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Rom 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.
You know how you can tell if someone is under the law instead of under grace... they love to talk about other people's sins, shortcomings, failures, faults and mistakes and that is the knowledge of sin. Gossip, slander and maligning is all about the knowledge of sin and it is all without the grace of God. When someone uses constructive criticism, that is the knowledge of sin because no matter how constructive they are it is still criticism and it is without grace. Love is creative and utilizes edification and the wisdom of grace to create a capacity in believers to do the right thing in Christ. You never have to bring up the knowledge of sin to get a humble believer to receive grace and be edified.
The other side of that is when you have those that have lived their entire life under the dictates of the flesh with a rebellious heart as transgressors. They love the grace message because it does not condemn them but they are not giving up the sin. Now the law comes in handy, not to condemn them, but to let them know that what they are engaged in is sinful. So the law makes what they are doing sinful (and the Holy Spirit makes sure of that through conviction), then you come in and minister the grace of God so that they can respond to Christ and be restored. They need to know that what they are doing is sinful and without condemning them for the sin, you give them grace and mercy and let them respond by faith so they can make it right before God. You don't hound them with the law but you give them enough to convict them so they can see the error of their way. After they have responded to grace your love covers them and you don't repeat the matter of sin. We do it this way so that they are justified by grace and not by the law or the knowledge of sin.
You know how you can tell if someone is under the law instead of under grace... they love to talk about other people's sins, shortcomings, failures, faults and mistakes and that is the knowledge of sin. Gossip, slander and maligning is all about the knowledge of sin and it is all without the grace of God. When someone uses constructive criticism, that is the knowledge of sin because no matter how constructive they are it is still criticism and it is without grace. Love is creative and utilizes edification and the wisdom of grace to create a capacity in believers to do the right thing in Christ. You never have to bring up the knowledge of sin to get a humble believer to receive grace and be edified.
The other side of that is when you have those that have lived their entire life under the dictates of the flesh with a rebellious heart as transgressors. They love the grace message because it does not condemn them but they are not giving up the sin. Now the law comes in handy, not to condemn them, but to let them know that what they are engaged in is sinful. So the law makes what they are doing sinful (and the Holy Spirit makes sure of that through conviction), then you come in and minister the grace of God so that they can respond to Christ and be restored. They need to know that what they are doing is sinful and without condemning them for the sin, you give them grace and mercy and let them respond by faith so they can make it right before God. You don't hound them with the law but you give them enough to convict them so they can see the error of their way. After they have responded to grace your love covers them and you don't repeat the matter of sin. We do it this way so that they are justified by grace and not by the law or the knowledge of sin.