The law was given to show us what sin is and how far we have fallen from the
perfection God intended.
It was also given to show sin demands a penalty, a payment hence all those
sacrifices in the OT.
Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us and took the stain and penalty of sin
upon himself. That is why there is only one way, via Jesus and no other.
If we don't accept Jesus then we have to pay for our own sin which leads to death.
That includes trying to save ourselves via works.
If we do accept the salvation of Jesus, that however does not give us a free licence to
do as we want. If any Christian says I accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour but deliberately
keeps doing what is wrong then this could mean:
1) They did not mean it and have no relationship with Jesus and are not really saved.
Thinking about the parable of the sower and the seed.
2) They are immature in the faith and have a conscious about what they are doing and really
do want to do what is right but can't seem to get it right. God will deal with them if this is the
case and the matter is between them and God.
3) Some people have long standing mind sets which need to be overcome. God will help them
to overcome, even if it takes a life time. I know a lovely young woman who is filled with the
Holy Spirit and has a real gifting for prayer although I'm not sure she knows it yet!
She comes from a background of drugs and prostitution. Yet when things become hard
(and believe me they have been very hard for her) she sometimes turns back to drugs and
prostitution to support herself. She is keenly aware of her failings and it hurts her and depresses
her as she so much wants to be used by God and seek what God wants for her life.
She has recently taken the decision to go to a teen challenge rehab centre. I just know
God has an amazing plan for her life, she is a real person, no airs and graces, despite her
own problems she is the one who will stop and speak to the homeless, who will give money
to her former prostitute friends rather than see them on the streets. Not many prim and proper
christians will do that. You can see the battle within her, she will overcome.
4) Even good humble Christians who love God get things wrong from time to time.
We are daily being renewed, it's a life time process. That is why we need to cling to Jesus, He
is our anchor.
I would say that in any true Christian, saved by grace they develop a keen conscious of what is
right and wrong. Our job is to accept the saving grace and keep short accounts with God. Not
because we are saved by works, but because we long to have a close walk with God and any
wrong doing gets in the ways of that. It's all a matter of the heart.