Why Law Preaching ?

Iain Murray's book : " The Old Evangelism : Old Truths For A New Awakening " has some interesting observations . His words which follow are nothing new , yet I believe them with all my heart . How many of you agree with them ?

If men may experience conviction and only a temporary conversion under the preaching of the law , it might be thought that the whole process is needless . after all , the law cannot change the heart . But this reasoning is wrong . Those whom God is bringing to salvation he first humbles by the same truths as are addressed to others . The law dispels their ignorance and shows that God jusly requires their obedience : sin is pin-pointed , consciences aroused and self condemned . Now the individual begins to understand that he is really lost , and alienated from God . Let the duties of the law be pressed home on the awakened person and he will try to obey . And when he hears of the duties of repentance and faith he may try to perform them , but it is only to find that sin is stronger than all his endeavours and resolutions .
Why preach the law to the unregenerate ? Because it teaches them not what they can do , but what they ought to do . Far from encouraging salvation from works , it demonstrates the impossibility of rendering the obedience that God requires . It brings home to the non-Christian that he cannot change his own nature , he cannot save himself . It was of conversion that Jesus was speaking when he said , ' With men this is impossible ' ( Matt. 19:26 ) . ( pages 52,53 )

 

Yes , you have the right idea DeeJay . When someone realizes that they have no hope , ability , strength in and of themself -- that is a sign of hope . When someone recognizes they have total inability -- they are on the right path .

Murray quotes Spurgeon's sermon : The Necessity of Regeneration . ( MTP , Vol.25 , pp.58-9) to buttress his case . CHS said :

Now I think I hear passing through the congregation at this moment the whisper of many hearts who are saying , ' This is very discouraging . we like to hear " only believe , and you will be saved " ' ... Would to God we could bring you , not only to discouragement , but to despair of yourselves . When you shall feel you are powerless we shall have hope for you , for then you will leave yourselves in the hands of him who can do all things . When self's strength is gone God's strength will come in ... I do not want to rouse your activity , you unconverted people : I want to rouse you to the conviction that you are lost , and I pray God the Holy Spirit may convince you .