The Law Is Good, Faith Is Better

(Galatians 3:20-22)

If you have read any of my posts concerning the law, that is, the laws of Moses, you might think that I am opposed to the law. But nothing could be further from the truth.

The same could be said about many of the writings in the New Testament, especially the writings of the Apostle Paul.

But the issue is not about whether the law is good, bad or indifferent, it is good. It is VERY good because it is the standard by which God will judge all people and it draws a line in the sand between what is right and wrong.

But there is a better way that God has give all people to be able to come to Him and it is NOT based upon the law. As the title says, the law is good, but faith is better, and this is the position in these three verses from Galatians 3.

The Law Is Good

In many places Paul writes that we are set free from the law. We are told that there is a problem with the law because it shows up sin for what it is.

But then again, in Romans 7 Paul explains this saying,

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I should not have known sin. I should not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, wrought in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead. (Romans 7:7-8)

And Paul further goes on to say in the same chapter in verse 12:

“So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good”

This is the point I was making. The law IS holy, just and good, but because it shows sin for what it is and because man cannot keep the laws of Moses, there is a problem. We need a way to have sin removed from our lives and that can never happen through the law.

It is the law that condemns us as sinners, so no law can ever be made that makes a person righteous.

Think about it for a minute. If there was a law that said, “Thou shalt be righteous!” does it actually MAKE you righteous? No, it doesn’t. And if you are not righteous then once again you have broken this law and are condemned by the law as a sinner. (Thank God He did NOT make THAT a law!!!)

This is the point of the scriptures in Galatians 3:21 which says,

”Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not; for if a law had been given which could make alive, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.”

So if we cannot be made righteous by the law or under the law, but we know that the law is good, where do we stand? That point is covered in the following verse.

Faith Is Better

The Law is good as we saw from the verses above, but faith is better. Specifically the faith we hold as Christians in Jesus Christ who takes away our sins and sets us free from the law.

The next verse in the Galatians 3 section today shows us this when it says:

”But the scripture consigned all things to sin, that what was promised to faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22)

Those who believe are those who have come to Christ and believe what God the Father has achieved in and through Jesus Christ. In Christ the Father was reconciling the world to Himself, removing their sins and setting them free from the law so that sin would no longer reign in our lives.

When we have faith, believing we have died to this world by taking on the death of Jesus Christ in baptism, we are declared righteous by God through faith. We receive His righteousness by faith so that we can draw near to God, knowing that God will not have sinners in His presence. By declaring us righteous through faith, He overlooks our sins, mistakes, weaknesses and failures, and He is willing and prepared to help us to walk as Christ walked.

With the help of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit He gives to those who ask, we are able to stand before Him and know that as we continue to walk with Christ our natures are being perfected into the image of Jesus Christ.

The law consigned everything and everyone to sin. The law condemns everyone as a sinner.

But when the law is taken away through faith in Jesus Christ, we can no longer sin because we are no longer bound by law. We are set free, not to do as we please, but to worship Him who has set us free because He has given us this chance at eternity through His loving grace.

When we are set free from the law, we are set free from condemnation, shame, guilt, and sin. We are truly free from all the problems of this life as we walk with Christ.

Are we then perfect? Yes…and No.

Because God declares us righteous by faith and without sin and set free from law so that we cannot break it, we are indeed perfect…by faith. He makes us perfect by faith because that is how He wants us to be. And if God says you are righteous and therefore perfect, who is going to argue with God?

But we still have all the weaknesses, passions, lusts and foibles of humanity that cause us to fall and fail. We cannot sin because we are no longer under the law, but that doesn’t mean we cannot screw up…and we will! But God allowed for our screw-ups by giving us the Holy Spirit to be our sword to fight the weaknesses of the flesh and so come to a place where in time we will be perfect in out spirit. When we reach that place we will be perfect as Christ is perfect…but I have no idea how long that may take. It is the ongoing journey we all walk with Christ, and we WILL get there one day.

And so I come back to the title of this post. The Law is good, but faith is better. The law can teach us right from wrong, but it cannot make us righteous and perfect. However, faith in Jesus Christ is the path to perfection and righteousness for all who believe, firstly to become righteous by faith, and eventually to be righteous in our nature and spirit.

Seek the faith that leads to righteousness and do not fall under the condemnation of the law because Jesus has already set you free from that.

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John

Hi! I’m John, the owner, author, and editor of this site. Over the past 50+ years as a Christian I have been teaching, preaching and writing about the Bible to help Christians gain a deeper insight into the scriptures that are easily understood. I also answer specific Bible related questions, so feel free to contact me.