How would you describe a parent who made rules that their child could not keep, rules that, when broken, resulted in punishment?

Would you say they were mean, evil, a saboteur or maybe someone who wanted to exasperate or see their child fail?

What about a God, who makes ten commands that no one could keep, Laws that when violated, resulted in punishment? 1

The Law, in reality, causes us to sin.

The Law came that transgression might increase, and sin, taking the opportunity through the commandment, produced more sin. 2

If true, we can conclude that this is an evil, mean God who frustrates His people OR He had another purpose for the Law.

I suggest that God's purpose for the Law was accomplished, once it produced sin in us. When we saw our depravity, that there "is none righteous, not even one", the Law had no further purpose. We now know we are sinners and our righteousness is as filthy rags and the relief is Christ, and His death on the cross.

Once the Law has shown the need for a Savior, its purpose is complete. 3

If we continue to live under the Law, it continues to cause us to sin "the law came in that the transgression might increase".

Now, what happens is noteworthy. The Law brings about sin, sin causes us to feel guilt, to relieve guilt, we get back under the Law. Then, the Law brings about sin, sin causes guilt, we get back under the Law to relieve the guilt… Do you see the cycle?

The Law then remains, for the unregenerated sinner. It keeps him in line and points him to the Savior.

As Believers, we fulfill the Law through love. If God is love, and we have His Spirit, we will then walk in love. Love fulfills the Law.

Even in society, this would be true. For example, a stop sign is used to maintain order, however, a Believer would not need stop signs, or any other law, for that matter, because they would prefer one another. They would yield to another at an intersection. They would maintain speed limits to prefer others. They would not tailgate etc. in preference to another. The Laws governing theft, murder or Domestic Violence would be of no value to the regenerated man who loved.


Now, when we sin, what do we do? Do we ignore it, do we plead forgiveness, do penance?


1) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 1 Cor 15:56

2) And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Rom 5:20

For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. Rom 7:5

But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Rom 7:8

3) But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Rom 7:6