Mar 3 – The Law Brings Condemnation

“¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. ²⁰ For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.”

The law brings silence to all those who are subject to it. It shuts their mouths. They have no response. They have no way to escape the condemnation of their sin by the law. It is on the basis of the law that God’s judgment is brought about. The law cannot save. It only brings condemnation. Following the law cannot save you, but breaking the law does condemn you. Only through repentance of sin and through faith in Jesus Christ can one be saved from the wrath that comes as a result of their violation of God’s law.

“Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you. Everyone who believes is justified through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.” — ‭‭Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭38‬-‭39

“and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.” — ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭16

There is an idea here that the law not only 1) Informs a person of the commandment he/she is breaking and brings knowledge of sin, but 2) those who know the law will encounter more sin and evil, simply because they know the law.

“What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet. And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.” — ‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8

This can create a hypothetical argument that can be tricky, one that Paul has already addressed early in his letter: How can God hold accountable even those who do not know what He requires of them? How can God judge those who do not know they are breaking His law? Paul has told us, no such person exists. 

“For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”  — Romans 1:18-20

There is not a single human being that has ever lived, less Jesus, who is not included in this condemnation. All people have suppressed the truth about God. Some may have been revealed much about God, some little, but all have chosen to go their own way. This is where Paul is headed in the following verses. Thankfully, Jesus will soon enter the picture. I look forward to continuing this discussion in the following devotionals.