Why is understanding the law's purpose important for Christians?

The law serves to expose sin and lead us to Christ, as stated in Romans 3:20, which claims that through the law comes the knowledge of sin. The law cannot save; it condemns those who cannot keep it perfectly. In this way, the law is a tutor that leads us to recognize our need for a Savior, confirming that salvation is not based on our works but on Christ's righteousness alone. This understanding reinforces the doctrine of grace, illustrating that believers are free from the law's penalties due to Christ's atonement, a key tenet in Reformed theology.