christ by his Spirit in us

Conclusion

- The Law and the Promise are not in conflict with each other. These two covenants do not show inconsistency in our God, but rather an incredible picture of how God is both just and loving.

- The Law of Moses has served its purpose, we are no longer imprisoned beneath its rules and regulations, but are free from its grip because of Jesus.

- But we are not free to live however we please. We are not free to continue in our sin. We were freed to live for God!

- We pursue righteousness and holiness not because it secures our salvation, but because we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit, the strength we need to become the men and women God has called us to be.

So What?

- God is both just and gracious.

- Do you rightly view yourself in light of God’s law and his standard of righteousness?

- Do you rightly view yourself in light of God’s grace, mercy, and love

o We are sinners saved by grace

- Are you bold in your Gospel witness, pointing out both sin and salvation through Jesus Christ alone?