Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 NIV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In our last message I highlighted the fact that the Law and Grace are very different. As we continue to compare and contrast the two, today I will focus on God’s purpose for The Law in the first place. The Law was introduced for a certain time period and it served its purpose. Paul teaches us this in Galatians 3:15-20.
Paul said, “Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement (contract), so it is in this case. God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.” There is a lot covered there, and I will pull out certain nuggets in the points. For now, let’s continue.
Paul then asked a very important question, “Why, then, was the law given?” This is, as they say, the million-dollar question. Paul gives us the answer, “It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins.” In plain language, in black-and-white, Paul gives us the purpose of the Law. And Paul continues, “But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised.” That child was Jesus!
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The promise given to Abraham was for him and his “seed” or “child”. Paul tells us that this “seed” or “child” was actually Jesus. This covers Abraham and all those who came through his bloodline, and Jesus all of us who are connected to Him by faith. Because of Christ Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles are children of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.
2. The Law, given 430 years after Abraham, could not cancel the binding agreement (contract) God had with Abraham. Abraham was already gone, so God could not change the contract. The point is that the Law, which came later, and focused on works, could not affect the promise given to Abraham. This promise was based on faith and not The Law. Which is why back in Galatians 3:7, Paul said, “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.” Abraham is the “Father of faith,” not The Law.
3. The Bible says, in no unclear terms, that The Law was given “to show people their sins” (Galatians 3:19).
4. The Law was not designed to make us right with God. It was designed to show us that we are wrong and that we need a Savior.
5. 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.
6. The Law was designed to get man to the end of himself. The Law was designed to prove to us that we are not good enough and that we are incomplete without God. The Law served its purpose. Once we acknowledged the fact that we broke God’s Law and that we deserved punishment, we were able to open our hearts to Jesus.
7. 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!
8. 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 same writer told us that Jesus is the mediator of a “better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6). If the Bible teaches us that the purpose of the Old Covenant was to show us our sins, that this Covenant is now obsolete and outdated, and that Jesus mediated a better Covenant based on better promises, why would we be fixated on the Old Covenant? The only answer I can think of is that believers have not been taught. As you read Galatians 3 and Hebrews 8 for yourself, please open your heart to the Grace and Truth provided by Jesus. If you do, you will live free from the bondage of The Law, and more importantly, free from the power of sin. Once you embrace God’s grace, you are free to be led by the Holy Spirit to do whatever it is God has called you to do and sin will no longer have power over you!
Declaration of Faith:
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; an agreement based on 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. I needed a Savior. That Savior came, His name is Jesus. I have accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord. The Law of Moses served its purpose, it has expired, and I now live under the New Covenant of Grace. 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!
