Were the Ten Commandments perfect but powerless?
The Ten Commandments were absolutely perfect, yet they were powerless. The Law sat in cold stone, severe and condemning, and did nothing to help a person keep it. Like a mirror, it could show what was wrong but could not clean or empower anyone.
Les explains that the Law was not weak because it was imperfect. He insists the Ten Commandments were absolutely perfect, but they were powerless. The Law simply sat in cold stone, severe and condemning, doing nothing to help the person keep it. Using the mirror illustration, Les says a mirror can show dirt and grime but cannot reach out and clean you; it is helpless and weak. By contrast, the indwelling Holy Spirit becomes the believer's guideline for Christian living, not a set of rules and regulations but His influence and power, giving the desire to live pleasing in God's sight.