2. Righteousness can only be achieved by having faith in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law
Knowing that a man is not justified (or declared righteous) by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 2:16 NKJV
Perhaps it would be good to understand what is meant by the works of the law. To keep it simple, it basically means seeking to establish our own righteousness by keeping a law, thus eliminating the need for faith or reliance on the Holy Spirit for His help and guidance.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:4 NKJV
We can never earn or establish our own righteousness before the Lord, because Scripture tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) – meaning that we have all transgressed God’s laws and commands. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.”
The word “righteous” means: just, lawful, free from sin, etc. I have come to understand that it also means to be in right standing with God. The law was given to God’s people as instructions for righteous living. But if righteousness is not achieved by the works of the law, we may wonder why the law was even given? The bible tells us that the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified (made righteous) by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Galatians 3:19-25 NKJV
The purpose of the law was not to justify man in God’s eyes, rather the law was given after God made a promise to Abraham that through his Seed (Jesus Christ), all the nations of the earth would be blessed. The relationship of the law and the promise is one of need and fulfillment. The law was never given as a means of attaining eternal life and righteousness before God. Rather it was given to reveal to us our desperate need for the promise of life which only comes by having faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.
The promise fulfilled
Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Galatians 3:16-18 NKJV
We understand that Jesus is the promised “Seed” of Abraham, through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus when He came to earth, died a sacrificial death, and rose again in absolute victory over sin, death and the enemy. Jesus came to give those who believe in Him eternal life (John 3:16), and set us free from the power of sin. Scripture also reveals to us that we receive the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit through faith, and not by our efforts to keep the law (Galatians 3:2).
Scripture tells us that Jesus came to earth as a Man (still fully God) to fulfill the law. He was the only One who could do it. He lived a perfect sinless life and showed us how to follow in His footsteps. He died a sacrificial death so that we can be reconciled back to God. He paid our debt and took our sins upon Himself on the cross, so that we can be forgiven and set free. There was a divine exchange that took place on the cross – Jesus took our sin upon Himself, so that we could receive His perfect righteousness.
For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
Because of what Jesus did for us, we can repent of our sins, be forgiven, and set free from slavery to sin. We no longer strive by our own efforts to be righteousness before God, instead by faith, we wear the perfect righteousness of the Son of God. Scripture tells us that the precious blood of Jesus has justified us in God’s eyes.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified (deemed righteous, just or innocent) by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:8-9 NKJV
The precious blood of Jesus also cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7-9 NKJV
Just as Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again, we too participate in His death, burial and resurrection when we are baptized under water to Jesus. Our old man (our fleshly nature / the body of sin and death) was crucified with Christ, we were buried with Him through baptism, and we were raised together with Him. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). We now wear His perfect righteousness. Thank You Lord!
The fact that Jesus has set us free from the law means that we are under grace, but grace is not a license to sin. Jesus came to set us free from the power of sin, meaning that sin no longer has control over us. Therefore, we are free to live a life that is well pleasing to our Father – a Spirit led life. We are free to love and care for others as we walk in the Spirit, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:1-14 NKJV
The conclusion on the matter is that Christ like love is the fulfillment of the law (Part 3 of 3 explains this).
In part 1, we discussed how focusing on keeping the law could bring a person into bondage. If you would like a recap of this understanding, please kindly click on the link here: Don’t go back to the law – part 1 of 3 – Preparing the bride of Christ
In part 3, I will show you from Scripture how we can obey God’s commandments (without going back to the works of the law) by changing our focus. I will also show you that true change comes from within when we surrender to the Lord’s will and allow Him to change us from the inside. I will also show you that Christ like love is the fulfillment of the law.
I pray this message has helped you in your understanding of how righteousness only comes by having faith in our Lord Jesus.
Until next time – blessings in Jesus’ name