This Lord's day deals with the discovery of our sin and one of the things we need to know in order to live and die happily. The very beginning of the realization of our salvation begins with the knowledge and discovery of our sin! A spiritual question as opposed to discussing "misery." A spiritual knowledge and understanding of our sin which is the beginning of God's work within us that He will surely finish!

Unique: Why unique? It is unique because 1) it is a spiritual question and 2) it is only a question that pertains to the child of God. Sure, the world discusses misery with us and wants to do something about it.....hospitals, wars, devastations, underdeveloped nations that they want to help out and the list goes on and on. All these things are the result of sin and there should always be eluviations of this world on the heal of the preaching of the Word of God. Like the beatitudes Jesus preached this is a SPIRITUAL question regarding the misery of sin! (Like the church at Laodicea which was rich and needed nothing?....but they were poor and poverty stricken spiritually and the Apostle Paul had to counsel them to see their sin.) Those who are not sick have no need for a doctor and we would be the poorest of poor spiritually! You see, the publican who knows his sin is the one who goes home justified! And who better than the Lord to teach us about our sin? The law of God is the vehicle that brings us to the knowledge of our sin, to an understanding of our salvation, and we us it for a guide in our sanctified living as we live out our thankfulness to Him!

Indicting: The Lord comes and says in all your do you must love God 100%. The mirror does not lie and the mirror of the law is given to "take a look at ourselves." And the reality of it stands before us. And the writer here goes even further than saying just "do you keep the law of God?....but asks the question "CAN YOU?" And the answer (being prone by nature to hate God and the neighbor) is NO! The Holy Spirit discovers this to us that we may know that we cannot do it and drives us to the knowledge of our misery and our sin and our salvation. The law does not serve to indict us and leave us, but ultimately to bring us to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like Nicodemus. It is what brings the publican and us to our knees in prayer! (Israel had to recite the curse and blessings of the law of God.)

Wonderful: Against a dark background like a diamond against black felt.....God shows us the wonder of our salvation. If you and I are not sick, we do not need a physician....and if we are not sinners we do not need Christ! It is a means whereby we are brought to see our sin and to recognize the wonder of salvation and the greatness and beauty of His grace until Heaven where we will see the greatness of His grace against our sin.