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.