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This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” For the last two weeks we have been studying The Purpose of the Cross. Unless the Lord leads me another way, I plan on ending this mini-series today. We have studied why Jesus had to die and today we will provide one final recap – an overview of the Role of the Law of Moses.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s get into it.
1. The Bible says the Law was given “to show people their sins” (Galatians 3:19).
2. The Law was not designed to make you right with God. Rules cannot make you right, but they can show you when you are wrong.
3. You won’t ever realize you need to get saved until you acknowledge you are lost. The Law was designed to show us how lost we are without God and how we could never be ‘good enough’ on our own.
4. The Law had a penalty and it was DEATH. That is why Paul called the Law of Moses, written on tablets of stone, “The Government of Death” or “The Ministry of Death” (2 Cor 3:7).
5. The Law had an expiration date. The Bible says, “But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised” (Galatians 3:19). That child was Jesus!
6. The Bible calls the Old Covenant (the Law of Moses) obsolete and outdated. The writer of Hebrews said, “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear” (Hebrews 8:13). The Apostle Paul said, “When God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete” (2 Cor 3:17).
7. Many New Covenant truths can be found in the types and shadows of the Old Covenant. The New Covenant is concealed in the Old, the Old Covenant is revealed in the New.
8 You must understand both Covenants. If you did not have The Law to violate, you would not acknowledge the error of your ways, nor would you call out to Jesus as your Savior from sin.
9. Under the Old Covenant you were a prisoner to sin, captured by satan, with no way out. You could never earn your way out, nor could you ever pay the penalty for sin. The good news of the gospel is this: the New Covenant gives you access to freedom from sin by exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Under the New Covenant the penalty for sin has been paid, the captor has been defeated and the captured have been released – Hallelujah!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for taking the time to teach me about Your amazing Grace. I now understand the purpose of the Law. The Law was given 430 years after You made Your promise to Abraham, so the Law could not change the agreement You had with Him. That was an agreement of faith and not of works. And today, like Abraham, I am made righteous by faith and not by works. The Law of Moses was designed to get man to the end-of-himself, showing him his sins, and making it clear that he needs a Savior. Well, mission accomplished. The Law was able to show me I was wrong. I have broken Your Law more times than I want to acknowledge and it was very clear to me that I needed a Savior. That Savior came, His name is Jesus, and I have accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord. Jesus paid the penalty of the Law on Calvary’s cross; and He paid it for me! The Law of Moses served its purpose, it has expired, and I now live under the New Covenant of Grace, provided to me through my Lord Jesus Christ. I serve You because I love You, not because I am afraid of going to hell. And You bless me because You love me, not because I deserve it. Thank You Father for being so good to me; much better than I deserve. I enter this day thankful, appreciative of Your Grace and determined to pursue my purpose! Not because I am so good, but because You are so good! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
