{3}          Does the Law increase our sin? (Ro 5:20)

Romans 5:20
The law was added that the trespass might increase.

Problem:

·         Would God our righteous Father have given Moses the Law in order to increase the sinfulness of the people of Israel?

·         Does not the Bible tell us about a God who seeks to bring his lost and fallen creation back into relationship with Himself?

Context:

·         Paul presents the contrast between the consequences of sin and God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ (Ro 5:12-21). Sin entered the human sphere with Adam’s rejection of God’s purpose (5:12). Sin was here from the start, the Law was added much later (5:13). Even without the Law, humans were alienated from God’s purpose (5:13-14).

Explanation:

·         Sin can not increase beyond the separation of the whole creation from its Creator.

·         The Law serves to demonstrate the reality of sin and so increases man’s awareness of the Fall. All men have fallen.

·         The law is regarded as a gift from God throughout the Old Testament (7:10).

·         Through the Law we become conscious of sin (3:30).

·         Paul later states: “It is not the law that leads to sin” but the Law shows us what sin looks like “I would not have known what sin looks like except through the Law.” (7:7‑8)

·         The Law was added because of our transgressions.

Application:

·         Separation from God and continuance in Sin was not just an Old Testament problem. In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus admonishes us to keep the Law. Jesus too increases the awareness of sin: anyone who is angry is capable of murder (5:22), anyone who looks at woman in lust is guilty of adultery (5:28).

·         Rather the Law as presented in Romans 5:20-21 increases sin by increasing our awareness of it just as Jesus in Matthew 5:17-28 reveals the sinfulness of our thoughts and attitudes. Indeed it is impossible to live apart from sin except through a righteous relationship with Jesus as afforded through his plan of salvation.