The faith, the law and the works

"We who by nature are Jews and not sinners among the nations ... we believed in Jesus Christ in order to be justified on the basis of faith in Christ and not on that of the works of Law." Galatians 2:15, 16

The Law had the vocation of helping the people of Israel to honor God and deserve their favor : "... if you listen carefully to my voice ... you will be ... a holy nation" (Exodus 19: 5, 6). The Jews therefore attached great importance to this Law : their salvation depended on its absolute respect. The head of the people who question Jesus about the conditions of access to eternal life claims to conform totally to it. When Jesus reminded him of the list of commandments to be observed, he replied, "I have kept all this from my youth" (Luke 18:21). Jesus then underlines his inadequacies; They prove that his merits can not satisfy divine justice.

The apostle Paul will have to prove that his fellow-citizens to whom the law was given are also sinners. His final conclusion is without appeal : "[Jews and Greeks] have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). He reveals the salvation of the Gospel : "By grace you are saved by means of faith ... not on the basis of works ... it is the gift of God" (Eph 2 8, 9).

The Law does not lose its usefulness however : it has been "our conductor to Christ" (Galatians 3: 24) and it continues to propose to man a holy walk that honors God. But to be able to live it, one must be "born again," as Paul explains : "I am crucified with Christ; And I live no longer, but Christ lives in me ..." (Galatians 2:20). So Jesus can make this invitation to believers : "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). This is what God asked of His people.

We will not do it with our merits, but in accepting the power of the death of Christ on the Cross ; It makes us righteous in the eyes of God and capable of honoring it.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)