(Read Romans 5:20,21)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” As people learn more and more about the abundance of Grace and the gift of righteousness provided to us in Christ Jesus, a question that often comes up is, “What was the purpose of the Law?” We have addressed that question in this series several times and this morning the Apostle Paul gives us a simple and straightforward answer. Paul said, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.” Prior to the Law I am sure people thought they were good people, but they were judging themselves by their own standard. The Law gives us God’s perfect standard. Once God’s standard was given, mankind could either abide by it or sin by failing to do so. And as we all know, once God’s standard was in place, sin abounded.
Paul goes on to say, “But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” In the Old Testament the answer for sin was animal sacrifice. In the New Testament Jesus because the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world, became both the Atonement Lamb (an offering for sin) and the PASSOVER Lamb (an offering for death) in one fell swoop. So now we don’t need to shed the blood of animals. The blood of Jesus was shed once and for all. Now the answer to sin is not animal sacrifice, but rather the Grace of God that came through His Son Jesus the Christ. And where sin abounds, Grace does much more abound!
Paul closes out the chapter with these words, “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The Law was not given to make us right. External rules could never make us right with God. Paul said, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were” (Romans 5:20). The Law was given to show us that we are wrong and that we stand in need of a Savior. God sent a Savior, His name is Jesus, and He came to save us from our sin.
2. The Law is God’s perfect standard. The Law given by God, written on tablets of stone by His own finger, gives us God’s perfect standard. However, God knew that no human could live up to it. So God did not give us the Law to show how right we are, but rather to show humanity how wrong we are. There is nothing wrong with the Law. The Law is perfect. But there is something wrong with us. We are flawed and not perfect. That’s why need a Savior and that is why Jesus came.
3. Grace triumphs over sin. Sin is a major problem and it was introduced through Adam. Grace is God’s answer to the sin problem and it was given to us through Jesus. In a contest between sin and Grace, there is no contest. Man’s sin can never overtake God’s Grace. Where sin abounds, Grace abounds even the more (Romans 5:20).
4. Sin ruled then, Grace rules now. Paul said, “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The Old Covenant exposed us to humanity’s problem: SIN. The New Covenant exposes to us divinity’s answer: GRACE! Paul tells us that God’s wonderful Grace rules now. All men were born sinners because of Adam and they were slaves to sin. But all men now have been offered the forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Christ Jesus. Not because we earn it, not because we work for it, not because we deserve it and not because we are good. Only because Jesus earned it for us and because God is good. Sin is our problem, Grace is God’s answer. Embrace God’s Grace, accept Jesus’ finished work on the cross for you, and you will never be the same! Once you are forgiven the Holy Spirit will work in you to change you from the inside-out. Grace is not a freedom TO sin, but rather freedom FROM sin!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for anointing people to teach me Your Word in ways that I can clearly understand. I now know the purpose of the Law. The Law is Your perfect standard. You gave mankind Your Law to show us what it would look like to be perfect. However, You knew we could never fulfill Your Law in-and-of ourselves. Your standard is perfect, but we are not. Therefore, Your Law was not given to make us right, but rather to show us how wrong we really are and how much we need a Savior. In the Old Covenant You allowed animal sacrifices for man’s transgression. In the New Covenant You sent Your own Son Jesus to die on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world, became both the Atonement Lamb (as an offering for sin) and the PASSOVER Lamb (as an offering for death) at the same time. After the blood of Jesus was shed, there is no need to shed the blood of animals. Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe. My sin had left a crimson stain, but He washed me white as snow! I have accepted Jesus as my Lord, You have forgiven me of my sin, and I now live under Your amazing Grace. Your Word teaches me that sin used to rule, but Grace rules now! I accept Your Grace, I embrace Your Grace, and I am changed by Grace from the inside-out. I will never be the same. My past is behind me, my divine destiny is before me, and by faith I am determined to maximize the purpose and potential You have placed in me by Your undeserved Grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
P.S. I am heading to Texas today to preach tonight and Sunday on an assignment that God has shown me is key to my future. I preach regularly and I don’t normally solicit your prayers, but for this assignment I feel led to. Please pray for me, that God will manifest His glory tonight and Sunday, and that I will be open to SEE all He wants me to SEE about my future. Thank you.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
