What Old Testament laws are contrasted with faith in Galatians 2:16? The Verse in Focus “Yet we know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) What Paul Means by “Works of the Law” Paul is referring to the entire Mosaic covenant—everything God delivered through Moses at Sinai. In Galatians the immediate issue was circumcision (Galatians 2:3–5; 5:2-4), yet the phrase expands to every statute Israel received as a means of covenant identity and obedience. Specific Examples from the Old Testament • Circumcision – Genesis 17:10-14; Leviticus 12:3 (flagship sign pressed by the Judaizers) • Dietary regulations – Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14 (clean/unclean foods, now declared fulfilled—cf. Acts 10:13-15) • Festival observances – Leviticus 23 (Passover, Weeks, Booths, etc.) • Sabbath and other holy-day rules – Exodus 20:8-11; 31:13-17 • Purity laws – Leviticus 13–15 (skin diseases, bodily discharges) • Sacrificial system – Leviticus 1-7; 16 (burnt offerings, Day of Atonement) • Civil and ceremonial penalties – Exodus 21-23; Deuteronomy 22-25 • Even the moral commandments, including the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), when used as a ladder to earn righteousness, fall under “works of the law” (Romans 3:20) Why These Works Cannot Justify • The law demands perfect obedience—one failure brings condemnation (Deuteronomy 27:26; James 2:10). • Scripture had already testified that no one is righteous enough (Psalm 143:2; Romans 3:23). • The law functioned as a guardian pointing to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25). • Sacrifices were temporary shadows awaiting the one perfect sacrifice—Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-4, 10-14). Faith: The Only Ground of Justification • “The righteous will live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4; quoted in Galatians 3:11) • Abraham was counted righteous through faith long before the law existed (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6-9). • Justification is a gift, received apart from any law-keeping effort (Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-9). • Christ’s obedience and cross work fulfill the law and become ours through faith (Romans 8:3-4; 10:4). Living Response Because we are justified by faith alone, our relationship with God rests securely on Christ’s finished work. Good works now flow from gratitude, not as a means to earn righteousness (Galatians 5:13-14; Titus 2:14). |
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