Did the Law's convicting power apply only to Israel?
No. Only Israel was placed under the Law, but its convicting power did not stop with Israel; it extended to the whole human race. Scripture teaches that every mouth may be stopped and all the world is made guilty before God, so the Law reveals sin universally.
Les explains that although only Israel was put under the Law, the Law's convicting part did not stop with Israel; it went out to the whole human race. He points to Galatians chapter 3, where every mouth is stopped and all the world, not just Israel, is made guilty before God. This is the exact opposite of what most people think the Law's function is. Most people think the Law was given to help people do right and good, and that God would somehow overlook their failures. Les teaches the Law was given for only one purpose: to show mankind how far they fall short of God's standard. No man has ever lived who could keep the Ten Commandments. Therefore, by the deeds of the Law no flesh can be saved or justified, because by the Law is only the knowledge of sin. The Law can do nothing but convict a person of their utter sinfulness.