Tell a child "Don't touch that stove! It's hot!" It doesn't matter how emphatic are your warnings, or how stern are your threats, or how thorough are your explanations –if the opportunity arises, he will still try to touch the stove.
The Law and Sin Work Together
In this case, the words "Don't touch!" have become a law and the child touching the hot stove is the rebellious act –the sin. Ironically, the child may have been curious about the stove before you told him "Don't touch!" but after your law was given, he is tempted –he plots and plans the act over and over in his mind until he's done the very thing that will hurt him.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56)
Whether it's telling a child to not touch a hot stove, a woman to not desire new clothes or a man to not think about sex, it's human nature to dwell on –and often do– the things that we're told not to do. Once we recognize that the law is no longer a part of our Christian life, we are set free from the power of sin. It's because the law makes us want to sin all the more. By nature, we are in constant rebellion to the law –even though it seems so good for us.
For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:5-6)
The Law Just Doesn't Do What We Expect!
The law can not produce holiness nor give life nor cleanse the conscience nor make anyone righteous. It can only point out our faults –our guilt –our sinfulness.
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19)
It has no power (being weak and useless) to actually change a person's heart. The best the law can do is to superficially affect external actions –while at the same time continuing to give power to sin!
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. (Colossians 2:20-23)
We Have a New Way to Live
God does not lead Christians with His Old Testament law –it's purpose was only to get us to Christ as our Savior. God then leads us with His Holy Spirit. It's the Spirit that shows us how to really love –letting God express His love at just the right time through our open arms and hearts; with His tears through our eyes, and with His words of encouragement through our mouths.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)
We look at ourselves and at others and see faults and sins, but God has already dealt with all of those –He punished His Son for them. Jesus was given the wages for all our sins –He died once for all of us!
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
The removal of our sins was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. That became a reality at the cross.
Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. (Isaiah 38:17)
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:11-12)
Still Trying the Same Old Way?
Trying to live under the law will only make a Christian frustrated at his inability to be pleasing to God –the One he wants to please the most. We can not love anyone who continually points out –and punishes– our wrong actions and thoughts. (Punishment includes the withdrawal from fellowship – 1 John 1:9.) Instead, the law leaves us with a guilty conscience and sense of fear in approaching God. The gospel –the good news– is that we have been set free from all of that!
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)
