Q4. The Purpose of the Law

[Cocoa]

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law?

We are “kept under guard by the law”, Gal 3:23, both as a community, a people, and individually. In my Macarthur study Bible it states that “Paul personifies the law as a jailer of guilty, condemned sinners, on death row awaiting God’s judgement (Romans 6:23). The wages of sin being death!

As this study shows it a) restrains the human nature, makes wrongdoing a trespass, a legal offense – requiring death, and c) points us, as a tutor, towards our Messiah.

Was it intended to justify a person? The law cannot justify as we are all sinners and until Jesus, the first-fruit, our redeemer, sinless and entirely righteous - able to keep the law. Now we are justified in faith through HIM!

In what ways did it restrain sin? The law restrains sin by making us aware, exposing sin, in our own lives and also sin in others’ lives. The written commandments were laws of the community. However, we become expert at pulling out the splinters in others’ eyes whereas Jesus wants the law to be as a mirror so we can extract the log out of our own eyes.

In what ways did it expose sin? Sin is exposed as we have clear evidence showing us that righteousness cannot be obtained by the law as we all transgress the law.

[Eudora]

(Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law? Was it intended to justify a person? In what ways did it restrain sin? In what ways did it expose sin?

Galatians 3:19-25 ¶ 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. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Therefore, what is the Torah (Teaching of God) it was added on account of the transgressions, until the seed would come for whom it has been promised, since it has been dictated through angels by the hand of the Mediator. And the mediator who represents someone is not the one, but acts on behalf of another party, but is God One.

Paul is asking, why would the legal part of the Torah be needed if the promise was independent of it? It was added to the promise and to the environment of the Jewish history in particular to the human history in general, in order to create transgressions, literally, “because of transgressions”. I suppose perhaps to contain and limit transgressions in order to keep the Jewish peoples and us who would later follow and were supposed to be trained by those folks. Perhaps the legal part of the law was intended to keep them from becoming so intolerably sinful and unredeemable not that they were or more sinful than anyone else. More than likely though the legal part of the law was put in place to make folks aware of sin so that we would recognize our need for Yahushua because in or out of the law, we all fall short of earning God’s praise simply because we are spirit inside of flesh and flesh is weak.

The Law of God, the Teachings, do have a consciousness-raising role do they not? The Torah still exists, is still in force as Paul points out in Galatians 6: 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Meaning that Yahushua uphold the Torah’s true meaning, the Law of Christ. To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. ` 1st Corinthians 9:21

Paul was saying that to those without the Torah (Teachings of God) he became as without Torah (Teaching), although he was not without Torah of God, (Teaching) but a subject of Messiah, so that he would win those without Torah. (Teaching)

The mediator mentioned without the capital (M) was Moses because the Torah (Teaching) was handed down to Moses on Mt Sinai through the angels as Paul states in the hand of the mediator; which should have been capitalized in the King James. There are Jews nowadays who make the claim that they do not need Yahushua to be their mediator between them and God but yet God saw fit to position Moses between Him and everyone else. Whether they believe it or not, Moses was a type and shadow of Christ and was the mediator in his time so to them without the law of Christ, they still have a mediator in Moses.

A mediator necessarily meditates between two parties, both of whom desire to affect the final outcome. In this case Moses mediated between God and the Israelites who were afraid to have God speak to them directly. But I do not want to loose sight of something here. The promises that God made to Moses were un-mediated.

Therefore is Torah (Teachings of God) contrary to the promises of God? God forbid! For if Torah (Teaching) was given, that which was able to make alive, in truth righteousness would have been from Torah (Teaching): but the Scripture has imprisoned everything under the power of sin, so that, through faith in Jesus, the Messiah, the promise would be given to those who believe. Before faith came we were held in custody under tradition, being kept prisoner against the coming faith that was to be revealed, so the Torah (Teaching) has become our custodial guide to Messiah, so that we could be made righteous by faith and since faith has come we are no longer under custody.

[lesleeys]

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law?

To lead us to Christ that we might be justfied by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Was it intended to justify a person?

No, it was intended to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

In what ways did it restrain sin?

In order to instruct and even restrain, the law, acting as a pedagogue, must first identify the nature of wrongdoing. This is a role that is educational. It does restrain, it does punish, but it must educate first. One is not able to refrain from evil, unless the evil is initially identified. Like the pedagogue, the role of the law is only temporary. It was instituted to identify wrongdoing, and restrain that behavior until the time of maturity.

In what ways did it expose sin?

The law was needed to because of the transgressions. The purpose was to make the trangressions known and possibly even to increase them. So the law was added to label, identify, and condemn sin as something contrary to God.

[patricia hopman]

In approaching a Holy God by works and the law-we see how utterly sinful we are! We realize we have no hope of attaining salvation before such Holiness! Although the law might make us try to be perfect, it only leads to frustration, and shows us our utter unfaithfulness. Realizing this, humbly to the cross I come!

[Dew drenched]

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law?

“It was added because of transgression till the seed should come to whom the promise was made.” It came along side us to serve us as a temporary helper, a subordinate to the ultimate purpose of God. It came along side because of transgression; the transgression was already present in us. The law then came and revealed to us that we were so far from the perfect righteousness that God had in mind for us to walk in. The law then leads us to the promised one (Christ) that we might be justified by faith

Was it intended to justify a person?

The law could not justify anyone. It has no power to change to heart of man, only reveal its depravity and its need for a saviour. It was not intended to justify a person.

In what ways did it restrain sin?

There could be an outward observance of some of the law to a certain extent, but never able to deal with and restrain the sin and the sin nature which was within the heart of man.

In what ways did it expose sin?

The law can reveal the heart of man and his sinfulness.

[wifee]

4a)The law put constraints on human nature, helped to idenitify wrong acts as sin

. Pharisee’s thought wrongly it would bring salvation,it was incomplete. Paul saw it as temporary, Law points us to Jesus, our only true source of hope,justification and freedom.

C)It may have prevented some pursuing path of destruction, if seen there errors.

D)The Law was like a mirror to oneself.An end of term report.

[RD35]

The Purpose of the Law was to restrain people from doing unrighteous acts and be holy in front of God because God is Holy.  The law helped people identify their wrong acts as sin and to show them their utter need to depend upon God to redeem them from the sin.  The law was to lead to us Christ to be justified through faith.

 

No the law was not intented to justify a person but to lead us to Christ to be justified through faith.

 

It was unlawful to sin and one had to bear consequences.

 

It showed what wrong things were considered as sins.  It reveals acceptable and unacceptable behavior, conduct, and actions desired by God.

[Thanking Joan]

The purpose of the Law was to keep away people from trangressions or sinning

It was not intended to justify a person.

The law restrained sin by showing the consequences of falling into sin. It prevented people to sin and there was fear to disobey the Law.

The law showed what was right and wrong and what sin was and therefore anyone who committed sin was exposed by the law

[JoanG]

The law was suppose to be a set of guidelines that were used to help people stay away from sin. It was not put there to make us feel holy if we followed the rules that were written. The law was to make us mindful of our actions. It was to make us aware of the consequences of not doing the right things. It made it a bit easier for people to point fingers at wrong doers. But it also gave people a way to hide their faults. They would twist the words around to hide what they were doing that was wrong.

[lighthouse2014]

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law? Was it intended to justify a person? In what ways did it restrain sin? In what ways did it expose sin?

The purpose of the Mosaic law was given as a restraint as well as a revelation of our sinfulness. We were held prisoner by the law, it was given so we could recognize sin as sin.

The law was never given to justify a person, for the law could not justify, but only help us to recognize sin against God and our neighbors.

The law restrained sin because for one it taught us what sin was and those who lived by the law tried not to sin.

The law exposed sin because it was given by God and mediated by Moses to the people. Until the law came no one knew what sin was, it taught people how to respect God, parents and neighbors.  

[Lionwolf]

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law? Was it intended to justify a person? In what ways did it restrain sin? In what ways did it expose sin?

The law was given by God to man to show what sin is and what transgressions are. Sin is therefore defined and sin is committed when man transgresses the law. The law was intended to guide us toward God, to show what is expected from us. it was not intended to justify but was intended to make us know what sin is. It did restrain in that provided limits for our behavior but it did not completely stop sin. The law exposed everyone to the fact of all being sinners. 

[Annie343]

PURPOSE OF THE LAW: points out people's sin and shows them that it is impossible to please God by obeying the law completely; to show the true nature of transgressions; to reveal sin (people more aware); God never intended the law to be the way of salvation or do the work of the promise; temporary; to drive men to seek the promise of Jesus Christ, that is righteousness by faith

INTENDED TO JUSTIFY: We cannot do enough to become perfect; the law was not to reveal a way of justification, but to disclose the true nature of sin; have to trust in God's grace; Jesus alone justifies a person (his belief); justification to save a person is faith in Jesus Christ and our response of faith; the law is powerless in saving man (proves that a person is made acceptable to God by faith); the law focuses on action and cannot give life

LAW - RESTRAIN SIN: to deter men from committing sins; kept us away from evil; to declare its penalty; to stop boasting and self righteousness; the human condition tells us we are sinners (gave a sense of our lost condition); protective custody of the law; it was a disciplinarian until Christ came; it kept us out of trouble; shows men they are guilty; shows men their sin and its danger; it condemns; pointing out the wrong and providing reproof; to stir man to pay attention

LAW - EXPOSE SIN: faith in what should be revealed (desires that we know are wrong); held people in bondage; shows men where he fails; accuses, give guilt and conviction take over; law lead man to see his need for Christ; we are sinners so it is given to reveal sin; shows us our hopelessness on our own; it preys upon man's heart and mind; only hope - Christ has set men free; showing man that he is unable to secure righteousness by himself; there are distortions of reality; see clearly

 

[kennedy]

law was given to do three things.

1. to restrain human fallen nature.so we may know that our actions are actually sin.

2. to legalise offences. bring judgement to offenders.

3.to make us realise that we can not keep them thus look onto Jesus our only hope.

[Jonathan Edwards]

⁷The purpose  of the Law was to give to sin the character of transgression.   With the Law of Moses, sins were put on the accounts of the Jews, personal guilt incurred. The people had an innate disposition to continue in sins despite the laws and ordinances that Moses promulgated.

As to justification, the answer would be no.  It had the character "unto" Christ (vv. 23-25).  The Law was a type of custodian to bring people to faith in Christ.  

All throughout the OT, we read how the Law restrained sin.  When the Tabernacle  was built and the Aaronic and levitical priesthood was set up; there was a holy awe of Yahweh during their desert journey.  Though there were times of rebellion, the idolatry and false religion of Egypt were eradicated. During the desert wanderings, the Shekinah glory of God meted out severe punishments for idolatrous and breaking the laws and ordinances as codified in the Law of Moses.

Throughout the books of Joshua, Judges to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Law exposed secret sins like Achan's gold, intermarriage with idol worshippers. My favorite prophet Ezekiel was deeply influenced by the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.  He preached the Law of Moses to the Jewish refugees in a pagan land.  Though in a pagan land, they could bear the Shekinah if they would do what was in the Law of Moses.

Truly the Law of Moses was given by Yahweh.  What blessed words from above! The Tabernacle, the Holy Aaronic priesthood and Levitical ordinances.  But the OT saints had to wait for FAITH.  Christ the Mediator had to atone for sins; He is the  eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek.

 

 

 

[Krissi]

I have to back up a bit here to see where I am in this. Sorry, but I'm losing track ...

Sum: The whole point of Paul's talk about the law is to convince the Judaisers that the gentiles were equal in Christian status to the Jews, salvation was by faith not the law, and that the Jews had no leg up on the gentiles.

1. Paul said that gentiles had the same experience of the Holy Spirit as Jews
2. Paul said that gentiles were just as righteous, pre-Noah, as what would later become the Abrahamic Jews
3. Paul said that both gentiles/Jewish Christians have been freed from the curse of the law because of their faith.

---

1. NOW, Paul says that the nature of the covenant with Abraham supersedes the temporary Mosaic law.
2. NOW, Paul says the law restrained our human nature by showing us what's wrong/sin so we can behave as our better selves, and was never intended to replace our faith but only to restrain us until Jesus. It was temporary.

It was intended to restrain us until the Messiah came. The law was a stopgap measure between Abraham and Jesus. It worked by pointing out how we were supposed to behave/think and then our consciences would guide us toward actually doing and thinking the right things .

Sin's exposure must be prior to restraint.