The Law, Its Purpose and Scope By L. H. Jamison T HE law was given by Moses, b ut 3. The law was a schoolmaster until grace and t r u th came by Jesus Christ came. Gal. 3:19 to 4 : 5; Rom. Christ." Jno. 1:7. "The law 10:4. It showed man his condition, is holy, and the commandment holy, and need of a Saviour, and thus prepared just, and good," but man is a sinner, the way for the proclamation of Jesus, sold under sin, and is wholly impotent Matt. 1:21. to comply with its just demands. It 4. While the law is of service, as a cannot give him life to do wh at he looking glass, to reveal uncleanness in ought to do, and it must condemn all t h e h e a r t a n d l i f e> y e t i t l s w h o l l y pow- who do not comply with its just, holy, e r l e s s t o either remove it, or to impart and good requirements. Rom. 6\A6 strength to comply with its demands, tells us t h at all have sinned and come R o m g . 3 i ; I C o r 1 5 : 5 6 ; R o m > 7:5.24. short of the glory of God, and Gal. 3:10 g believer is now not under the that every one is under the curse, who e l t h e r f o r justification, or for continues not in all things written in the s a n c t i f i C a t i o n. Rom. 7:1-4; Acts 15: book of the law to do them. A partial 5 1 1 ; G a l 4 ; 2 1 t o 5 : 4 ; j C o r i : 8 _ n ; compliance with the demands of the law G a l 2 - l 6 ; 3:2, 3. "I do not f r u s t r a te will not do; but perfect obedience is re- t i e " g r a c e o f ( j 0 d : for if righteousness quired in all things. One offence is c a m e b y t h e Iaw _ t h e n C h r l s t i s d e a d in sufficient to condemn ( J ames 2 : 1 0 ). v a i n » G a i 2:21. The filthy rags (Isa « ¿ « ^ ¿ » ^ 6 ." w h i i e n o t under the law, the ner can never satisfy the just and holy h t e o u s n e s g o£ t h e u lg f u m l l e d l n ,claims of t h e l aw The law tells man s believers, who walk after the ^ e a ^ S e ^ S o ^ K I f t fe and n t a f t er the fiesh Rom to hopelessly look forward to ¿ w f u S p S one ™ord o f m e r c y o r h e l p? ^ V * f r l $ the lusts of the If the law cannot give life, nor enable nesn. i^ai. a . x o. man to do wh at he ought to do; then Thus it will be seen that the law why was it given? was given to show a man what he ought The object of t he following studies is to do; revealing thus to the sinner his to answer this question first, by showing exceeding sinfulness, and driving him t he purpose of God in giving the law; through despair to seek refuge in Christ a n d s e c o n d , t he extent to which the law f r om its fiery terrors. Rom. 3:19-21; fulfills t he purpose. 4:15; 5:20; 7:7-14; 10:4. It is of use, 1. The Pu r p o se of the Jjaw. as a mirror, to reflect the moral im- 1 The law was given to Israel; and perfections in the life; or as a light, to was an expression of J e h o v a h ' s' rightr detect uncleanness, but it neither causes eous demands upon a redeemed and cov- these imperfections and impurities, nor e n a nt people. Ex. 20:1; 2:22; Deut. can it remove them. Thus we look into 5-1-6- Rom. 9:4. T he ten command- t he law to discover defilement and sin, ments' are spoken of as " t he words of but it is through the grace of God that the covenant." Ex. 34:28. However, we are cleansed and delivered. "I have although t he law was given to Israel, been crucified with Christ; yet I live; yet since it is an expression f r om God and it is no longer I t h at live, but Christ of what man ought to do, therefore its liveth in me; and t h at life which I now righteous demands are of universal ap- live in the flesh, I live in faith, the faith plication to all men. Rom. 3:19. of Christ, the faith which is of the Son 2 The law was given to reveal sin. of God, Who loved me and gave Him- Rom 5-20; 7:7, 13; 3:20. It cannot self for me ." Gal. 2:20. It is the remove sin, nor enable the sinner to quit Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which sinning but it does show him what a makes us free from the workings of sin miserable sinner he is. It is as a light and death. Rom. 8:2. However, let shining into a dirty room; or as a plumb- us t a ke heed to, or look unto, the word line applied to a crooked wall. t h at we may discover what manner of
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