Romans 2:4 - Or do you show contempt for the riches of his 

kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

The ironic thing about legalism is that it not only doesn't make people work harder, it makes them give up. So we make a big mistake when we conclude that the law is the answer to licentiousness. In fact, the law tends to stir up lawlessness. People get worse, not better, when you lay down the law.

To be sure, the Spirit does use the whole Word in our sanctification - the law as well as the gospel. But the law and the gospel do very different things. The law reveals sin but is powerless to remove sin. It shows us what godliness is, but it cannot make us godly. As Martin Luther said, "Sin is not concealed by lawful living, for no person is able to live up to the Law. Nothing can take away sin except the grace of God."

The law apart from the gospel can only crush; it can't cure. Scottish churchman Ralph Erskine wrote:

     The law could promise life to me,

          If my obedience perfect be;

      But grace does promise life upon

          My Lord's obedience alone.

       The law says, Do, and life you'll win;

           But grace says, Live, for all is done;

       The former cannot ease my grief,

          The latter yields me full relief.

So the law serves us by showing us how to love God and others. But we fail to do this every day. And when we fail, it is the gospel that brings comfort by reminding us that God's infinite approval of us doesn't depend on our keeping the law but on Christ's keeping of the law for us. And guess what? This makes us want to obey Him more, not less!

Indeed, it is the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,