That you do not sin

And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin." – Exodus 20v20

Here we see just a hint of the purpose of the Law. After the Ten Commandments and before the details of the Law God told the nation why they were being given the Law. 'That you do not sin' God said.

The problem is, as we find out in out study of the word of God is that this is an impossible standard. We cannot ‘not sin.’ Sin is in our nature – it is what we do. God gave the law to show people what sin was so that we too would know that we cannot not sin.

There is none that does righteousness, not a single one. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Born as sinners we are doomed to sin.

Why then set a requirement that we cannot keep? The Law’s purpose was to be a teacher to show us our need of Christ. The command to not sin showed us that we cannot do it alone.

But Jesus could. He is the only Sinless One. Since He is the only One He is the only hope for man who falls far short of the goal.

The penalty for sin is death – but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ.