Before Jesus came to earth, the law was used to show the Israelites how to live. Romans 3:20 says, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The law is the mirror for the Christian. It shows them the depths of their sins. The ugliness of sin is exposed by the law and righteousness. This was the purpose of the law.
However, the law was never meant to save anyone. No one is righteous, so no one could be saved through the law. When Jesus came to earth, the Pharisees and Saducees thought that He had come to abolish or do away with the law; however, it was the opposite. He came so that the law may be fulfilled. The law was meant to point us to Jesus.
While the law gives us how to live, we need to make sure that we don’t get caught up in living to please the law, but instead living to please the Lord through Jesus Christ.