How did people know what sin was before the written law was given?
Before the written Law was given through Moses, people had only conscience to guide them. Scripture indicates that until the Law appeared, man could go by conscience alone, so sin was known inwardly rather than by an explicit written standard.
Les explains that the law entered in 1500 years B.C. when Moses came down off the mountain and introduced the law to Israel. Until the written Law appeared, man could only go by conscience. But when the written Law came, there was no doubt that everything man was doing, even after searing his conscience, was breaking God's Law, and it became sin. The law entered so the offense might abound—not to make it worse, but so it might be seen for what it really is.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
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What does it mean that the law entered so that sin might abound?
The law entered so that man's sin might abound — not meaning it made sin worse, but that sin would be seen for what it really is.