Lesson
29 August 13, 2002
Review:
3:19-22 The Purpose of the Law
If
the M/L was never given as a means of salvation, then why was it given? And for what Purpose?
3:19 Why
the Law then? It was added because of transgressions,
Paul's
method of teaching in this context builds around 3 comparisons.
1. The Law
was added, the Promise was the original.
2. The Law
was temporary, while the Promise was Permanent.
- That the
law had a defined term, is pointed out by the phrase "until the seed should come."
3. The Law
was given indirectly, the Promise was given directly.
- this
brings in the phrase having been ordained through angels by the agency
of a mediator,
Summary
3:19
1. Paul
begins here to give an answer to the question why the Law?
2. The law
was given to show sin in its true light, that is from God's perspective, as an
overstepping of what He has established as
right and wrong.
3. It
defines personal sins and expands the possibilities. Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13,20
4. The Law
made it obvious that all of us were sinners. Dt 27:26
5. Every
sin that could ever possibly be incompatible with God's righteousness had to be
paid for to guarantee salvation, and
hence had to be defined. Rom. 4:15; 5:13
7. So the
Law demonstrates the magnitude of God's grace, and that man is absolutely lost
without Him.
8. The seed
of Abraham blessed all the nations by bearing their penalty for sin. Gal 3:13
9. The sin
and trespasses of mankind had to be imputed to someone who was qualified to pay
the redemption price.
10. Only
the Promised seed, Jesus Christ was qualified to become the redemption price
for us.
11. The
manor of the giving of the law through a mediator, points to the inferior and
subordinate position of the Mosaic law in comparison to the promises made to
Abraham directly by God.
12. Paul
also demonstrated that the Law had only a temporary significance, that is until
the promised seed, Christ, had come, in contrast to the promise which has
eternal value and meaning.