How does the law reveal our need for grace?

The law serves as a mirror, exposing our inability to meet God’s holy standards and highlighting our sinfulness. As articulated in Romans 3:20, by the law comes the knowledge of sin. This realization is crucial for understanding the necessity of grace. Psalm 130 reflects this journey of the soul when it states, 'If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?' It brings us to the point where we understand we cannot earn salvation through our deeds. Instead, we become aware of our dependence on God’s grace, which was fully realized in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. The law, therefore, prepares our hearts for the acceptance of grace by both convicting us of our sins and leading us to Christ as the only source of true forgiveness and redemption.