The Law. Romans 3:19-20 V.19. The verdict is in from the Great Judge; the Great Physician has rendered His decision as to the condition of all mankind; and the Great Historian of all the ages has given His indictment of the failure of mankind to be justified by his works. From every point of view, all that can be said is, "Guilty before God." So, the Jews who had taken the high ground as law-keepers, and the Gentiles who have an inner law, are both condemned by the law. Talk of one's own "goodness" and the "badness" we perceive in others is over. The whole human race must stand with bowed heads as the Judge, Physician and Historian, leave us all without a word to say in our defense.
V.20. No one is declared righteous by the law. No one is cleared of all guilt by the law. No one is made fit for heaven by the deeds of the law. No one is able to be accepted by God because of the law. No one is justified by keeping the law because the law does not remove sin. It points out sin. Our failure to do what God requires leaves us all under the guilt of sin. People may have their own ideas as to what is right. Other people will fight for their own convictions. Still others will claim they have had direct revelations from God. The religious have their ideas or idols - but the law condemns every one because the law was given that we might "have the knowledge of sin." So, what is the point of having the law? It is holy, and just, and good. It reveals what God approves of and what He forbids. It sets the standard for man's obedience. It gives a basis for condemnation when failure to obey it occurs.
The law condemns sin and when broken by man who sins, it condemns man. Keeping one or two laws if it were possible, does not negate the condemnation by the law for those broken in the past, nor does it remove guilt from the present. Law-keeping was never God's way of salvation or of the cleansing blessing from God. Faith has always been and still is, the only way to please God.
The principle of faith has been how God has dealt with man and his sin from the time of Abel who offered the right sacrifice, to this present day. Abraham responded to God's promise by faith. Every person who has come into a saving relationship with God, has done so on the basis of faith alone, not on faith plus anything else. The only way anyone would ever admit he is a sinner and a failure in himself is by the holy righteous rule of law. The law's ministry was condemnation and death for sin and it has done this well.
God has never changed His plan of acceptance of us. It has always been, and still is, on the basis of faith in Him. The law does not add anything to faith to make us more acceptable. God never expected man to do what he could not do, that is, keep the law perfectly; then, because man failed, change to a "by grace ye are saved," plan. The law was given that sin might abound, not grace. It has revealed clearly guilt, sinfulness and our helplessness to save ourselves.
The mercy and grace of God has always been the only way of salvation. It tells us the Gospel message so that from Adam to every person today, mercy and grace are there as the basis of forgiveness of sin when a guilty sinner, condemned by the law he had broken, repents of sin and turns in personal faith to Christ alone for salvation. Sovereign mercy and sovereign grace are there to act on behalf of the sinner who is convicted of sin by "the works of the law."
Guilty before God. Whatever has happened to the human race? Why are human beings so far removed from what God intended? The insidiousness of sin has permeated into our relationships with others and it has kept going further to the place where respect and honor for God is gone. The rules are in place but they don’t work without the righteousness of God being imputed to us. The laws tell us what is wrong, but knowing that doesn’t change behavior.
The law makes it plain I am guilty and under the judgment of God. But how can that bring the change that leads to a right relationship with God? It cannot make the change. But it can make me stop talking and listen to a higher authority. When that happens, God is there with His Word to clarify not only what is wrong, but to instruct me as to what is right.