Oppressing the Poor

Prov 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

The oppression of the poor was clearly prohibited in the kingdom of Israel. The Father made it clear that no one should oppress the poor or the stranger.

Ex 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Ex 23:9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Dt 24:14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

This last passage in Deuteronomy hits particularly hard in the culture we live in today. Look at the number of people who rely on their paycheck to make it another day. How do the rulers oppress them? Tax burdens and fees and costs to move forward at all. How many have been a part of sin in oppressing the poor?

In the tenth psalm, a discussion of the evil of oppression and how the wicked does not know that God will require it of them is followed by this admonition:

Ps 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:

thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed,

that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Amos and Micah also have a word from God about oppression in the latter days of the kingdom of Judah. Clearly oppressing the poor does not turn out well.

Amos 4:1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria,

which oppress the poor, which crush the needy,

which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.

2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness,

that, lo, the days shall come upon you,

that he will take you away with hooks,

and your posterity with fishhooks.

Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds!

when the morning is light, they practise it,

because it is in the power of their hand.

2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence;

and houses, and take them away:

so they oppress a man and his house,

even a man and his heritage.

Because of their rebellion, Jeremiah prophesied of the nation of Judah's coming destruction. One of the things he clearly pointed out was the oppression of the stranger and the poor, here noted as the fatherless and the widow. He called them to repent and return to right doing.

Jer 7:5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; 6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

Jer 21:12 O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Ezekiel joins in to describe the conditions which got Israel to the point of captivity. First is the parable of the son and his father. A call to do right and a precursor to understanding that every man will be judged for his own iniquity. The iniquity here is the oppression of the poor, one who will not do it contrasted to one who does.

Ezek 18:14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, 15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, 16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, 17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. 18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Ezek 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

Ezek 45:8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.

Finally we hear the admonitions from God about amending the ways of the people of Judh and Israel as they move out of captivity and the chastisement of God.

Zech 7:9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying,

Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor;

and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment;

and I will be a swift witness

against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers,

and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages,

the widow, and the fatherless,

and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me,

saith the LORD of hosts.

6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

So how does this apply in the New Covenant? The oppression of the poor continues. Matt 18 gives an admonition to carefully consider how you treat the children of God and then talks about offenses. The whole chapter speaks of offences and the uncaring attitude that many have for the poor. It pays to read the whole chapter multiple times.

Matt 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

And lastly the call from James not to follow in the same manner of sin as Israel did.

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

So therefore hear the Lord God as he declares that we should not give ourselves to offense towards one of these little ones.

Peace on Earth?

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

When Jesus was born the heavenly host declared peace on earth. And this is true, Jesus brings peace with God and peace among all those who call upon his name. (Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us) But there is another statement made by Jesus which catches people by surprise.

Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

How is it that these are both true? The key is understanding the difference between the people of God and the people of this world. There are those who confess Jesus before men, and those who deny him.

Matt 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Jesus tells us that persecution is to be expected.

Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

And this is the way of those who carry the gospel. But having this sentence, to be persecuted we bless and declare the way of peace which has been brought to us by Jesus.

1 Cor 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

Here is the passage which brings it all together:

John 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? 32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We have Peace with God, and it is truly available to everyone who calls upon his name, but this world will refuse to believe and will persecute those who stand for righteousness.

Lastly, why do we see a lack of peace, even great division among those who claim to be walking in the way of Peace?

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?

So walk in Peace with God, but do not be surprised when your good is evil spoken of, and you are persecuted for righteousness sake. Go out with joy and be led of peace (Isa 55:12) In all of the tribulation of this world we have peace, because God is for us and Jesus is our peace.

The Way of Peace

 Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The end of the prophetic utterance of Zacharias the Father of John the Baptist. He declares by the spirit of God the salvation which has come, and which his son would usher in. A prominent part of this is that the salvation to come would guide our feet in the way of peace.

This phrase, way of peace, comes from a particular passage in Isaiah.

Isa 59:8 The way of peace they know not;    and there is no judgment in their goings:

they have made them crooked paths:    whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

This verse is in the middle of God's declaration of the fault in Israel. How they have refused his ways. It begins with the following:

Isa 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;    neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,    and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3 For your hands are defiled with blood,    and your fingers with iniquity;

your lips have spoken lies,    your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

It ends with this declaration:

Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion,    and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

This contrasts clearly that there is a way of destruction, and a way of salvation. The way of peace will be shown to all those who put their trust in the salvation which God has provided. Zacharias is declaring that the way out of the place of condemnation has been made. Salvation is coming to guide us in the way of peace that we have not known.

This passage in Isaiah is also quoted in Romans. Paul declaring that every man needs the salvation which God provides.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This is the state of men without a redeemer. But praise be to God the conclusion of Paul's treatise on salvation is this:

Rom8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Peace is a wonderful path. Freedom from condemnation, relationship with the Father in heaven, and the ability to be a peacemaker. It is a path which is only found by wholly trusting in Jesus. It is a way that man cannot find on his own, we need a guide! Praise the Lord salvation has come, Jesus has shown us the way of peace and sent us the paraclete from heaven to guide us in peace. Oh how wonderful to know the love of God which declares to us that the way of peace is open unto us.

Notice that it is the presence of iniquity and sin which have prevented the salvation of God. Your iniquity. Your Sin! God declares. Praise the Lord that the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin! The way of peace is found in that state of sinlessness before God. Zacharias had also declared in his prophecy that we should serve God-

Luke 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

The iniquity is removed and the sin purged and the way of no condemnation is available to us.

A few months after Zacharias' prophecy, at the birth of Jesus we see this scene:

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And 8 days after that this declaration:

Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Simeon declares that the salvation of God is here, and he can now depart in peace.

The way has come and He will declare and show Peace between God and man. This is the peace that we are declaring. God the Father has reconciled man unto himself, he has made peace between Jew and Gentile and he has redeemed all men who will put their trust in him.

Jesus declared peace:

Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.   (Woman at Simon's house)

Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.   (Woman with the issue of blood) Mark 5:34

These are similar to when he said to the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Jesus is the way of salvation; reconciliation unto God. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. (Isa 1:18)

Jesus comes declaring the kingdom of God and that peace is at the center of it. In fact Paul defines the kingdom of God in contrast to earthly rituals.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In the opening most of Paul's epistles is this declaration:

Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:2; 1 Ti 1:2; 2 Ti 1:2; Tit 1:4; Phm 1:3

Peter John (Rev 1:4) and Jude (Jude 1:2) do as well:

1 Pet 1:2b Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Peace with God is an important aspect of this life in Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

So be reconciled to God; trust in him alone. For he has made this way of peace, and will guide you in it. He has taken away iniquity and forgiven and destroyed sin and brought us into his way of the spirit wherein is no condemnation. Oh the glorious riches of the beauty of the salvation of God!

Gainsaying; be careful what you speak against

Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

G483; from G473 (anti) and G3004 (discourse); antilego, dispute, refuse; 10 times

Luke 2:34 which shall be spoken against

Luke 20:27 deny

Jn 19:12 speaketh against (Caesar)

Acts 13:45 spake against and contradicting

Acts 28:19 spake against

Acts 28:22 spoken against

Titus 1:9 gainsayers

Titus 2:9 answering again

G485; from G483; antilogia; dispute, disobey; 4 times

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Heb 6:16 strife

Heb 7:7 contradiction

Heb 12:3 contradiction

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Isa 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

We see this example of the call to stop refusing to come to Jesus, and yet they continue to refuse and choose their own way.

Matt 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Another english gainsaying, but different, without gainsaying is similar to cannot be spoken against.

Acts 10:29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

Peter to Cornelius, obeying the direction of God without gainsaying, only time seen, not spoken against

Gamaliel gave good advice to the Jews

Acts 5:8 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Understanding

 How do we understand the Bible?

Is the word of God understandable, or is it beyond the mind of men? Is it required that one studies for many years just to gain enough knowledge or is it so simple that the learned miss it? The reality is that God's ways are so much higher than the ways of men, it is impossible to seek to know what God has not revealed. The good news includes the knowledge that God has not revealed these things to the wise and prudent, but has revealed them unto babes.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and- 52:1 Who hath believed our report?

and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We see the futility of trying to understand God's ways, especially using our own. But we also see a promise that God's word would not return void, but accomplish what God desired.

The revelation of God's word, both the spoken word and the word Christ Jesus is the answer for revelation! Because of what Jesus has done we have received his very spirit along with a new heart.

Deut 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

1 Sam3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Calming the storm

Ps 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships,    that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the LORD,    and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,    which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:    their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,    and are at their wits' end.

28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble,    and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm,    so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet;    so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Mark 4:36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Luke 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

The Law is Holy and Good

God gave commandments for men to follow

Lev 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

Deut 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deut 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:

the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:

the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Ezekiel 20:11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. 12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. 13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Without a change of heart there can be no righteousness

Deut 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The law makes sin known, making clear the curse upon man

Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Left in this place, there is no ability to improve nor perfect the human nature. Yes, God still has mercy, but he calls us to divine life. Christ came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The resurrection is the key, newness of life in Christ Jesus, a new heart!

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Phil 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: