The Purpose of the Law: A Divine Revelation and Guide
The concept of "the Law" in Scripture is multifaceted, primarily referring to the Mosaic Law given to Israel at Mount Sinai, but also encompassing the broader moral principles of God's character. Often misunderstood as a means to salvation, the Bible consistently presents the Law with a far richer and more profound purpose. It was never intended to justify fallen humanity, but rather to serve as a divine instrument for revelation, guidance, and ultimately, to point mankind to the necessity of a Saviour. Understanding the Law's true design is crucial for appreciating the depth of God's wisdom and the glory of His grace.
The Law as a Mirror to God's Holiness and Man's Sinfulness
One of the foremost purposes of the Law was to reveal the holy and righteous character of God. Through its commandments, God demonstrated His perfect standard of purity, justice, and truth. Before the Law, sin existed, but its full heinousness was not clearly defined. The Law acted as a perfect mirror, reflecting God's spotless nature and simultaneously exposing the deep-seated sinfulness of humanity.
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
The Law brought the knowledge of sin, making transgressions evident and revealing man's utter inability to meet God's perfect standard. It showed that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This revelation of sin was not to condemn without hope, but to humble man and prepare him for the reception of grace.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The Law, in its very perfection, highlighted humanity's imperfection, leaving no room for self-righteousness or reliance on one's own efforts for salvation.
The Law as a Guide for Righteous Living for Israel
Beyond revealing sin, the Law served as a comprehensive covenant for the nation of Israel, setting them apart as God's peculiar people. It provided them with civil statutes, ceremonial regulations, and moral precepts that governed every aspect of their lives. These laws were designed to establish a holy nation, distinct from the pagan cultures around them, and to demonstrate God's wisdom to the world.
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
The Law provided a framework for a society living under divine authority, detailing principles of justice, community care, worship, and personal holiness. While it could not impart spiritual life, it was a practical guide for how God's chosen people were to conduct themselves in a manner pleasing to Him and beneficial to their society.
The Law as a Schoolmaster Leading to Christ
Perhaps one of the most significant purposes of the Law, particularly from a New Testament perspective, was its role as a "schoolmaster" or "tutor" leading to Christ. The Law, with its demands and penalties, constantly pointed to the need for a perfect deliverer. It showed that humanity was imprisoned by sin and in desperate need of redemption.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The ceremonial laws, with their elaborate sacrificial system, were shadows pointing to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The blood of bulls and goats could never truly take away sins, but they prefigured the shedding of Christ's blood as the propitiation for the sins of the world (Hebrews 10:1-4, Hebrews 10:10). The Law, therefore, created a profound sense of spiritual bankruptcy and an earnest longing for the One who could truly satisfy God's demands and provide perfect righteousness.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
He fulfilled every jot and tittle of the Law, both in His perfect obedience and in His atoning death.
The Law's Restraining Power and Prophetic Shadows
Beyond its individual and national implications, the Law also served to restrain evil in society. Even for those who did not fully obey it, the existence of divine commandments established a standard that, to some degree, curbed overt wickedness and maintained a semblance of order. It provided a moral compass, even if imperfectly followed, to prevent utter chaos.
Furthermore, many elements of the Law were rich in prophetic symbolism, acting as types and shadows of Christ and the new covenant. The Tabernacle, the priesthood, the feasts, and the sacrificial system all pointed to greater spiritual realities that would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The Law was not merely a set of rules but a divinely orchestrated drama anticipating the coming of the Messiah.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
These shadows, though temporary, provided essential theological groundwork for understanding the person and work of Christ.
The Law Fulfilled in Christ and Its Application Today
With the advent of Jesus Christ, the Law found its ultimate fulfillment. Christ did not abolish the Law but perfectly upheld and completed it. He lived a life of sinless obedience, satisfying its every demand, and then offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, bearing the penalty for humanity's transgression of the Law.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
For believers today, the purpose of the Law has shifted. We are no longer under the Law as a covenant for salvation, for Christ has redeemed us from its curse (Galatians 3:13). Our justification comes by grace through faith in Christ alone, not by works of the Law. However, this does not mean the Law is irrelevant. The moral principles of the Law, which reflect God's unchanging character, remain a guide for righteous living, understood through the lens of Christ's fulfillment and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Believers are called to walk in love, which is the fulfilling of the Law (Romans 13:10). The Spirit enables us to obey God's will, not out of legalistic compulsion, but out of a transformed heart that delights in God's ways.
Conclusion: The Law's Enduring Witness
In summary, the Law's purpose was never to provide salvation, but to accomplish several vital objectives:
- To reveal the holy nature of God.
- To expose the depth and universality of human sin.
- To guide Israel in righteous living as God's covenant people.
- To serve as a schoolmaster, driving humanity to Christ for justification by faith.
- To restrain evil in society and foreshadow the coming Messiah.
The Law, therefore, stands as an enduring witness to God's perfect righteousness and His gracious plan of redemption. It humbles us by demonstrating our inability to save ourselves and magnifies the glorious grace of God found in Jesus Christ. Through Christ, the Law finds its ultimate meaning and believers find true freedom to live lives that genuinely reflect the character of the God who gave the Law.