All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is
written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything
written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God
by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not
based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will
live by them." Galatians 3:10-12
In Romans 14:23, we learn that whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and
here in Galatians 3:12, we are told that the law is not based on faith.
To be clear, this is not in any way, suggesting that the law is sin,
but rather, that attempting to attain righteousness by the keeping of
the law, which is not faith, is futile because only by faith is the
righteousness of God revealed. Whatever is not based on faith is sin.
Therefore, trying to please God by means of the law, which is not based
on faith, will end in sin, because no one is justified before God by the
law. The way to pleasing God is only by faith.
According to the bible, all who rely on observing the law for
righteousness are under the curse because anyone who does not continue
to keep everything written in the law is cursed. Those under the law
don't pick and choose which of prescriptions of the law to keep. They
are bound to keep everything that the law says, and the law says so many
things that the proponents of the law do not take into account. For
example, the law commands in Deuteronomy 21:18-21, concerning a stubborn
child, that the parents should bring him before the elders, and tell
them that he is rebellious. The penalty is that he will be stoned. This
is part of the law that must be kept, if we are to be righteous
according to the law. Nothing can be as futile as attempting to be right
with God by the observance of the law, whatsoever the law may be,
whether the laws we make for ourselves, or the Law of Moses.
Toni
