Daily Devotions
Galatians
"The law is not of faith..."
Text: Galatians 3:12a
TWO SYSTEMS ARE BEING CONTRASTED
It is important to note that Paul was attempting to make a clear distinction between two systems.
1. The system taught by the Judaizers
a) The focus is on the law.
b) All their adherents are to practise keeping the law.
c) Through keeping of the law they hope to obtain justification from the Lord.
d) Somehow they seem to be able to convince the Galatians that they were right.
2. The system Paul expounded
a) Paul’s focus was on faith.
b) Only through faith could a man be justified in the sight of God.
i) This was distinctively taught in the Scriptures.
ii) This was well-exemplified by Abraham.
iii) This was emphasised by Habakkuk.
AN IMPORTANT TRUTH
Paul wanted to establish this distinction between “law” and “faith”. Thus he made the following statement.
Yet the law is not of faith,
but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’Galatians 3:12