ADDRESSES ON ROMANS
shows that the believer is dead to the law, let us recall why the Mosaic Law was given in the first place. If we do not have clearly in mind the circumstances under which the law was given, we shall miss Paul's real message here. It was not necessary for him to recount that Old Testament experience in his letter to the Romans; for, as he explained in Rom. 7: 1, he was speaking to those who already knew the law. Moreover, these words show that the apostle had in mind legalistic Jew, ish Christians; therefore, his message here aptly fits all legal, ists, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. But what were the circumstances under which the law was given? Turn back to the story in Exodus, and you will see that Israel presumptuously demanded the law. Otherwise, it would never have been given. From the beginning, God had dealt with His people in grace. Little realizing their sin, fulness and their utter inability to keep God's holy law, how, ever, "all the people answered together, and said~ All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Ex. 19:8). And even while Moses was on Mount Sinai, receiving from God the law, Israel at the foot of the mount was worshipping a golden calf! The people had asked for that which they could not keep; and God let them have the law, that they might see for themselves how far short they had come in obeying it. "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20) . I know this is not the popular way of presenting this sub, ject, for Satan has blinded the eyes of hundreds of weJl,mean, ing souls. He wants to rob the Christian of the joy and peace of heart that come from the assurance of salvation in Christ that is all of grace. And he deceives lost men by leading them into a false sense of security by poor, paltry works that can never save the soul. But the Word of God speaks plainly on the subject, and it is our infallible guide. Let us turn back to the Old Testament record to verify what God's Word plainly declares: That the law was given to reveal sin to a presump, tuous, rebellious people; and that in Christ it has been done away. Page 11(}]
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