Did God give the law to deal with sin?

It is God's grace that gives people the power to overcome sin.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It [grace] teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:11-12).

Furthermore, it is God's goodness, His love and kindness towards people that leads people to repentance in the first place. "Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:3-4).

Law causes sin to increase. That was the purpose of the law in the first place. God always wanted to deal with His people through faith. That was the covenant He made with Abraham. But He gave the law after the Israelites said "we are well able to do all that God tells us to do" (Exodus 19:8). So God gave them the law to show them that they could not, and to teach people that they should not depend on their own goodness, but on His grace. God never gave the law to deal with sin. God gave the law to deal with self righteousness. Ultimately, the law points people to a Savior. The law points to Jesus.

This is not saying that the law is bad. This is just what Paul was accused of saying – "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2). However, it is important to view the law in the context and for the reason that God gave the law, and that is, to point to Jesus. Even Jesus said, "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose (or "fulfill them") (Matthew 5:17).

"Christ came to end the law so that everyone who believes is put right with God" (Romans 10:4).  Christ did end the law. But He didn't end it by abolishing it; He ended it by fulfilling it for us. Now we are saved by grace through faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8). His righteousness is imparted to us, even though we didn't earn it, just has our sin was imparted to Him, even though He didn't do anything  bad to deserve it.

"But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit" (Romans 7:6).

"But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:21-24).

Law increases sin. "If the law had not said, "Do not desire what belongs to someone else," I would have not have known such a desire. But by means of that commandment sin found its chance to stir up all kinds of selfish desires in me. Apart from the law sin is a dead thing" (Romans 7:7-8). Law empowers sin. "The strength of sin is the law" (1 Cor. 15:56).

Grace on the other hand, kills sin. "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14). When you see the word "for" in the bible, it is a good idea to look at what is written "before" it. Sin shall not have dominion over you FOR [because] you are not under law but under grace. So if you are under law, sin will have dominion over you.

But thankfully, thanks to Jesus, "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ" (Romans 8:1). This doesn't say that there is now less condemnation for those who are in Christ, it says "no condemnation". In the Greek, that means "no condemnation".

Jesus is the healer. He is the one that will change people's hearts. But unless people know that God loves them unconditionally just as they are right now, they will always feel like they need to get their life cleaned up before they come to Him. But that is like thinking you need to clean yourself before you take a bath.