Romans
5:20-21 Now the law came in to increase
the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as
sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Here the apostle refers to the
Mosaic Law, appearing to address his kinsmen of the flesh once again. It is not
the design of the Law to create sin, what Paul is saying here is that the Law
provokes sinners to sin. It’s the same effect as one of us seeing the “wet
paint” sign – we want to test that. It’s what happens when we face a speed
limit that is simply too low for the road and conditions – we want to go
faster. This is the sinful nature of humanity at work; we do not like to submit
ourselves to every ordinance of man as unto God. We conveniently forget Paul
wrote Romans 13 while the morally bankrupt Roman government rules the known
world.
Further
still, the Law was given to Israel so, as God’s chosen people for time and
space, they would see how hideous their sin was. All law given to man by God
reflects and reveals some of His character: His holiness, purity, and judgment.
The Mosaic Law was given in writing to Israel and it drew a sharp contrast
between the nature of God and that of man. Many theologians have compared this
to the jeweler’s practice of displaying his choice diamonds on black velvet.
Paul is painting a contrast here to give encouragement to the Christians,
showing us how far greater than our sin is the grace of God that reigns in
righteousness, conferring eternal life through faith in the Lord Jesus.
Paul
addresses this same topic in Galatians 3, telling those who want to live under
the Mosaic Law that its time and purpose have passed. As Jesus came in the
fullness of time, the role of the Old Covenant wound down. Once Jesus came in
the form of man and suffered for the sins of all the elect, the Old Covenant
served no further purpose; the type gave way to the anti-type as the New
Covenant was cut in the blood of the Lamb of God.
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