I always had this question growing up.  Why did the law have to come at all?  See I read this verse in Romans that says…

9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Romans 7:9 KJV

In my mind, without the law there was life and with the law sin was able to harm us so I thought why even have the law come?

This is a huge topic that covers so many things, but today I simply want to look at one scripture verse that talks about why the law came.

Our Text

19 Wherefore then serveth 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. 

Galatians 3:19 KJV

The Law was Protection

Before Christ came and spoiled principalities and powers, the devil was in control of this earth.  We were without hope.  Adam committed high treason against God and left the whole world to suffer and die.  

The Lord had to respect our will. (After all He told us not to do it, but God being so GOOD will even let us screw up our lives if we so desire – He won’t violate our will.) 

But God didn’t want to leave us without a way out of our mess.  That is why He sent the law – protection.  

These transgressions – you and me – were threatening to stop God’s plan on the earth (Why do you think God flooded the earth in Noah’s time?)

God was looking to bring Jesus – “the seed” – into this earth, but He couldn’t do it if the lineage of Jesus became corrupted. We had already been down that road.  The age of conscience left man completely desolate of morals. 

God says in Genesis 6…

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Genesis 6:5-6 KJV

It all started when Adam sinned and fell from his authority.  At that moment God said, I will bring a man into this earth – the last Adam – which will take away the sins of my children. 

Jesus the Promised One

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 3:15 KJV

This is the story of salvation.  God came to earth as Jesus.  He manifest Himself to us as a loving God who fought for 4,000 years to come to earth to willingly die in our place for the sins we committed. 

When Galatians says, till the seed should come he is talking about Jesus.  Jesus is the promised messiah and He isn’t here to bring death or talk about sin.  

He nailed sin to the cross and became that sin for you and me.  I’m sure He isn’t anxious to drag any of the things He did back up to us.  

Think about it.  It’s a party up in heaven.  Jesus is the victor.  When you win, who wants to go back and relive all the horrible things that happened?  Yet you think that Jesus is up there with a measuring stick pointing out the sin you haven’t confessed or the thing you haven’t done exactly right? 

Forget about it.  Jesus is just ready for you to take what He did at face value and say, Here am I Lord.  I accept your sacrifice and offer my life up to you.

People may say,

“Oh I would die for Jesus.”

But how many people will live for Jesus?

He’s not asking for you to die.  Jesus already did that.  He’s asking for your life. 

If you have never accepted Jesus as the Lord of your life, say this prayer after me.

Jesus thank you for your sacrifice. You died on the cross taking the punishment that I was due. I believe that you not only died, but that you rose again and are seated next to God. Come into my life and use it. Change it and make it what you want it to be. I’m done living for the world. I want to be used by you. Here am I Lord – send me. In Jesus name, Amen.

Further Reading

Peace that’s not like the world’s | Salvation from Brokenness