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

COULD NOT GIVE LIFE AND RIGHTEOUSNESSSECTION 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

• “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law” (Gal. 3:21)• If a law could give LIFE, then RIGHTEOUSNESS

would have been by the law• The law cannot give life and cannot make one

righteous!

• “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

Grace

Righteousness CHRIST

COULD NOT EXHIBIT THE FULL MALIGNITY OF SINSECTION 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 MANKINDSECTION 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)