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Kingdom ways
LESSON 15: The Purpose of the Law To Reveal Sin
The first main purpose of the law is to show men their sinful condition (Rom.3:19-20). Notice, first of all, the very statement by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight (Rom.3:20). In other words , no human being will ever achieve righteousness in Gods sight by the observance of the law. Side by side with this, Paul states twice, in two different phrases, the primary purpose for which the law was given. He says first that all the world may become guilty before God. Second, he says, by the law is the knowledge of sin. We see, therefore, that the law was not given to make men righteousness but, on the contrary, to make men conscious that they were sinners and, as such, subject to the judgment of God upon their sin. Paul uses three different phrases which all bring out the same truth. I would not have known sin except through the law (Rom.7:7). But sin, that it might appear sin... (Rom.7:13) ... so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful (Rom.7:13) In other words, the purpose of the law was to bring sin out into the open to show sin in its true colours as the subtle, destructive, deadly thing that it really is. Thereafter men were left without any excuse for being deceived as to the extreme sinfulness of their condition. God follows the same order of practice in medicine, when treating diseases of the human body: first the diagnosis, then the remedy, in dealing with mans spiritual need. Before prescribing the cure, God first diagnoses the condition. The basic cause of all human need and suffering lies in one condition common to all members of the human race: sin. No satisfactory remedy for human needs can be offered until this condition has been diagnosed. The Bible is the only book in the world which correctly diagnoses the cause of all humanitys need and suffering. For this reason alone, apart from all else it offers, the Bible is invaluable and irreplaceable.

To Prove Mans Inability to Save Himself

The second main purpose for which the law was given was to show men that, as sinners, they are unable to make themselves righteous by their own efforts. There is a natural tendency in every human being to desire to be independent of Gods grace and mercy. This desire to be independent of God is in itself both a result and an evidence of mans sinful condition, although most men do not recognize it as such. Thus , whenever a man become convicted of his sinful condition, his first reaction is to seek some means by which he can cure himself of this condition and make himself righteous by his own efforts, without having to depend on the grace and mercy of God. For this reason, throughout all ages religious laws and observances have always made a strong appeal to the human race, regardless of differences of nationality or background. In practicing such laws and observance men have sought to silence the inward voice of their own conscience and to make themselves righteous by their own efforts. This was precisely the reaction of many religious Israelites to the Law of Moses. Paul describes this attempt of Israel to establish their own righteousness in Roman 10:3. As a result of attempting to establish their own righteousness, Israel failed to submit to God and to Gods way of righteousness. Thus, the basic cause of their error was spiritual pride a refusal to submit to God, a desire to be independent of Gods grace and mercy.

To Foreshadow Christ
The third main purpose for which the law was given was to foretell and foreshadow the Savour who was to come, and through whom alone it would be possible for man to receive true salvation and righteousness. This was done though the law in two ways: The Saviour was foretold through direct prophecy, and He was foreshadowed though types and ceremonies of the ordinances of the law. An example of direct prophecy, within the framework of the law, is found in Deuteronomy 18:18-19 and Peter later quotes these words of Moses and applies them directly to Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:22-26). In the sacrifices and ordinances of the law, many types foreshadow Jesus Christ as the Saviour who was to come. For example, in Exodus 12 the ordinance of the Passover lamb foreshadows salvation through faith in the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ, shed at the Passover season upon the cross at Calvary. The purpose of the law is summed up in Pauls words in Galatians 3:22-24. The law gave Israel their first elementary instruction in Gods basic requirements concerning righteousness, and thereafter it was a means to direct them to put their faith in Jesus Christ and to learn from Christ the lesson of the true righteousness which is by faith, without the works of the law. The law task was complete once it had brought Israel to their messiah, Jesus Christ, and had caused them to see their need of salvation through Him (see Gal.3:25). That is, we are no longer under the law.

To Preserve Israel
In the words of Paul in Galatians 3:23, there is a phrase which reveals one further function of the law in connection to Israel. The law kept Israel as a special nation, set apart from all others, separated out by its distinctive rites and ordinances, preserved for all the special purposes for which God had called them. Gods perfect will for Israel was that they should dwell alone, as a unique and separate nation, in their own land. In spite of the repeated dispersion among Gentile nations, this decree of God has been most wonderfully fulfilled. The Jews have always remained a distinct and separate element which have never been assimilated or lost its special identity in all the foreign lands they have been taken to live. The main instrument in keeping Israel a separate nation has been continued adherence to the Law of Moses.

Perfectly Fulfilled by Christ

Our examination of the relationship between the law and the gospel could not be complete without taking into account the words in which Christ Himself sums up His attitude and His relationship to the law in Matthew 5:17-18. Christ fulfilled the law in 3 ways: 1) By His perfect life, (see Gal.4:4-5), 2) By His redeeming death and resurrection, (see1Pet.2:22, 24), 3) By fulfilling all that the law foretold and foreshadowed concerning the Saviour and Messiah who was to come (see Luke24:44). The believer who accepts the atoning death of Jesus Christ as the fulfilment of the law on his behalf is thereby enabled to accept, without compromise or qualification, every jot or little of the law as being completely and unchangeably true. Faith in Christ for salvation does not set aside the revelation of the law; on the contrary, it fulfils it. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom.10:4). The Greek word here translated end has two related meanings: 1) the purpose for which something is done, 2) that which brings something to a close. In both senses, the law ended with Christ. In the first sense, once the law has successfully brought us to Christ , it is no longer needed in this capacity, in the second sense, Christ by His death put an end to the law as a means of achieving righteousness with God. Faith in Him is now the one, all-sufficient requirement for righteousness. In every other respect, however, the law still stands, complete and entire, as a part of Gods Word, which endures forever. Its history, its prophecy and its general revelation of the mind and counsel of God all these remain eternally and unchangeably true. 2