RIGHTEOUSNESS DOES NOT COME BY LAW

Gal 3:21

Morning Meditations 2/8/16

This text says: “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”

Paul both asks and answers the question. “Is the law then against the promises of God?” Then the says, “God forbid” which means “perish the thought, i.e., it is an unworthy and absurd thought. Paul teaches there is no conflict between the law of Moses as was given to the children of Israel and the promises of God. He gives the intent of the law in verse 19: “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”

It was temporary from the start: “till the seed should come.” The Jews were never saved by keeping the law. Romans 1:20 Says, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” I believe this is simple and to the point. If no flesh will be justified by the law that simply means that at no time in the past, present, or future will a man ever be justified by keeping the law.

There is a teaching abroad that says that men were saved by keeping the law in the Old Testament and that men will be saved by grace and law during the tribulation and by works alone during the Millennium. A lot of Baptists do not seem to be disturbed about this teaching. This is heresy. It is not what bible believers have ever believed. One may conclude that these who teach this today are Bible believers. They do not believe the Bible or they would not embrace this teaching. You can believe the Genesis account of creation and die and go to hell. Believing the Genesis account of creation does not save. It is the gospel believed that saves.

Law and grace are friends. They do not debate the issues. The law doesn’t even claim to save. Grace does.. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9). The words “Not of works lest any many should boast” simply mean that if a man is saved by works at any time in any place he has a reason to boast. Can you imagine some people in heaven going around bragging and others saying, “Well, I was saved by grace. I have nothing to boast of.”

Our text says, “...for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” We have a statement and a conclusion. The statement begins with an “if” and is a second class condtion (A.T. Robertson) which means “if” and it’s not true. The words "had been given" is an aorist passive indicative. This takes us back to Mt. Sinai where the law was actually given. The words "which could have given" is a present passive participle. The present tense means that Paul is applying this truth to the people of his day and to our day. The passive voice means that he is speaking hypothetically of a law that had the power to produce life, i.e., eternal life. Again Paul is not suggesting the possibility but the impossibility.

Then he states the conclusion: “Verily righteousness should have been by the law.” The word "verily" means, "what is actual, and not merely nominal; real as opposed to seeming." "Righteousness" is right standing with God, i.e., perfect righteousness. The words "should have been" is an imperfect active indicative. The imperfect tense represents incomplete action in the past. It is continuous action in the past without any reference to its end. This means that if the law were able to produce righteousness this is how it would have continually been going on. Paul is also saying that this is the way it would be going on now.

The cross is necessary for our salvation. Jesus had to die. His death would not be necessary for those who have found another way.

Paul said that if righteousnes could have been obtained another way “Verily righteousness should have been by the law.”

Romans 4:3 says, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 3:28 says, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 4:14 says, “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:”

Revelation 7:14-15 says, “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Incidentally, these of whom this text speaks will come out of the great tribulation. The Textus Receptus says, “The tribulation the great” which is a reference to that seven-year period after the rapture. You will notice they are not praising God that He helped them get to heaven. It was the blood of the LAMB just like it is for us today.

Righteousness is a gift of God. Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” God’s righteousness is a gift to faith through the Grace of God. It is the only way God has ever saved a sinner and the only way He ever will.

Galatians 6:14 says, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

May God bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Earl White