What do most people think the purpose of the Law is, and are they right?

Les teaches that while only Israel was put under the Law, the convicting power of the Law did not stop with Israel; it went out to the whole human race. Galatians chapter 3 says every mouth may be stopped, and all the world, not just Israel, is now made guilty before God. That is the exact opposite of what most people think is the function of the Law. Most people think the Law was given to help people do right, do good, and do the best they could, and that God would somehow wink and say, “You didn’t do too bad, I’ll let you in.” But Les explains that is not the purpose of the Law. The Law was given for only one purpose: to show mankind how far they fell short of God’s standard. No man has ever lived who could keep the Ten Commandments; it is impossible. Verse 20 makes it clear that by the deeds of the Law no flesh can be saved or justified in His sight, because by the Law is only the knowledge of sin. Les hopes his classes learn that the Law can do nothing but convict a person of their utter sinfulness; that is why it was added.