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Purpose of the law
The answer is sixfold:
(1) The law was added because of transgressions, i.e. to give to sin the character of transgression.
(a) Men had been sinning before Moses, but in the absence of law their sins were not put to their account. Romans 5:13. The law gave to sin the character of “transgression,” i.e. of personal guilt.
(b) Also, since men not only continued to transgress after the law was given, but were provoked to transgress by the very law that forbade it Romans 7:8, the law conclusively proved the inveterate sinfulness of man's nature Romans 7:11-13.
(2) The law, therefore, “concluded all under sin” Romans 3:19,20,23.
(3) The law was an ad interim dealing, “till the seed should come”. Galatians 3:19.
(4) The law shut sinful man up to faith as the only avenue of escape. Galatians 3:23.
(5) The law was to the Jews what the pedagogue was in a Greek household, a ruler of children in their minority, and it had this character “unto” i.e. until Christ Galatians 3:24.
(6) Christ having come, the believer is no longer under the pedagogue. Galatians 3:25
because of for the sake, i.e. in order that sin might be made manifest as transgression.
Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)
[1] “The First Baptist Distinctive, Part Two: New Testament Authority” by Dr. Kevin T. Bauder, Central Baptist Theological Seminary (print version)
[2] The Mosaic Law: Its Function and Purpose in the New Testament, by J. Hampton Keathley, III
[3] Materials by Bob Deffinbaugh
- What the Law Cannot Do (Galatians 3:10-18)
- The Contribution of the Mosaic Covenant (Galatians 3:19-29)
Sermons on the purpose of the Law (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)
[1] sf1007 - The Purpose Of The Law (Exodus 19 3-8), by Timothy McGhee, First Baptist Church, Powell
[2] Help!!! I’m All Tied Up, by Aaron Bogan
[3] The Law Has Limits, by Harold D. Markham
[4] The Purpose of the Law, by Kevin Grant
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Scripture references
Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Romans 5:13
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Romans 7:8
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Romans 7:11-13
1 1 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 3:19-20, 23
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guiltyb before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Galatians 3:23-25
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Romans 7:7, 13
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Scofield Reference Notes (1917) index
Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation
Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.
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