1 John 3:16


"By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Why God Gave the Law

In Galatians 3 Paul goes into a brief discussion on why God gave the Law of Moses. When we refer to the law here we mean the entire Law of Moses, whether the ceremonial, civil or moral law. The ceremonial law means laws to do with the tabernacle, priesthood and sacrifices. The civil law means laws to do with social life. The moral law means laws concerning right and wrong in moral issues.

In Galatians 3 Paul addressed the reason why God gave the law as a whole. He begins by pointing out that God gave eternal life to Abraham by promise, without conditions. Paul pointed out that the law came 430 years after the promise was made. If God had given eternal life on the basis of promise, then why did He add conditions in the law afterwards?

Paul used a human contract as an example. When two people make a contract, say to buy or sell an item, when both parties have agreed on a price and signed, one party cannot afterwards change the conditions of sale. So Paul’s question is, if God made a promise to Abraham, why was the law added some 430 years later?

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not seeds, as of many; but as of one and to your seed, which is Christ.

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made…(Gal 3:15-19).

This means that the law was not given to set conditions for salvation. It was not given to save. This disproves the whole Dispensationalist theology. God never saved anyone by the law, not in any dispensation. Salvation has been by promise since the Garden of Eden and it always will be by promise. So if the law was not given to save Israel or mankind in general, why was it given? Paul said:

1. Because of sin.
2. Until the seed (Christ) should come.

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