Law School
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
Sermon text: Exodus 20:22-24:18
The Law is good
The Law is powerless to save us
Romans 3:20
[20] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Law shows our need for a Savior
Romans 3:21-22
[21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
The Law was fulfilled in Christ
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
The Law reveals the character and will of God
But there are many good reasons to study the Old Testament law. It teaches us what God expects. It guides us into godliness. It exposes our sin and thus shows us our need for the gospel. But the law does something else that is very exciting: It reveals God’s character. This makes the Old Testament law different from any law code or book of court decisions. The law reveals the Lawgiver. We do not study it to find out what we have to do, but to know our God. And as we study and apply his law, we are conformed to his character.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
—the law reveals God’s holiness
—God’s will is for us to worship Him alone and be holy
—the law reveals God’s justice
—God’s will is for us to be responsible and seek to make things right
—the law reveals God’s compassion
—God’s will is for us to be compassionate towards all people
—the law reveals God’s wisdom
Deuteronomy 4:6
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
—God’s will is for us to love Him and love others
“What is significant is that God mentions these sacrifices almost immediately after giving his law. God gave his people Ten Commandments for all of life, ordering them to obey. However, he also knew that they would disobey him. So he provided a way for them to atone for their sins and come back into fellowship with him. Both the burnt offering and the fellowship offering were for sinners in need of salvation.”
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
Discipleship Questions:
Sermon text: Exodus 20:22-24:18
The Law is good
The Law is powerless to save us
Romans 3:20
[20] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The Law shows our need for a Savior
Romans 3:21-22
[21] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—[22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
The Law was fulfilled in Christ
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
The Law reveals the character and will of God
But there are many good reasons to study the Old Testament law. It teaches us what God expects. It guides us into godliness. It exposes our sin and thus shows us our need for the gospel. But the law does something else that is very exciting: It reveals God’s character. This makes the Old Testament law different from any law code or book of court decisions. The law reveals the Lawgiver. We do not study it to find out what we have to do, but to know our God. And as we study and apply his law, we are conformed to his character.
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
—the law reveals God’s holiness
—God’s will is for us to worship Him alone and be holy
—the law reveals God’s justice
—God’s will is for us to be responsible and seek to make things right
—the law reveals God’s compassion
—God’s will is for us to be compassionate towards all people
—the law reveals God’s wisdom
Deuteronomy 4:6
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
—God’s will is for us to love Him and love others
“What is significant is that God mentions these sacrifices almost immediately after giving his law. God gave his people Ten Commandments for all of life, ordering them to obey. However, he also knew that they would disobey him. So he provided a way for them to atone for their sins and come back into fellowship with him. Both the burnt offering and the fellowship offering were for sinners in need of salvation.”
—Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory
Discipleship Questions:
- Describe some ways that the law is good.
- How does the law point to Jesus and how is it fulfilled in Jesus?
- What are some specific ways that God’s law helps us know God?
- How does following Jesus and trusting Jesus help us live out His commandments?
- What does it look like to worship God alone and pursue holiness in our daily lives?
- What does it look like to be responsible and make things right?
- What does it look like to show compassion for all peoples?
- What does it look like to love God and love others daily?
- How does Jesus’ fulfillment of the law give you hope as a lawbreaker?
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