The Law's Purpose: Pointing Sinners to Christ

Grace For This City Podcast

In this episode Justin discusses the role of the law in Christian theology, emphasizing its utility in revealing sin and leading people to Christ, as supported by Romans 7:7-11 and 1 Timothy 1:8-9. He explains that the law condemns sin, acting as a tutor that highlights the need for a savior, but it does not bring righteousness, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Justin critiques misunderstandings, such as equating law-keeping with salvation or dismissing the law entirely, and addresses movements that misapply the law, like certain Torah-observant groups. He stresses that the law is designed to convict the unrighteous—those who are lawless, ungodly, or sinful—pointing them to the cross, while grace and resurrection follow for those who accept Christ. Justin warns against offering grace prematurely without the law's convicting work and clarifies that true salvation involves humility, repentance, and a transformed life, not merely acceptance "as is," using biblical references to underscore the necessity of dying to sin before experiencing the life of Christ.