Added, Not Mixed
The Law was added to the good news of grace, not in place of it, and serves to show man his sin and condemnation, leading him to turn to God's grace for salvation.
Theodore Epp emphasizes that the Law was 'added' to the existing grace brought by Jesus Christ, highlighting that the Law, which began with Moses, was never intended to replace grace but to coexist alongside it. He explains that while the Law reveals sin and condemnation, it ultimately leads individuals to seek the grace of God for salvation. Epp clarifies that the Law was not good news, but rather a necessary precursor that pointed to the necessity of grace, allowing humanity to find justification through faith alone.
Text
Galatians 3:15-25
The passage before us says that the Law "was added" (Gal. 3:19). It was added to something already existing. John the Baptist introduced our Lord to the public and said of Him, "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
The Law had a definite beginning. It began not with Adam but with Moses. There was not a God-given Law in all those 2500 years or more between Adam and Moses, but there was sin, and because there was sin there was death.
Adam had some very definite instructions from God as to what he was to do or not to do, and he disobeyed. For this he died.
But those who lived between Adam's day and the day of Moses died also, not because they had sinned exactly as Adam sinned but because they were sinners.
The Gospel is good news to all, past, present and future. But the Law was never good news. It was bad news. It was added to the good news, but it did not take the place of grace.
Neither was it mixed with grace. And it did not supplant grace. Grace was the good news, but the Law was not. The word translated "added" means "to place alongside of." The Law's being placed alongside of grace does not mean grace was removed.
This is wonderful to see, and yet it is all-important. Grace was there so that man could flee to it when the Law had done its work. When man saw himself condemned and cursed by the Law, he could turn to God's grace and find salvation.
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Rom. 3:28).
Sermon Outline
- The Law was Added
- The Law was Never Good News
- The Law did not Supplant Grace
- The Law was bad news, not good news
- The Law was added to the good news of grace
- The Law was placed alongside of grace
- Grace was not removed by the Law
- Man could turn to God's grace when the Law condemned him
Key Quotes
“The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” — Theodore Epp
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Recognize that the Law was added to the good news of grace, not in place of it.
- Understand that the Law serves to show man his sin and condemnation, leading him to turn to God's grace for salvation.
- Trust in God's grace for salvation, rather than relying on the deeds of the law.