Law & Gospel
WHAT CAME FIRST, COVENANT OR LAW? | In this weeks sermon, we looked at Galatians 3:15-29, where the Apostle Paul asks the question “What came first the covenant or the law?” What Paul is doing is asking “What is the foundation of our relationship with God built on? A covenant promise or our obedience to the law?” And Paul reminds us all that the covenant was made with Abraham, before the law came from Moses and therefore, once a covenant is made, it cannot be ratified or annulled. Our relationship with God therefore, is built upon the foundation of a promise that He will bless us through the Offspring (singular) of Abraham, who is Jesus.
This is so important because if our relationship with God is built upon law, we will never be able to carry that weight, because we constantly break the law. So it is not based on the law but rather, faith in Jesus.
Furthermore, our relationship with God bleeds into our relationship with one another.
Have you ever been in a relationship that was all law? A spouse, friend or parent only gave you law and demanded your obedience to what they said? What was your experience? Was it unbearable? The law always is. On its own, it crushes us! Rather than the law, if our relationships imitate our relationship with God, which is one of grace, than our relationships go from bitter to sweet.
WHY THE LAW? | If the law only condemns us and our relationship with God is not dependent on obedience to the law, then what’s the purpose of it? Paul says in verse 19 “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions..” - Galatians 3:19 The word “Transgressions” is synonymous with sin, but more specifically means that we have broken a moral law. The purpose of the law then is that it reveals or illumines our sin. It shows us that we are sinners and that we are in need of a Savior.
It’s very easy for us to look at the drug-addict on the side of the street or the prison on our way into church and therefore conclude their sinners. You may even think that you too are a sinner, but perhaps they are “more” of a sinner than you.
It’s worth noting that the whole of human history is not divided into good people and bad people, but rather all of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God there is only one who is “good” the Lord Jesus Christ. What does Jesus do with those who are transgressors of his law? 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-8
Jesus Christ loves sinners! And the objective evidence of this, is Him shedding His blood, on the cross for us. If you ever question, “Is God for me?” Than look no further than the cross, because on the cross you will see there is a God who loves you so much that He was willing to die and shed His blood for you.
We now, as followers of Jesus with faith in Him, obey the law. But we do not obey the law to earn the favor of God, but we obey the law because we already have the favor of God in Christ Jesus. The motivation for our obedience comes from our faith in God.
UNDER THE LAW OR IN CHRIST | Paul ends this section of scripture with talking about either being “under the law” (V.23) or “In Christ” (V.28) You can be under the law, but you will learn your’ inability to fulfill all that it asks of you and it will condemn you, because you cannot carry that weight. Or, you can look to Jesus. You can look to Him and place your faith in Him who says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law of the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” - Matthew 5:17 In other words He says “I will fulfill the law where you have failed in obeying it.”
So what does Jesus do for us? He comes as the blessing and the promise from Abraham. He comes and fulfills the law and its requirements perfectly. And if the law comes and condemns us, then it is only by faith in Jesus that we are free from the condemnation of the law. As Paul would remind us. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1
This is so important because if our relationship with God is built upon law, we will never be able to carry that weight, because we constantly break the law. So it is not based on the law but rather, faith in Jesus.
Furthermore, our relationship with God bleeds into our relationship with one another.
Have you ever been in a relationship that was all law? A spouse, friend or parent only gave you law and demanded your obedience to what they said? What was your experience? Was it unbearable? The law always is. On its own, it crushes us! Rather than the law, if our relationships imitate our relationship with God, which is one of grace, than our relationships go from bitter to sweet.
WHY THE LAW? | If the law only condemns us and our relationship with God is not dependent on obedience to the law, then what’s the purpose of it? Paul says in verse 19 “Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions..” - Galatians 3:19 The word “Transgressions” is synonymous with sin, but more specifically means that we have broken a moral law. The purpose of the law then is that it reveals or illumines our sin. It shows us that we are sinners and that we are in need of a Savior.
It’s very easy for us to look at the drug-addict on the side of the street or the prison on our way into church and therefore conclude their sinners. You may even think that you too are a sinner, but perhaps they are “more” of a sinner than you.
It’s worth noting that the whole of human history is not divided into good people and bad people, but rather all of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God there is only one who is “good” the Lord Jesus Christ. What does Jesus do with those who are transgressors of his law? 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-8
Jesus Christ loves sinners! And the objective evidence of this, is Him shedding His blood, on the cross for us. If you ever question, “Is God for me?” Than look no further than the cross, because on the cross you will see there is a God who loves you so much that He was willing to die and shed His blood for you.
We now, as followers of Jesus with faith in Him, obey the law. But we do not obey the law to earn the favor of God, but we obey the law because we already have the favor of God in Christ Jesus. The motivation for our obedience comes from our faith in God.
UNDER THE LAW OR IN CHRIST | Paul ends this section of scripture with talking about either being “under the law” (V.23) or “In Christ” (V.28) You can be under the law, but you will learn your’ inability to fulfill all that it asks of you and it will condemn you, because you cannot carry that weight. Or, you can look to Jesus. You can look to Him and place your faith in Him who says “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law of the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” - Matthew 5:17 In other words He says “I will fulfill the law where you have failed in obeying it.”
So what does Jesus do for us? He comes as the blessing and the promise from Abraham. He comes and fulfills the law and its requirements perfectly. And if the law comes and condemns us, then it is only by faith in Jesus that we are free from the condemnation of the law. As Paul would remind us. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1
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