To Us a Son Is GivenSample

What the Law Couldn’t Do

In the Old Testament God gave the law to His people, Israel, so that they would know what He was like and know how they ought to live (see Exodus 19–24). This was a unique privilege. However, as Israel’s history shows, merely having God’s law does not bring redemption. In fact, due to sin’s tyranny, relying on the works of the law brings a curse:

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” (Galatians 3:10)

Gratefully, God did what the law could never do—He broke sin’s tyranny and provided redemption for His people. And He did this by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to be “born of woman, born under the law.” Christ was fully human, and He was born as a Jew, subject to the law. He obeyed the law perfectly, and then, despite the fact that He had no sin, He took the punishment we deserve. Now all who put their trust in Jesus receive “adoption as sons.”

Today’s passage reminds us that we are helpless apart from God’s grace. Even our best attempts to keep God’s law cannot save us. It took God sending His Son, in the flesh, to rescue sinners like us. Our obedience is the fruit of God’s grace, not the cause of it.

Simple Summary

The law was God’s good gift to His people, Israel. It revealed what He was like and how His people ought to live. However, the law could not solve Israel’s sin problem. In fact, the law said that those who disobeyed would be cursed, or punished. Thankfully, God did what the law could not do: He provided redemption (freedom from the power and penalty of sin) by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was fully human, and He obeyed the law perfectly in our place. He then died on the cross to take the punishment our sins deserve. Now, because of what Jesus has done, all who trust in Him are forgiven of their sins and are adopted into God’s family.

Pray

Thank Jesus for rescuing us from sin’s power and penalty.