Why the Law?
Romans 3:21-25 MSG Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
25-26 God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear.
Romans 3:21-26 21 NIV But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
When I was in my early thirties, I attended a church where nothing but grace was preached. For me to say I learned more about grace at that church than I had ever known before is not an exaggeration. May I tell you that once you learn about grace there is no going back?
One of the sermons about grace made it completely clear that God hates sin, so for us to be reconciled to God we have to be free from sin. But, freeing ourselves from sin was not something we could do. So, God did it for us. Verse 25 says “God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear.”
So what good was the law? God gave us the Ten Commandments. Did they save us? No. The Jewish leaders created 613 laws-did you know there was a “Thou shall not” for every day of the week? Did that save us? No.but the laws did point us to our need for a Savior.
I was called to preach the Word. Can I save you? No, I cannot, nor can any other preacher. I can exegete the Word according to the direction of the Holy Spirit, and I can present the gospel, but salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit alone.
May we today and everyday focus on God and God alone for it is only through Him that we receive the salvation that only Jesus can give.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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