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===More on God's Promises and God's Law===
<span style="color:darkred">What '''purpose''' then does the '''law''' serve? It was '''added''' because of '''transgressions...''' 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'''. But the Scripture has confined '''all''' under '''sin''', that the '''promise''' by '''faith''' in Jesus Christ might be given to those who '''believe'''.</span style="color:darkred"> (Galatians 3:19, 21-22)
In our previous meditation, we saw that God implements His plan of salvation by making and fulfilling '''promises'''. His plan is not contingent upon man's ability to perform acceptably before His holy '''law'''. To put it another way, the '''law''' of God (given hundreds of years after the promises to Abraham) does '''not replace''' those '''promises.
This raises a very important question: "What '''purpose''' then does the '''law''' serve?" If God's law did not cancel or rearrange His promises to Abraham, then, why was it '''added?''' "It was added because of '''transgressions'''." God wanted people to know that they had a major problem: '''sin'''. Man's sin needed to be clearly defined. "For by the '''law''' is the '''knowledge of sin"''' (Romans 3:20). The extent of sin would never be fully known apart from the law. "I would '''not''' have known '''sin''' except through the '''law'''" (Romans 7:7). Also, God wanted everyone in this world to know that they were accountable to Him for their transgressions. Thus, the law convicts the sinfulness of man, that "'''all the world''' may become '''guilty before God'''" (Romans 3:19).
This raises another important question. "Is the '''law''' then '''against''' the '''promises''' of God?" The law does not replace God's promises, but does it work against His promises? "Certainly '''not!''' " The '''law''' of God and the '''promises''' of God simply have '''different purposes''' (just as it is with law and grace). The '''law''' of God reveals the holiness that is inherent to the very character of God. At the same time, it describes the holy life that God wants His people to live. '''"You''' shall be '''holy''', for '''I''' the '''LORD''' your God am '''holy'''" (Leviticus 19:2). The '''promises''' of God become the means by which man deals with his unholiness and accesses God's holiness. This is what true spiritual life is about: '''forgiveness''' of '''sin''' and a '''life''' of '''righteousness''' in '''Christ'''. This cannot come by law performance. "For if there had been a '''law''' given which could have given '''life''', truly righteousness would have been by the '''law'''." Rather, the promise of life is entered into only by faith. "But the Scripture has confined '''all''' under '''sin''', that the '''promise''' by '''faith''' in Jesus Christ might be given to those who '''believe'''."
<span style="color:red">O Holy Lord, I confess that in my own natural resources there is no innate holiness. I can find forgiveness of sin and true righteousness from You alone. Help me to understand the difference between Your law which convicts and Your promises which bring life, through Christ my Lord, '''Amen.'''</span style="color:darkred">
[[Category:Daily Readings]]