Sin and the Poverty of Law

John Launchbury

Law and religious rules are ineffective in overcoming sin's powerful force. Laws merely restrain sin's damaging effects temporarily and reveal our spiritual need. Laws diagnose sin's symptoms within us but cannot cure our sinful nature. Transformation through faith, not rule-keeping, is required for salvation.

spiritual transformation

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Sin and the Poverty of Law

John Launchbury

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Community Discussion

I found this talk very helpful. If you were to ask me what my sins are, I would think of all the lists we see about murder, cheating, lying, stealing .... My answer would be I don't do any of these things. But by asking are you sinning by hurting yourself or others then my sins come into focus. We think unkind things about ourselves sometimes, others often. We judge constantly and have to stop ourselves. We do not forgive and that hurts ourselves, hating others hurts ourselves. Talking unkindly about others does not actually lift us up. Ultimately we can see how these thoughts provoke us more to change ourselves. We can see how changing our thoughts and attitudes can draw us closer to God. Hopefully it will also draw us closer to each other so together we can continue to draw closer to God so sin cannot abound.

- Y.W.