… Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”

— Romans 7:7b

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

— Romans 3:19-20

because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

— Romans 4:15

The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

— Romans 5:20

So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

— Galatians 3:24

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The Law is also like flashing lights on a police car. It gets our attention. It makes us stop. It shows us that something is wrong, but it’s not the punishment. It’s a warning. The Law prepares the heart like the plowing prepares the soil for the seed. When the gospel seed is planted, it bears fruit— repentance and faith.

You could also think the Law is like a tutor or a guardian. In Galatians 3:24, Paul says therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. A tutor does not replace the teacher. A tutor simply prepares you for the teacher. The Law does not replace Christ. It leads people to Christ. Once you see your failure under the Law, you can see that you have a need for a Savior.