Romans 5:20

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more
Romans 5:20 ESV

In Romans 5:1-5, Paul talked about the peace we experience through faith - even in the midst of harsh trials. He encourages us to realize this peace with the truth about God's love for us, and in that light makes a subtle transition in verse 6, explaining how God revealed His love for us through Christ and all that He did.

Verses 8-11 talk about God reconciling us while we were yet His enemies (our choice), in the depths of sinfulness. Paul then expands on the depths of our sinfulness, and the power of our sinfulness to reign over us and condemn us in verses 12-19.

Now, in verse 20, Paul brings up the law - which He has discussed previously in Romans, and touched on briefly in verse 13:

for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

In verse 13, Paul tells us that a written law is not needed in order for people to be regarded as sinful. Paul revealed to us in Romans 1:19,20 that God has been visible since creation:

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

So, what is the purpose of the law? Was the purpose of the law to give people the opportunity to save themselves from their sinfulness? No, as Paul tells us in verse 20 of chapter 3 that no human being will be justified in God's sight by the works of the law. In verse 28 Paul says that we are justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

If, as Paul says, sin and death reigned before the law, and we cannot be justified by the law - is the law something that was put in place for a short while, that we can now make void? Paul answers that question in verses 30 and 31 of chapter 3, telling us that we do not make void the law because we are justified by faith...on the contrary we uphold the law.


So, what is the purpose of the law? Paul tells us in verse 20 of chapter 5:

Now the law came in to increase the trespass

This line very closely parallels the end of verse 20 in chapter 3:

through the law comes knowledge of sin

In Romans 7:7, Paul brings this point to light again, saying:

if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

The law does not make us more sinful, it serves to reveal how sinful we are in light of how perfect God is. God's laws and commands reveal who He is, and at the same time should reveal our inability to live up to God's standards.

As we come to know more about God through His laws and commands, our awareness of our trespasses against Him increases.

We ought to then realize, even more all the time, our desperate need for our Savior who perfectly satisfied the requirements of the law. 

It's interesting how Paul organizes verse 20. In the last several verses, he has laid out first man's condemnation in Adam, and secondly man's justification in Christ. I think it's no accident that this verse starts out with a negative - the trespasses being increased by the law, followed by the positive - God's grace. The law is not about salvation, but about revealing man's condemnation. Paul says chapter 7 verse 1 that the law is binding on those who are living in the flesh.

The law cannot save - rather it serves to reveal all the more the condemnation of those whose justification is not found in Christ.

Paul then reveals God's grace and mercy:

but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more

No matter how sinful we are, God's grace abounds all the more! It is impossible for sinfulness, revealed by the perfect character of God, to overpower God's grace. Paul uses similar wording here as he did in verse 17 when he said much more will God's children reign in life. These words are so powerful, because they mean to a greater degree, exceedingly - and they are inserted as Paul talks about God's grace, after talking about sin and condemnation, so that these two points remain true forever:

1. No matter what we have done - no matter how evil, no matter how dark, no matter how sick - God's grace exceedingly overcomes our sinfulness, to a greater degree. Always.

2. No matter how much sin God reveals to us as His children through sanctification, it is never powerful enough to condemn us. God's grace exceedingly overcomes our sinfulness, to a greater degree. Always.

In the beginning of chapter 7, Paul talks about those who are lost being bound by the law - being condemned in the sinfulness in light of who God is. He then says in verse 6 of chapter 7 that we are now released from the law - as God's children. Even though our sinfulness is continuously revealed the more we know who God is, we are no longer condemned because our justification rests in Christ, who satisfied the requirements of the law for us! We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18), set free by God's grace - sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14). Thank you Father!