The purpose of the law is clearly revealed in the Bible. Though Christians are not under the law, the law has its purpose.
6 Purposes of the law
The law is: –
1. A mirror reflecting God
The law is a mirror reflecting to us the perfect righteousness, holiness, and goodness of God.
Lev 19:2: Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, you shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Law reveals who God is and sheds light on the reality of an infinite gulf that separates God and man.
2. Knowledge of sin
The law is the knowledge of sin and our own shortcomings. It reveals what sin is and that we cannot be righteous by the law.
Rom 3:20, 7 for by the law is the knowledge of sin … if it had not been for the law, I should not have known sin.
It also shows us our need of pardon and danger to condemnation leading us to repentance and great faith in Christ.
3. Reveals to man who s/he is
Law reveals to man (both male and female) who and what he is.
Gal 3:19: Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Rom 5:20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound…
4. Restrain evil
The law restrains evil. Though it can not change the heart of a person, the law can to some extent inhibit lawlessness by its threat of judgment.
5. Shadow of good things
It is a shadow of good things to come: a shadow reflecting or revealing the coming of Christ and the grace.
Heb 10:1: For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things…
Gal 3:24-26 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith.
6. Guides us to the regeneration into the good works
Guides us to the regeneration into the good works that God has planned for us. The law tells us what will please our heavenly father.
Jesus was speaking of this third use of the law when he said that those who became his disciples must be taught to keep the law and to do all that is commanded, and that it is obedience to his commands that will prove ones love for Him.
God bless
