Part 4: Sin and the Law — Why Rules Couldn’t Save Us
By now, we’ve seen what sin is, where it came from, and what it does. The natural next question is: What can fix it? What can restore the separation, silence the shame, and undo death?
In the Old Testament, God gave His people the Law—a holy standard, written in commandments, rituals, and practices. But the Law didn’t cure sin. It revealed it. It named the disease but didn’t provide the cure.
The Law Was Good — But Limited
God’s Law, given through Moses, was never the problem. It was holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). But it was not a solution for sin—it was a mirror to expose it. Like a spiritual X-ray, the Law showed us what was broken without giving us the power to fix it.
“I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.” — Romans 7:7
Paul describes his own struggle in Romans 7: how he knew what was right, but still couldn’t do it. The Law could teach, convict, and guide—but it couldn’t transform. It had no power to change the heart.
Rules Can’t Change a Heart
Here’s the hard truth: We can’t obey our way into holiness. The Law defined righteousness, but it didn’t produce righteousness. Even when we try to do good, we often fall back into the very things we hate. We’re not just lawbreakers—we’re captives.
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” — Romans 7:24
This is the cry of a soul that has tried its best and failed. And that’s exactly where grace meets us.
The Law Leads Us to Christ
In Galatians, Paul calls the Law a guardian or tutor—something meant to lead us to Christ by showing us our need.
“So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” — Galatians 3:24
The Law points forward. It prepares the heart. It says, “You need help.” And then it steps aside for Jesus, the only One who could fulfill it.
He did what we could not do—He obeyed perfectly, lived righteously, and then took our penalty upon Himself. The Law demanded justice; the cross provided mercy.
Rules or Relationship?
When we reduce Christianity to rules—do this, don’t do that—we fall back into the very system Jesus came to fulfill. God doesn’t just want better behavior. He wants renewed hearts, filled with His Spirit and transformed by grace.
“For what the law was powerless to do… God did by sending his own Son…” — Romans 8:3
We don’t live under the Law anymore. We live under grace—free to obey not out of fear, but out of love.
Key Scriptures
- Romans 7:7–25 – The Law reveals sin but can’t rescue us.
- Galatians 3:19–24 – The Law as a guardian leading us to Christ.
- Romans 8:3 – What the Law couldn’t do, God did through Jesus.
Reflection Questions
- Have you ever tried to “be good enough” for God through effort or rule-keeping? How did that work out?
- Why is it important to see the Law as a pointer to Christ rather than a path to righteousness?
- How does living under grace change your motivation to obey God?