Justified By Faith
Why,
then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until
the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through
angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one
party; but God is one.
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. But Scripture has
locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being
given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under
the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the
law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now
that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
So
in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who
were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither
Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you
are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s
seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:19-29
If
Jesus had not come, we would still need the law to protect us. With the coming
of Jesus, we do not need to have a guardian in the law. It is Jesus, who is our
guardian. He died for our sins. We are justified by His grace. That
justification also means we have a responsibility to love our neighbors,
regardless of whether they are Christian or not.
Love your neighbor, even if they aren’t your kind.
Our Daily Bread –