Tuesday 13/8/13

Galatians 3:11-12 ESV

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."  But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them."

The Bible calls those who live and keep the laws as doers of the laws, not the righteous. However, those who live by faith are the righteous. The laws are the standard of right behavior. However, as the heart of men are wicked and prone to evil, no one can keep all the laws without fail. The laws then just show us our fallen state. If we adamant on keeping the laws, we may become like the Pharisee: focus on the outward parts but neglect the inner parts, judgemental and hypocrisy toward others. Therefore, while the laws show us what righteousness is, it is faith, hope, love, merciful and forbearance that guide us there.