The Everlasting Covenant

Chapter 24 - The Entering of the Law

“Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” ¹ EVCO 282.1

The object of the entering of the law at Sinai was “that the offense might abound.” Not that there might be more sin; for since we are warned not to continue in sin that grace may abound, it is evident that the righteous God would not deliberately increase sin in order that He might have an opportunity of exhibiting more grace. The law is not sin, but has the effect, by its own righteousness, of causing sin to “appear sin,” “that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” ² The object, therefore, of the entering of the law at Sinai, was to cause the sin that already existed to stand out in its true nature and extent, so that the superabounding grace of God might be appreciated at its true value. EVCO 282.2