What does the law do to the old Adamic nature?

Les explains that the law hangs over the old Adamic nature, constantly trying to convict him that he is breaking it and is contrary to it. The law is what revealed the old Adamic nature to Paul; Paul said he had not known old Adam except for the law, and it was the law that showed Paul what old Adam was all about. Paul also said he had not known lust or covetousness except the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." Les points out that coveting is the one commandment out of the ten that must always be committed first, because you cannot kill, steal, commit adultery, or destroy someone's character with false gossip unless you covet. All the way through the Ten Commandments, the thing that triggers breaking the law is coveting.