What is Faith and the Law?
Discover the relationship between faith and the Law in the Bible. Learn how faith in Jesus Christ fulfills the Law, leading to salvation, righteousness, and obedience through grace.
Faith and the Law: A Deep Biblical Teaching
1. Understanding Faith and the Law
Faith and the Law are two important themes in the Bible, often misunderstood. Some believe that following the Law is necessary for salvation, while others think that faith cancels the need for the Law entirely. However, the Bible teaches a balance—the Law reveals our need for salvation, and faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be justified before God.
- Romans 3:28 – "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law."
- Galatians 2:16 – "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ."
Faith and the Law work together, but they serve different purposes in God’s plan of salvation.
2. What is the Law?
Definition of the Law
The Law refers to the commandments and regulations given by God, primarily through Moses. This includes:
- The Moral Law – The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
- The Ceremonial Law – Sacrificial and purification laws (Leviticus 1-7, 11-15)
- The Civil Law – Laws for governing Israel (Exodus 21-23)
The Law reveals God’s righteousness and standard for holiness.
- Psalm 19:7 – "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."
However, the Law was not given to save people but to point them to their need for a Savior.
3. What is Faith?
Faith is trusting in God’s promises, not in our own ability to keep the Law.
- Hebrews 11:1 – "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
- Ephesians 2:8-9 – "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Faith means believing in Jesus’ finished work rather than trusting in our own efforts to obey the Law perfectly.
4. The Purpose of the Law
1. The Law Shows Us Our Sin
The Law acts like a mirror—it reveals our sinful nature but cannot cleanse us.
- Romans 3:20 – "For by the law is the knowledge of sin."
- Galatians 3:24 – "The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
The more we understand God’s Law, the more we realize that we fall short and need Jesus.
2. The Law Cannot Save Us
Even if someone tried to obey the Law perfectly, they would still fail.
- James 2:10 – "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
- Romans 7:18-19 – "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice."
Since we cannot keep the Law perfectly, salvation must come by faith, not by works.
3. The Law Prepares Us for Christ
God gave the Law to prepare the way for Jesus.
- Romans 10:4 – "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
- Hebrews 10:1 – "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices make those who approach perfect."
The sacrifices and commandments in the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus, the perfect fulfillment of the Law.
5. The Relationship Between Faith and the Law
1. Justification Comes by Faith, Not by the Law
A person is declared righteous (justified) by faith alone.
- Romans 3:21-22 – "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe."
- Galatians 3:11 – "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.'”
Keeping the Law does not save anyone; only faith in Christ can.
2. Faith Does Not Cancel the Law—It Fulfills It
Some think that because we are saved by faith, the Law no longer matters. However, Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.
- Matthew 5:17 – "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."
- Romans 3:31 – "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."
Faith does not make us lawless; rather, it empowers us to obey God from the heart.
3. The Law Leads to Obedience in Faith
Even though we are not under the Law for salvation, faith in Jesus leads to obedience.
- John 14:15 – "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
- Galatians 5:13-14 – "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Faith produces a heart that desires to obey God, not out of fear, but out of love.
6. What Happens to the Law in Christ?
When we put our faith in Christ, we experience three major changes in relation to the Law:
Discover the relationship between faith and the Law in the Bible. Learn how faith in Jesus Christ fulfills the Law, leading to salvation, righteousness, and obedience through grace.
- We Are Free from the Law’s Curse – Jesus took the punishment for our disobedience. (Galatians 3:13)
- We Are Given the Holy Spirit – Who enables us to live righteously. (Romans 8:4)
- We Follow the Law of Christ – Which is based on love. (Galatians 6:2)
The New Testament teaches that believers follow the Law of Christ, which is the law of faith and love.
- Romans 13:8-10 – "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
- Matthew 22:37-40 – "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
7. Summary: Faith and the Law Work Together
The Law reveals sin and shows our need for Christ. (Romans 3:20) Faith, not the Law, justifies us before God. (Galatians 2:16) Faith does not cancel the Law but fulfills it through love. (Romans 3:31, Galatians 5:14) Jesus fulfilled the Law, freeing believers from its curse. (Galatians 3:13) Through faith, we obey God’s commandments from the heart. (John 14:15)