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The relationship between faith and the law is like that of Christ and humanity. Faith liberates us from the law. Paul goes so far as to say that before Christ, "we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed," (Galatians 3:23). The law is an insufficient condition for either salvation or righteousness. Paul implies that faith has replaced works as the new law of Christ. In fact, Christ is the ultimate result of God's law. "The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator," (Galatians 3:19). If Christ is the law, then the only way to achieve righteousness is via faith in Christ. According to DeLashmutt (2010), "God gave the Law, not to be the means by which we earn God's acceptance, but to convince us of our need for faith in Christ by exposing our sin and guilt." The law underscores human weakness and original sin. Obeying the law is futile, but faith in Christ is not.
Therefore, it is up to the individual to cultivate faith. From faith, a state of grace may ensue in which Christ may enter the heart....
A state of grace is a state of oneness with Christ and the Holy Spirit. Paul makes clear that Christ and the Holy Spirit are essentially indivisible: "A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one," (Galatians 3:20). A world that is "a prisoner of sin," as Paul puts it, needs faith and only faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:22). The law is no longer a prison or a curse over the people; the Gentiles are set free by the liberating force of Christ that comes via a state of grace. That state of grace is part of God's original promise.
References
Bible. New International Version. Retrieved May 25, 2010 from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3&version=NIV
DeLashmutt, G. (2010). "Galatians Teachings: Chapter 3." Xenos Christian Fellowship. Retrieved May 25, 2010 from http://www.xenos.org/teachings/nt/galatians/gary/gal3-2.htm
Matt1618 (1998). "Works of the Law and Galatians 3:10-14." Web site retrieved May 25, 2010 from http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/gal3.htm
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