Law and Faith

"It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression."

- Romans 4: 13-15

The perspective of the world on faith and law hasn't changed much. If both aren't the same, they're two separate gears which don't mesh well together.

However, the apostle Paul never lost sight upon the difference, and the importance of both when it comes to salvation. Paul was constantly debating with the religious leaders, and most of the people during his time. People always made their forefathers Abraham and Moses as an excuse when it comes to salvation, that following the law is the gateway to heaven, and the law is faith, and the faith that Paul always talked about was void. Although it's a safe belief, it's useless, and intimacy with our Father in heaven has diminished and has been disregarded.

Paul wrote to the Romans that "it was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise... but through the righteousness that comes through faith (v.13)." Again, good works and obedience are not enough to attain salvation if you do not believe "it was through the obedience of Jesus Christ that many will be made righteous (Rom5:19b)." Remember, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom3:23)." EVERYONE has sinned, and none have even accomplished a day of perfection. Besides, "for the wages of sin is death (Rom6:23)."

Paul further explains that "if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless. (v.14)" If salvation is based only on the law, and intimacy and faith have no role to play, then God's love for us is worthless and the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was done in vain, and anyone would head straight towards hell. You see here that "law brings wrath (v15a)."

The only way to repay sin is if a sinless person offered to take your punishment, then justice would be served, and you could go free! Paul hopefully and faithfully preached this truth about salvation to the world. But Paul made it clear that just because this is the truth about salvation, it doesn't mean we should ultimately disregard the law of God. "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? BY NO MEANS (Rom6:15)!" The law is as important as faith!

Paul then states that "where there is no law, there is no transgression (v15b)." God's wisdom and understanding is unfathomable "for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. (Isa55:9)." Although sin isn't God's will, He allowed for it to happen to glorify His name, and His name alone! God designed for us to have free will so that we will have the capacity to love. If we were made with no free will, then love will not exist. The only way for love to exist is if we would love, despite the fact that we could have chosen not to. Love does, in fact, bloom if we are put in a situation wherein it is tested. That's one of the reasons why we are placed in this earth.

It was man who chose sin, instead of obeying God's law. Because of sin, man has fallen into the abyss that leads to the place "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." But because God loves us so much, He reached out His hand to us so that we could grab it, and stop our falling.

God designed everything to be so that we may see how great and powerful He really is, and so that we may enter the gates of heaven.