FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH

THE LAW

On the 32nd day of a 40 day fast my Pastor gave me a book by Ray Comfort that brought back a foundation teaching to me that seems to be lost by many in the church today. I remember being taught these truths when I first came to the faith. During this fast I was asking God for some kind of new great revelation, and I remembered a saying by Tom Dorrance an old time horse trainer who I respect. I have studied his books and ridden with several great trainers who mentored with Tom. He said something like this, “your foundation training must go with you through all the levels, clear to the top.” POW, MIC DROP. So I began to study again the purpose of the law which is a truth that is foundational to the Christian faith.

Galatians 3: 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 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. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin,that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

The law prepares the sinner’s heart for grace. It humbles and prepares us to yearn and seek for grace.

1 Timothy 1: 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is [c]contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

The law acts as a mirror to show us our need for cleansing. We can’t wash ourselves enough times to make ourselves clean enough for a Holy righteous God. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from all our sin. The law reveals our dirty sin so the gospel can wipe us clean.

The Law Brings a Curse

If the law of Moses did not demand death for sin Jesus would not have had to die. Jesus became a curse for us and redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Galatians 3: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is [d]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The law brings people to knowledge of their sinfulness and their need for repentance and salvation. It makes the sinner thirst for righteousness.

Psalms 19: 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, [e]converting the soul;

The real function of the law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin which leads to repentance. It is to stop every mouth and reveal our guilt. Once you understand you’ve broken the law then the good news that our penalty has been paid will become good news.

Romans 3: 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Have you offended God by violating His law?

Do you understand your transgression?

When you do the good news of your penalty being paid is a precious thing.

Have you ever said there are plenty of people worse than me? I’m not a bad person, really. We just read in Romans the law stops the mouth of justification and leaves the whole world guilty before God.

But what is sin? The answer is found in 1 John 3: “4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” Sin is lawlessness, it is transgression of the law.

How do we know our sin? Romans 7: 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” Paul said he would not have known covetousness unless the law had said “You shall not covet”. He says He didn’t know sin until the Law told him.

The only way people can know their sin is by seeing themselves in light of the moral law.

Did you know God has written his law upon your heart? So each time we lie, steal, blaspheme, commit adultery etc. we do it with knowledge that it is wrong. The Message translations says it this way in Romans 2: 15 “There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong.”

The Amplified Bible ” 5 They show that the essential requirements of the Law are written in their hearts; and their conscience [their sense of right and wrong, their moral choices] bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or perhaps defending them”

The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement.

John 16: 8 AMP “8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment: “

We are all guilty before god without Christ. Are you convinced of your transgression? If so, then you are ready for the good news of the gospel because Romans 5:20 says that where sin abounds, grace abounds MUCH MORE!

To sum it up, the law doesn’t help us, it leaves us helpless. And that is a very good place to be. The law doesn’t justify us, it leaves us guilty before a Holy God to be judged accordingly. And that is a good thing too, because it opens our eyes to the need of a Savior who is waiting with open arms to cleanse us and make us righteous once and for all.

I will leave you with one scripture that sums up the reason for the law.

Galatians 3: 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Are you ready to come to Christ?