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40 Second, He uses the Law to reveal and condemn our sin (a mirror). 42 Romans 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 43 Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." 44 1 John 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. Third, He uses the Law to guide and direct our thoughts, words, and deeds as Christians in God-pleasing ways (a guide). 45 Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 46 Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life. 19. W H Y I S T H E S E C O N D U S E O F T H E L AW S O I M P O R TA N T ? It shows that we all have sinned and cannot keep God's command- ments, and so it makes known our need for the Gospel of Christ, who is the fulfillment of the Law. The Law always accuses. 47 Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifest- ed apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear wit- ness to it. 48 Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 49 Galatians 3:13–14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 20. W H AT I S S I N ? Sin is humanity's fallen condition. We are turned away from God and are unable to look to Him for security, meaning, and righteousness. This inner sinful condition results in actual sins of thought, desire, word, or deed that are contrary to God's will as summarized in the Ten Com- mandments. 50 1 John 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Note: Other names for sin as condition or action are debt (Matthew 6:12), disobedience (Romans 5:19), fault (Matthew 18:15), iniquity (Psalm 38:18), lawlessness (1 John 3:4), rebellion (Deuteronomy 13:5), transgression (Psalm 32:5), trespass (Romans 5:17 ), unbelief ( John 3:18), wickedness (Genesis 39:9), and wrongs (Colossians 3:25). 21. H O W D I D S I N E N T E R G O D ' S G O O D C R E AT I O N ? The devil brought sin into the world by tempting Adam and Eve, who willingly yielded to the temptation. Read Genesis 3:1–6, about the fall into sin of our first parents. 51 1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 52 Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men be- cause all sinned. 22. H O W D I D A D A M A N D E V E ' S D I S O B E D I E N C E A F F E C T U S ? In Adam and Eve's sin, the entire human race also fell into sin. We call this original or inherited sin. 53 Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Read John 3:6 and Ephesians 4:22.

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