(The following is the June 22 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Romans 7 and pay close attention to verses 1-13.)

The New Testament repeatedly affirms that God saves us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We can’t earn salvation through works or obedience to God’s moral law since we’ve all broken his law. But once we are children of God, “we have been released from the law” (v. 6). Does that mean there is no place in our lives and God’s purposes for his law? No. Jesus said, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished” (Matt. 5:17-18).

Paul taught salvation by grace through faith yet affirmed the law’s value in multiple letters. “Is the law sin? Absolutely not! I would not have known sin if it were not for the law” (v. 7). “The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24). “But we know that the law is good, providing one uses it legitimately” (1 Tim. 1:8).

So what is the role of God’s law for Christians today? We use it to bring awareness of sin in the lost, just as Paul said the law impacted him. Sinners feel no need for a Savior without a conviction of personal sin. When we confront individuals about breaking God’s moral law, as seen in the Ten Commandments, the law will do what God intends through the power of the Holy Spirit. It makes people aware of their guilt before God and pending judgment if left unforgiven.

While Christians are no longer under the law’s condemnation (Rom. 8:1), we should use it in carrying out the Great Commission, bringing the knowledge of sin to lead people to faith in Christ.

Next Step:
Read the following passages and consider how to incorporate God’s moral law into your faith testimony and witnessing to others: Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 2:12-16, 3:9-31, 7:1-8:11; Galatians 2:11-3:26; 1 Timothy 1:3-11; James 2:8-11.