“The Law” WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO (part 2)

COULD NOT GIVE LIFE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS SECTION 1

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh…” (Rom. 8:3) Due to the weakness of men who were under it, the law was weak to spare and deliver them The law could not make a sinner whole; it crushed him; it could not regenerate him; it condemned him Justification was not possible under the law unless there was perfect obedience—that never happened (Rom. 3:23) A remembrance of sins every year (Heb. 10:1-3) The law made nothing perfect (Heb. 7:19)

1) Could Not Give Righteousness & Life “Righteousness” and “Life” are inseparable Where “righteousness” is not, “life” is not Where one is, the other is found What puts us in contact with one, puts us in contact with the other

1) Could Not Give Righteousness & Life

“And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death” (Rom. 7:10) Paul, before Christ, thought the commandment brought life After Christ, Paul found it to bring death Why? Sin (unrighteousness) through the commandment produced death in me (Rom. 7:11- 13) Law cannot free those who violate it! Law LIFE

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Gal. 2:21) “If righteousness come through the law” then Christ would not have had to die to make us righteous! Since righteousness cannot come from the law, then the law cannot bring life Since righteousness comes through Christ, then life must also come through Him! Law Righteousness

GRACE LIFE “ 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:20, 21) Law entered – offense abounds Grace through Jesus Christ abounds more Grace reigns through righteousness Produces what? ANSWER: Eternal life!

Romans 5:20, 21 GraceRighteousness CHRIST

COULD NOT EXHIBIT THE FULL MALIGNITY OF SIN SECTION 2

2) Could Not Exhibit The Full Malignity of Sin Law taught and defined what actions were sinful (offensive to God and hurtful to man) Displayed God’s hatred for the action Flood on the world of the ungodly (Gen. 6, 7) Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19)

2) Could Not Exhibit The Full Malignity of Sin Hinted at the demerit of sin Sin brings death Animal sacrifices for sin New Testament has an open exhibit of sin by Jesus hanging on the cross Sin is not only offensive to God, but is also hurtful to God (1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 6:6)

WAS NOT A SUITABLE RULE OF LIFE FOR ALL MANKIND SECTION 3

3) Was Not A Suitable Rule Of Life For All Mankind 1.Was “contrary” (an adversary) to us and taken away (Col. 2:14) 2.Was given to only one nation under heaven—Israel “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever” (Exod. 31:16, 17) 3.Was given to those who came out of Egyptian bondage (see Deut. 5:12-15) Did the church come out of Egyptian bondage?

Is it proper to deliver mail to (A) which was addressed to (B)? Is it proper to take a command given to one and deliver it to another? False applications of the word… Apply “love your enemies” to “governments?” Apply Luke 6:35 to banking institutions? “Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love” (Prov. 7:18) Is this scripture? Does it describe the proper manner of life for God’s people? Context!

Shall French Law govern U.S. citizens? Shall Massachusetts Law govern Texas? Shall Israel’s law govern the church?

“How many disciples of Moses are to be found in the professed school of Jesus Christ! and how few among the teachers of the New Testament seem to know that Christ’s ministers are not able ministers of the Old Testament, but of the New!” (Alexander Campbell, as quoted by, Richardson, Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, 448; in West, Search for the Ancient Order, vol. 1, 62, 63)

What We’ve Studied There are some things the law simply cannot do – It cannot give righteousness and life – It cannot display the full malignity of sin – It cannot be a suitable rule of life for all mankind Rightly apply the word We are not ministers of the Old Testament, but of the New (2 Cor. 3:6)

In the next lesson we will look at: Why the law could not accomplish righteousness and give life The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah

Will You Obey Gospel Today? While the law of Moses was not a suitable law for all of mankind, the gospel is: 15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mk. 16:15, 16)