New Testament Law

Romans 3:19-28

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. [KJV]

In Romans 3:19, Paul wrote that the Old Testament Law's purpose is to bring people to realise that they are guilty of sin. Once they realise that, then they are ready to accept Jesus's sacrifice on the cross and be washed clean of sin. Paul makes it clear in Romans 3:20 that nobody will be considered righteous by following Old Testament Law, because the Law was designed so that people would realise that they are sinners.

The way to be justified in God's sight is not to try to obey the Law, it is to have faith in Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus is the only way for people to be considered righteous by God.