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"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

1. “The just shall live by faith”

a) The just does not live by the law.

b) He has been justified by God through faith.

2. “The man who does them shall live by them”

a) This is a reference to one who wanted to obtain justification by the works of the law.

b) He is under tremendous obligation to keep every single law of God.

c) He has to live by all the laws, commandments, statutes, judgments of God.

d) Would he succeed?

i) He will not succeed no matter how hard he tries.

ii) Worse, he will stand condemned by the law he says he lives by.

iii) The conclusion is obvious! No one would obtain justification by the works of the law.