Questions and Answers
1. How did Paul seek to persuade his hearers concerning Jesus? Why did he do this?
In Acts 28:23 the Bible tells us that Paul sought to persuade his hearers “concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets.” Here are two effective means of persuading the unsaved “concerning Jesus.”
Let’s first look at how the prophets can help persuade sinners concerning Jesus. Fulfilled prophecy proves the inspiration of Scripture. The predictions of the prophets present a powerful case for the inspiration of the Bible. Any skeptic who reads the prophetic words of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, etc., or the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 cannot help but be challenged that this is no ordinary book.
The other means by which Paul persuaded sinners concerning Jesus was “out of the law of Moses.” The Bible tells us that the Law of Moses is good if it is used lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8). For what purpose was God’s Law designed? The following verses tell us: “The Law is not made for a righteous person, but...for sinners” (1 Timothy 1:9,10). It even lists the sinners for us: the disobedient, the ungodly, murderers, fornicators, homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, etc. The Law was designed primarily as an evangelistic tool. Paul wrote that he “had not known sin, but by the law” (Romans 7:7). The Law of God (the Ten Commandments) is evidently the “key of knowledge” that Jesus mentioned in Luke 11:52. He was speaking to lawyers—those who should have been teaching God’s Law so that sinners would receive the “knowledge of sin,” and thus recognize their need of the Savior.
Prophecy speaks to the intellect of the sinner, while the Law speaks to the conscience. One produces faith in the Word of God; the other brings knowledge of sin in the heart of the sinner. The Law is the God-given “key” to unlock the Door of salvation.
2. What is it that actually converts the soul? (See Psalm 19:7.)
The Bible says in Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” Scripture makes it very clear that it is the Law that actually converts the soul.
3. Why do you think the preaching of the cross seems foolish and offensive to an unregenerate sinner?
Without being aware of that you're a law-breaker (sinner, transgressor before a holy God) good news wouldn’t be good news to you; it would seem foolishness. But more than that, it would be offensive to you, because I’m insinuating you’ve broken the law when you don’t think you have.
By telling you precisely what you’ve done wrong first actually enables the good news to make sense. If I don’t clearly bring understanding that you’ve violated the law, then the good news will seem foolishness and offensive. But once you understand that you’ve broken the law, then that good news will become good news indeed.
4. Therefore, what should someone be told first, before he hears the good news of his fine being paid?
The Law (ie The Law of Moses, ie The Ten Commandments).
PS - using commandments 9 (lying), 8 (stealing), 7 (adultery of the heart), 6 (murder in your heart), and/or 3 (blasphemy) is more than enough to prick the conscience.
5. What does it mean that the Law “stops every mouth”? (See Romans 3:19.)
Romans 3:19 says, “Now we know that whatsoever things the law says, it says to them who are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.” So one function of God’s Law is to stop the mouth, to keep sinners from justifying themselves by saying, “There are plenty of people worse than me. I’m not a bad person, really.” No, the law stops the mouth of justification and leaves, not just the Jews, but the whole world guilty before God.
6. What are four functions of the Law? (See Romans 3:19,20; 7:7; Galatians 3:24.)
Rom 3:19 shows us that it 1)stops the mouth and 2)leaves the entire world guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 "...for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” So God’s Law 3)tells us what sin is
In Galatians 3:24 we learn that God’s Law 4)acts as a schoolmaster to bring us to Jesus Christ that we might be justified through faith in His blood. The Law doesn’t help us; it just leaves us helpless. It doesn’t justify us; it just leaves us guilty before the judgment bar of a holy God.
7. What is the biblical definition of sin? (See 1 John 3:4.)
“Sin is transgression of the law.”
Memory Verse
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
GALATIANS 3:24
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