Galatians 3:21 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
Paul answers another question: Is the law opposed to the promises of God? The promises here may be God’s promises to Abraham mentioned in verses 6-9, 16. The focus of these promises is the hope of being made righteous before God and thus being able to be in God’s eternal presence. The question could be asked in this way: Does the law rule out faith? Or, is the law against the gospel? Paul answers with a very forceful, Absolutely not! Romans 7:12 states that the law is holy, righteous, and good. The law reflects God’s will and is the guide to holy living. It was not intended to make people holy. Only grace through faith (the “promise”) can make anyone holy. Paul shows in Romans 2:1-3:23 that salvation cannot come by the law because no one can keep it well enough to be considered righteous. That does not mean that the law is useless or has no role for Christians; it just cannot impart life. The law did not replace God’s plan of salvation. God always planned for salvation to come through the Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-6).
Paul answers this challenge in a logical, conditional statement. The first part shows what the false teachers in Galatia were teaching: if a law had been given that could impart life. Paul has already written that righteousness is a gift and cannot be earned by “works of the law” (2:21). Righteousness is a gift of God’s grace through Christ (Romans 3:24). Since the “if” clause is proven wrong, the “then” clause is also wrong, that obedience to the law can make a person right before God. The law was never intended to make a person righteous. If we could be justified by works, then Christ did not need to come and die on the cross.
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