I could never obey the law

To be consumed with the impossibility of obeying God's commands is wrong thinking. This is our clue that we do not understand its true purpose. This wrongfully thinks we must obey it or else... 

Obedience to God, however, is no longer a requirement, it's what we aspire to. Christ satisfied the necessity of perfectly obeying the law by obeying it for us, and taking on the ultimate consequences of our not obeying it; judgment and death. Now we can approach the law as it was truly and originally intended; as God's loving guidance (without having to look over our shoulder in fear of condemnation and dread of rejection when we blow it) so we might fully experience and take part in God's perfect design for us and honor him most. 

When we understand God gives us direction for our own good and his glory, this is something we should delight in and be eager to follow, not dread. Christ took the dread (condemnation) out of the law. There is nothing to dread any longer. Christ fully met and satisfied the demands of the law (we could not obey it perfectly anyway) and bore the full consequences of us not doing so. As Christ cried out on the cross,  "It is finished!" Now we are freed from the demands of the law in order to make us righteous because Christ fulfilled those demands for us.

How to properly view the law

If someone told you of a pot of gold and that it was yours to keep if found, would you be excited? What if you had no idea where this gold was? All you know is it is in a direction full of dangers and death if you make the wrong move. Would you be a little concerned or discouraged? 

Now, what if this same person offered you a detailed map of how to find it? The map also gave you warnings of all the various hazards along the way: what and where they were, how to avoid them, or what to do if you couldn't. And also directions of where to find food, water, shelter (and medicine if needed) so you could be refreshed (or healed) on your journey. Would that encourage you? Would you be more hopeful and excited or would you ignore the offer of this map? And if you accepted the map, would you put it in your backpack and ignore it as you launched out in your search for the gold? To ignore it would cause significant delay at a minimum or you never finding the treasure and even possible loss of life. 

When we understand the true intent of the law now that we are in Christ - not as a requirement or demand to fulfill but as instructions and directions on how to succeed and flourish - the law will become our delight. We will gladly embrace and pursue it, for in doing so, we are perusing God himself by means of his wise and loving directions. 

This is the essence of the instructions we find in all of Psalm 119.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

When we fully understand and receive his love we will trust and gladly follow his directions. And we do so because we now trust the one who gives them. He's earned our trust by proving His love for us and His desire for our highest good. We will no longer see his directions/commands as a burden but as a help. 

For additional discussions on the role of God's law for the believer click here.