Dwight Fletcher | Living by the law intensifies sin

WE FOCUS on what we meditate on, and the Old Testament (Mosaic) Law prompts us to focus on sin. When we look at it, this is what gets our attention and eventually fuels our direction. The Bible tells us, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Romans 3:20 (NIV).

We need to recognise the futility of attempting to use the law to achieve righteousness. Many of us have been taught Christianity this way; “don’t do that” “don’t touch that” ... don’t, don’t, don’t. So, the better our self-discipline, the better we feel. But all that effort doesn’t make us more righteous. It cannot get us there. “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch! 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.” Colossians 2:21-23 (NIV).

The lens of the law brings sin into focus, but it doesn’t help change our behaviour. We won’t make any headway using this methodology. We won’t experience lasting victory, and even worse, we become what we focus on. When we are focusing more on sin than on Christ, our sin can easily become an idol. Our sin will then start to control us, rather than us controlling it.OPPRESSIVE

Living by the law actually intensifies sin. If we attempt to follow the law and be governed by it, all that does is to make sin more pronounced and give it more control over us. Sin then becomes oppressive in our lives. “Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.” Romans 7:7-8 (NLT).

The challenge is that the commands help us to understand what sin is, which is great, but the commands themselves have no power to keep us from sinning. As the law draws our focus to sin, our sin nature becomes activated in us and becomes what we focus on. Therefore, instead of us walking away from the sin that we know and recognise is wrong, the law activating our sin nature incites us to commit sin. It prompts us to do what we know is wrong. For example, if you have a drinking problem, it does not help you to continuously repeat to yourself “I should not drink”. You will be focusing on the drinking. That constant reminder can become overwhelming.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me.” Romans 7:11 (NLT). Trying to obey God by self-effort, using the law, doesn’t make us stronger Christians, it make us weaker ones. We are more likely to sin when we attempt to use the law as our basis to live the Christian life. “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18-19 (NIV). That’s why God gave us something better through Jesus Christ. Grace is better, and it enables us to sin less.