Galatians Journal: Chapter 3, verse 21

Galatians 3:21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

Paul begins to conclude his theological proofs. To sum up his proofs prior to this point in Chapter 3 –

1) His appeal to personal experience and the objective evidence of what God had done and in the miraculous transformations in the lives of the Galatians -- in a nutshell, he argues that the Galatians had initially experienced the fruit of God's kingdom through faith -- how could they now believe these things had to be "earned" by obedience to the law? (3:1-5) ;

2) the promise to Abraham that was based on faith and that was always intended to include the Gentiles (3:6-9);

3) the concept that observance of the law can never save us, in fact, the reality is quite the opposite – failure to fulfill the law means we are cursed by the law – Jesus was meant to break that curse (3:10-14);

4) the covenant promise to Abraham is eternal and unchanging – the law does not supplant it. The need for Jesus as our Savior was always part of the promise of Abraham (3:15-18);

5) the purpose of the law was to define sin and model good behavior – not to save us (3:19-20).

All of these proofs have a similar theme – it is faith that saves us, NOT observance of the law. Many in the early church, and many folks even today, take this concept and run too far with it – denying the need for the law, arguing that it’s irrelevant, or unnecessary, or even evil. Jesus, of course, did not feel this way, “I have not come to abolish [the law], but to fulfill [it].” Matthew 5:17. This last argument refutes the heresy of antinomianism, the concept that we are set free to sin, rather than FROM sin, and explains why the law was needed – but – it also explains that the law was never intended to do the work of the promise. Indeed, it was never meant to be “law vs. promise.” The Galatians (and many of us today) got these concepts mixed up and/or reversed. The law, however, cannot “impart life.” Righteousness cannot come through obedience to the law. It can’t be achieved at all. It can’t be enforced. Taking what Paul says here, and stating it in the positive – it is the promise that imparts life. Righteousness comes through the promise.