The many purposes of the Mosaic Law

With a little help from Bruce Longenecker (The Triumph of Abraham's God) these are some hastily typed thoughts. Obviously there is a certain amount of overlap but I suspect not all are equally important or compatible.

1. To increase transgression.
• Two alternative ways it could do this, either by providing a legal basis for the classification of sin as transgression (Rom 5:20), or by actually increasing sin (Rom 7)
2. To reveal human sinfulness.
• There seem to be two (not mutually exclusive) ways in could do this, firstly by clearly showing the demands of God and showing humanity's inability to meet those demands, and secondly by illustrating human sinfulness in the ceremonial aspects of the law.
3. To restrain sinful desires (cf. Matt 19).
4. To condemn human sinfulness (try any of the OT prophets or 2 Cor 3:9).
5. To provide shadows of the reality found in Christ (Hebrews).
6. To make known what God is like (Heb 1).
7. To enable God to draw near to a people despite their sin and his holiness
• Consider how the levels of sacrifice and other rituals increased the nearer you came to God, and it was not just ceremonial but the demands of personal moral holiness were also greater the nearer you came to God (which links in with the higher standards Israel was held to compared to the nations).

Meanwhile, where as I stumble along in these matters Peter Dray is being much more clear and helpful on the place of the law on his blog if you care to take a look.

If anyone else does read this blog then please comment and help me out here. Thanks.