“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. And the scripture hath concluded [“shut up,” Greek] all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed” (Gal. 3:21-23).
All were “shut up under sin.” And all were “under the law, shut up.” And the only possible way in which anybody can be under sin is by that law by which is “the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20; 7:7); by that law which is “the strength of sin” (1 Cor. 15:56); that law of which “sin” itself is “the transgression” (1 John 3:4). That law is the law, which says, “You shall not covet” (Rom. 7:7-13). And that is the law of God, the Ten Commandments. This is so certain that there can be no question about it.
And it is equally certain that the ceremonial law of sacrifices and offerings never was intended to, and never could, shut up anybody under the law. On the contrary, that was for the time then present the way out from under the law. Notice the following example in illustration, from that ceremonial law: —
“If the whole congregation of Israel sin . . . and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; when the sin which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord. And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation . . . and the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them” (Lev. 4:13-20).
Now please look that all over, and consider it step by step: —
(a) The people sinned. How?
(b) They had done “somewhat against the commandments of the Lord.” What commandments of the Lord?
(c) The commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done.” What are the commandments of the Lord concerning things, which should not be done?
(d) Plainly enough these: “You shall have no other gods before me.” “You shall not make unto thee any graven image.” “You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shall not do any work.” “You shall not kill.” “You shall not commit adultery.” “You shall not steal.” “You shall not bear false witness.” “You shall not covet.”
(e) And when they had sinned by doing somewhat against any of these commandments, this law, of the Lord, they were “guilty.” And when the sin came to their knowledge, that guilt was the more impressed—“sin by the commandment became exceedingly sinful.” And so long as they remained in that attitude and in that place only, they were held under that guilt, “shut up under sin;” so long as they remained there only, they remained the more guilty, and “were kept under the law, shut up.” But they need not remain there “shut up under sin” and “kept under the law, shut up,” held “guilty.” They need not remain there, because—