The Law's Purpose
We’ve already determined that no one can keep the law perfectly – Romans 3:10-12 states that truth in eight pointed ways! But that leads to only more questions, doesn’t it?
Q: Did God create us unable to keep His law? A: No, but because of the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, all of creation is fallen; we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Q: Since no one can keep God’s law, what is its purpose? A: That we may know the holy nature and will of God, and the sinful nature and disobedience of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior. The law also teaches and exhorts us to live a life worthy of our Savior.
Romans 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Q: What is sin? A: Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world He created, rebelling against him my living without reference to Him, not being or doing what He requires in His law – resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.
1 John 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
Q: What is idolatry? A: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.
Romans 1:21, 25
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Q: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished? A: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against His righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in His just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come.
Ephesians 5:5-6 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.