The purpose of the Law

I continue to think about and read about the true purpose of the law vs our perception of the purpose of the law.  Most of us grow up thinking the law are guidelines for a good, or even a godly, life.  Granted, they do define God's expectations, but at the same time He was well aware that we would never be able to fulfill their requirements.  Is this a surprise to God?  If He knew the requirements of the law were impossible, why did He give them?  Watchman Nee writes it this way, "So we can say, reverently, that God never gave us the Law to keep; He gave us the Law to break!  He well knew that we could not keep it. We are so bad that He asks no favor and makes no demands.  Never has any man succeeded in making himself acceptable to God by means of the Law.  Nowhere in the New Testament are men of faith told that they are to keep the Law; but it does say that the Law was given so that there should be transgression."

Paul writes, "God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.  But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant."  Romans 6:20

As believers we often continue to live under the law; under rules; under do's and don'ts.  Our flesh desires the law.  We often fail to realize that the law no longer has any bearing on our lives.  It has fulfilled its purpose in showing us our shortcomings.  But it cannot address them.  Jesus does that.

"You died to the power of the law then you died with Christ.  And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead.  As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.  We we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.  But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power [my emphasis]"  Romans 7:4-6


"Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.  [my emphasis]"  Romans 10:4

"Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.  So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not be observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.  [my emphasis]"  Galatians 2:16

"So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  [my emphasis]"  Galatians 3:24

If anyone could have lived by the law we would never have needed Jesus in the first place.  The law therefore is a set of rules on how to live a godly life.  Is is a path to Jesus.  God does not set us up for failure.  He sets us up for righteousness -- but it comes from somewhere other than the law.