The Purpose of The Law

“... by the deeds (works) of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight…” (Rom. 3:20).

It’s strange that so many sincere people can so misunderstand God’s written Word as to suppose that He gave the Law “to help us to be good” or “as a rule of life.”

The Law was not given to help us to be good, but rather to show us that we are sinners and need a Savior. Rom. 3:22-23 says that “there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

How foolish, then, to look to the Law for help. Though the Law provides for just trial it does not help the criminal; it condemns him. Thus the Bible teaches that the Law was given…

(so) That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought in guilty before God” (Rom. 3:19).

“For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).

“The law entered that the offense might abound” (Rom. 5:20).

“That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Rom. 7:13).

This leads us to the Apostle Paul’s great conclusion:

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:20).

This makes sense because doing a few “good” things cannot right the wrongs we have done. Good is what we should do, hence we should not expect to be rewarded for it. The issue is, have you kept the whole law? If not, you are guilty of breaking all the law.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

None of us can meet the demand for perfection. But there is one who was and is perfect. Thank God “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3) and “by Him all who believe are justified” (Acts 13:39).

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith WITHOUT  the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28).

Thus “the Law” is intended to reveals to us our utter helplessness in genuine righteous living and that we have sinned and separated ourselves from God. God uses “the Law” to lead us to trust Christ as our imputed righteousness before God… and to receive His very life as the righteousness of God in Christ… in us.

Why not… “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).