Problems with Law Preaching

Many men say we must emphasize sin folks before the gospel preached, because the glory of Christ is better seen against the darkness of sin. So show people their sin and they can see Christ better. Many say that the way to show people their sin is to preach law to sinners, because the law brings knowledge of sin – citing Romans 7:7.

Two things need to be considered to understand the problems with this approach.

1.       To say that a person needs to understand their sin before they can rightly see the glory of Christ is actually backwards. Unregenerate people cannot be brought to spiritual life by showing them their sin. Unregenerate people cannot see the kingdom of God, much less have a right view of Christ and His glory. In fact, one must come to faith in Christ before he can have a proper view of his sin and Christ. Sin is no big deal to one who is at enmity with God; holiness is a foreign concept to these. Sin will be a serious problem for one who is at peace with God; personal holiness will be a growing desire for these.

 

2.       To say law must be preached to show people their sin fails. Romans 7:7 recounts a Jew living under the Mosaic Law coming to realize he could not keep that law and that failing to do so was sin. The law put names to the sins this man loved. In the next chapter, Paul says this: “For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so.” (Rom 8:7) Unregenerate people are in the flesh with a mindset of death (Rom 8:6) and are unable to submit to God’s law (any of His laws). Showing unregenerate people their sin by preaching law is futile, according to the Scripture. In Romans 5:20 we read that the (Mosaic) law was given to increase the trespasses; it was not given to prepare people to be saved.

In conclusion, we have Scripture that tells us the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16); I am unaware of any Scripture that say the Holy Spirit or gospel preaching needs help from the law.

I’ve said it before, I think men preach law for the same reason others ask for decisions: men want to see results of their work. The Spirit will what man cannot – give spiritual life to those who are dead in their sins. The law cannot prepare a soul for the Spirit’s work anymore than walking an aisle can.