T he first part of verse 20 tells us what the law is unable to do – it is unable to justify sinful man. Nobody will be declared righteous by observing the law. God did not give the law as a means to salvation. It is not a checklist for us to earn our way to heaven. In the second half of verse 20, Paul shows us what the law can do – it gives men the knowledge of sin. Apart from the law, we will not realise how sinful we are. We may think that we are basically good moral people, especially when we compare ourselves against crooks and criminals. But it is against God’s standard that we should measure ourselves. Unless we attain God’s standard of righteousness, no one is righteous enough to enter heaven. God reveals His standard to us through His law. It is only when we measure ourselves against God’s law that we begin to see how far short we are of God’s righteous demands. We are all wretched sinners condemned to His wrath and just punishment. There is no way we can save ourselves. We need a Saviour. So, this is the purpose of the law – not a means of our justification but a measure of our unworthiness. Do you see yourself as a guilty condemned sinner awaiting God’s judgment? Let the law lead you to His throne of grace, where you can obtain mercy and forgiveness of sins through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
LESSON
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
No man can justify himself before God by a perfect performance of the Law’s demands – indeed it is the straight-edge of the Law that shows us how crooked we are. – J. B. Phillips
THOUGHT
Powered by FlippingBook