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Lent Day 16


 Scripture Reading

Galatians 3:15-26


"What then was the purpose of the law?" According to Paul the Law serves to lead us to God. The Mosaic Law which includes the Ten Commandments was given to show them the need for the Promised Seed to come. The Promised Seed was Jesus. It is through Jesus that Abraham becomes a blessing to the whole world. 


The Law is like the signs at Six Flags that say you must be a certain height to ride this ride. If we don't keep the Law, which we can't because we are sinful, then we realize that we don't meet God's standard. So we need someone who can meet that standard for us. Because of Jesus' sinless life he was able to offer his life as a sacrifice for us who as sinners, deserve death. The Law was instituted by God to demonstrate our need for Christ. When we look at the Law and its requirements we realize that we have broken at least one of God's commandments and in most cases all of them (at least in our heart). God's plan with the Mosaic Law was for it to serve as a standard of righteousness that would point out our unrighteousness so that we would see the need for Christ in our lives. 


The key to this passage is understanding that God did not have two ways of saving people (an Old Testament way and a New Testament way). It has always been God's purpose to use faith in who Christ is and what he did to bring people into a right relationship with him. 


When you think about the Ten Commandments does it make you proud that you keep most of them or are you even more thankful for God's grace that sent Jesus to fulfill the Law so that we could have a relationship with God? 


Prayer: Father, thank you for the Law that you gave Moses so many years ago. Use it to continue to point out the sin in my life and my dependence on Christ. I praise you for your grace that you have freely given to me. May my faith rest in you alone. Amen.

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