Why did God Make the Old Covenant of the Law, When Jesus Was the Ultimate Answer?

Why did God Make the Old Covenant of the Law, When Jesus Was the Ultimate Answer?

A question was posed: Why did God make the Old Covenant of the Law, i.e., the Mosaic Law, if Jesus was with Him in the beginning, and was God's plan for salvation? This is a good question. 

The Old Covenant, also known as the Mosaic Law, serves multiple purposes that are consistent with the overarching plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Here are some reasons why God instituted the Old Covenant, even though Jesus was with Him from the beginning:

To Reveal God's Holiness and Righteousness

The Law serves as a reflection of God's character—His holiness, righteousness, and justice. It sets the standard for what is good and right, thereby revealing the nature of God to His people.

To Expose Sin

The Law acts as a "mirror," showing humanity its sinful nature. Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." The Law makes it clear that humanity falls short of God's standards.

To Lead People to Christ

The Apostle Paul describes the Law as a "schoolmaster" or "guardian" that leads us to Christ. In Galatians 3:24, the Apostle Paul tells us, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (KJV). By revealing our inability to achieve righteousness on our own, the Law points us to our need for a Savior.

To Govern Social and Religious Life

The Mosaic Law also had a practical function: it governed the social, ethical, and religious aspects of Israelite life. This helped maintain order and justice in society, and it set the Israelites apart as God's chosen people.

To Foreshadow Christ

Many aspects of the Law, including its sacrifices and festivals, serve as types or foreshadows of Christ and His work. For example, the Passover lamb is seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" John 1:29 (KJV).

To Establish a Covenant Relationship

The Old Covenant was a binding agreement between God and Israel. It was part of the unfolding covenantal structure that would ultimately be fulfilled in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.

Continuity and Fulfillment in Christ

Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17 says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil," (KJV). In Him, the righteous requirements of the Law are met, and through faith in Him, believers are justified. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," John 3:16 KJV.

So, the bottom line is that the Old Covenant was not a "mistake" or an "afterthought." It was a crucial part of God's sovereign plan to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Savior. It served specific purposes that were both practical and theological, all of which were fulfilled and made complete in Jesus.