How do we know that the law is not sin?

In Romans 7:7-13, Paul poses the question of whether the law is sin due to its provoking the motions of sin within us. His emphatic answer is 'God forbid!' The law itself is holy and righteous, serving to reveal our sinfulness. It acts as a mirror, showing us our shortcomings and our need for a savior. Without the law, we would not understand our need for regeneration. The law sets forth God's standard, and it is through its commandments that we recognize our inability to attain righteousness on our own, thereby leading us to Christ, the ultimate source of our righteousness.