The Works of the Law

...by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20

"The Law" here and elsewhere in the New Testament refers to the Old Testament writings of Moses. In those first five books of the Bible, Moses gives the history of civilization as God revealed it to him, and the "knowledge of sin," meaning God's norms and standards of attitude and behavior for the people He calls His own.

The Law is a lengthy and complicated series of rules, codes and common sense instructions which, if followed exactly, would result in perfect peace and security for all mankind. The problem with the Law is not the Law. The problem is within the souls of those to whom the Law is given.

All human beings are born in sin, as the result of Adam's disobedience to God. Sin is a fact of our genetics which causes us to be blind to God's absolute righteousness. We sin because we're sinners, and we tend to justify our own misdeeds and failures by trying to compare ourselves favorably to other sinners (my gossip is not as bad as your lying, etc.). This is relative righteousness, which adds up to all minuses on the great eternal balance sheet that so many seem to be relying on for "points."

Well, the bad news is we can't earn any points. That's not the purpose of the Law. The Law has accomplished its purpose by giving the human race a correct standard: "the knowledge of sin." Never mind what sister Susie's been doing, here's what God's righteousness requires, and guess what: you've already messed up. Here's what else: you can't change it. By the time any human comes to know sin exists, he has already lived as a sinner from birth, committing sins every day of his life. We are genetically predisposed to sin, as the offspring of our father, Adam. Ah! So, now that I know I'm a sinner who has committed thousands of sins already, what can I do about it?

I can't fix it by the Law. Only God's righteousness can fix it.

"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law (of Moses) and the Prophets (Old Testament writers), even the righteousness (which belongs to) God..." Romans 3:21-22

How? Only one way:

"....through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:22-23.

We cannot change the condition of our birth. But God made a way, through His uniquely born Son; the only human ever born without sin. His name is Jesus.

"Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:43 

Through believing in His name (His person and His finished work), we receive, we do not earn, forgiveness. There has never been anything we could do to earn forgiveness. And what about the penalty for all those sins? The Law couldn't free us; it was the Law that condemned us.

Then who can be free?

"and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses." Acts 13:39

Salvation is free because Jesus paid.

Psalm 106:1 - Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.