Why the Law?

This passage begins answering the question "why was the Law added?" After considering the backdrop of Adam's sin and Christ's righteousness earlier in the chapter, Paul explains, perhaps counter-intuitively, that "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase" (Romans 5:20) - but isn't that going in the wrong direction? This is actually part of God's gracious plan, evidenced in one of the theme verses of Romans, chapter 11 verse 32: "God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all." Only our sovereign, gracious, infinite God could devise a way that "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." That is a good summary of the good news of the gospel - where sin increased, grace abounded all the more!