“For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:14-15).

The wrath of God is the result of sin. Sin is man’s rebellion against his Creator (cf. Heb. 3:7–4:3), and it consequently separates man from God (Isa. 59:1-2). Evidence of this fact is easily seen in the account of Adam and Eve who, having previously enjoyed perfect fellowship with God, were cast out of the Garden of Eden due to disobeying just one commandment (Gen. 3). Many generations later, when God chose for Himself a special people to call His own (Israel), He separated them from the world that they may be holy just as He is holy (Lev. 11:45). But, time and again, sin got in the way; it constantly disrupted the fellowship they had with God. Thus, Paul says, it was because of sin that God gave the law. “Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:9-10).

However, with the giving of the law came the penalty for not keeping it (for it not only declared what was “right” and “wrong,” it required total conformity to it – which no one, except Jesus, was able to satisfy). Therefore, the law is associated with wrath (Rom. 4:15), condemnation (2 Cor. 3:9), and death (v. 7). The law itself was “holy and just and good” (Rom. 7:12), but to violate it was a death sentence. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them’” (Gal. 3:10). “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas. 2:10).

“In Your Seed All the Nations of the Earth Shall Be Blessed …” (Gen. 22:18)

You may ask, “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made…” (Gal. 3:19). The intent of the law was to bridge together both the “seed promise” given to Abraham (some 430 years prior to the giving of the law through Moses, Gal. 3:17) and the fulfilment of that “seed promise” in Christ Jesus. Paul explained it this way: “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 by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal. 3:22-25).

In the church age (which began on Pentecost, Acts 2) we find that the Law of Moses is now dead (Rom. 7:1-6; 2 Cor. 3:11). Just as He promised, Christ fulfilled it (i.e., He brought it to its intended conclusion, Matt. 5:17-18), “having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14-17; cf. Eph. 2:14-16). That being the case, it is pointless and fruitless for anyone to try to be justified in the eyes of God by holding to the works of a dead law that could not save anyone even if it were still in force (Gal. 3:11-14). The Law of Moses was never intended to do that. It was simply a “tutor to bring [the Jews] to Christ” (who is the fulfillment of the seed promise, v. 16). Now being dead, that law no longer exists. Being that it does not exist, there is no longer any transgression or penalty for not keeping it (Rom. 4:15). (While it is possible that Paul’s statement in Romans 4:15 was a maxim, our conclusion regarding this “dead law” is nonetheless true.)

To emphasize this fact, Paul draws attention to the example (pattern) of Abraham (to whom the promise was made; who also predated the law) to show that the true heirs of “the seed promise” are justified in the eyes of God – not because of any law-abiding works of a dead law, but because of faith. “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Gal. 3:7-9). We, who are far removed from the time in which the Law of Moses was in force, should be able to clearly see that we are justified by faith in Christ (not the dead law), and that our faith in Him results in our obedience to Him. Did not Abraham prove this very point?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God (Jas. 2:21-23).

James also said, “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (v. 18). “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (v. 17).

To many people, Paul’s insistence that no man is justified by works, but rather by faith, is a direct contradiction to James’ statement in James 2:21-23. (Incidentally, this is why many in the religious world do not believe water baptism into Christ is necessary for salvation, because baptism is a work.) However, what many people fail to see is that there are at least four types of works mentioned in the Scriptures. There are the “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21) – which are inherently evil, “works of the law” (which we have been discussing), meritorious works (i.e., works that man devises, cf. Eph. 2:9), and obedient works of faith. The first three cannot save anyone, but we cannot be saved without obedient works of faith. (The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 supports this fact.) Thus, there is no need for confusion. Paul (in Romans and Galatians) was talking about works that are excluded from God’s plan to save man, whereas James was referring to works that are included in the plan of salvation (and baptism into Christ is an obedient work of faith). “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35).

So then, what is the point of this article? First of all, I want to encourage the reader to always follow the divine pattern for everything we say and do (Col. 3:17). For in every dispensation of time there has been a divine pattern to follow. Even before there was ever a “Law of Moses,” God has always had a law in place that man has had to obey (cf. Gen. 1:28; 2:17, 24). This is especially true in this age; for though we are not under the Law of Moses we are under law to Christ (1 Cor. 9:21).

As a side point, I find it fascinating that God has created the natural realm with such symmetry to the spiritual realm that even nature reinforces the law of Christ (cf. Rom. 2:14-16). In a written debate with a Calvinist preacher (who believes that man is born in sin – that is, physically born-spiritually dead), I asked him to answer one series of questions. What of the tree that fell over because of internal rotting? What of the deer that was fatally hit by a truck on the freeway? What of the friend or loved one in the casket at the funeral home? Were they dead first or alive first (and then died)? Obviously they were alive first. The same is true spiritually speaking. Paul said, “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Rom. 7:9). Hence, the need to be “born again” (John 3:5; Rom. 6:4-5)! So then, even nature teaches that there is always a divine pattern to follow.

My second reason for writing this is to show that there are some things we are not obligated to do in Christ; and they may even be sinful to participate in, or else to attempt to bind on others. “For where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15). As we have identified, there is no divine pattern for us to do the works of the dead Law of Moses (Gal. 2:16-21). Also, there is no divine pattern to enforce the traditions and commandments of men (Matt. 15:1-13). There is no divine pattern for us to bind on others certain matters of personal liberty, perhaps even concerning “doubtful things” (Rom. 14:1ff), which God has left up to the individual consciences of each Christian (Rom. 14:14). Brethren, we are not lawmakers. “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” (Jas. 4:12).