Why is the law the only way God can tell self-righteous people that they are guilty?
The law is the only way because self-righteous people point to outward goodness—keeping commandments, joining a church, being a good family man, and giving—while ignoring old Adam, the invisible spiritual core. Only the Creator can delve into the spirit, and the law is how God confronts such a person and says, “You’re guilty.”
Les explains that old Adam is in the invisible, spiritual realm, so he cannot be laid out, examined, or opened like something physical. The self-righteous person insists, “I’m doing the best I can,” “I’m keeping the commandments,” “I’ve joined the church,” “I’m a good family man,” “I give,” and sees no problem facing eternity. But such a person has not dealt with the core problem, old Adam. Because only the Creator Himself can delve down into the depths of the spirit, the law is the only way God can come to that person and say, “You’re guilty.”