This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (vv 2-3)

When interpreting verses 2 and 3, some people without understanding say that we must decide to believe in God to obtain the Holy Spirit. They insist that the first step of our salvation is from our own initiatives. However, Paul wrote that faith is the gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, we must not interpret verses 2 and 3 literally. Here, Paul is contrasting the Law to faith. Throughout his letters, we find that Paul’s idea of the Law is related to death while the Spirit gives eternal life.

For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “THE PERSON WHO PERFORMS THEM WILL LIVE BY THEM.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (vv 10-14)

I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? Far from it! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by bringing about my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful. (Romans 7:9-13)

It is not that the Law is evil. Adam, our representative, chose the satan over God. From then on, we are dead. And the Law reveals that we are sinners. Even if some of us do not know the Law, we do not escape God’s judgments as Romans 1:20 explains. Paul tells us that righteousness that the saints receive from God is not based on the Law. The Covenant theologians claim that Adam had the Law in the garden of Eden and kept it perfectly until he ate the forbidden fruit. They say that Adam could have obtained eternal life as reward if he had kept it till the end of the probation period. And the Active Obedience of Christ (AOC) explains that the Law is the root of the righteousness that the saints receive to get eternal life. To their disappointment, Paul does not say any of what they say. Galatians 3 is particularly important in order to refute the false ideas about the Law and our righteousness.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:21-22)

The Covenant Theology emphasizes the word “tutor” in verse 25 and say that people need to be ruled by the Law so that they would be led to Christ. Therefore, it emphasizes the sins and punishment/hell more than righteousness that comes from faith. Some ministers/theologians believe that Christians would not keep the Law without the AOC doctrine. Thus, they reveal that all they want is to rule people under the Law. This is the sin of the Protestant ministers and theologians in the 17^th century. They brought the Law back to life to kill people. Now what we have in churches are people who think they keep the Law and are saved by their works. In the Reformed churches, people say that they are saved by faith but follow the Covenant Theology and/or the AOC. Thus, they are no different than the Pharisees who claimed to be Abraham’s descendants and yet, denied Christ’s authority and His work on the cross.

Paul does not support the Covenant Theology or the AOC. It is true that the Israelites were handed to other nations because of their idolatrous acts. But God does not judge people by actions only. The actions show what is in the heart of men. Adam was made upright, but he decided to believe in the satan. He was vulnerable to temptations although he thought he was wise. Therefore, the new and eternal covenant promises the change of the heart that gives God’s wisdom. This heart Christ had and gave to us by sending us the Spirit.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

The Spirit gives the righteousness that cannot be removed. The Spirit gives faith in Christ. Paul explains us that righteousness that the saints receive is not from the Law. Although the Law Paul refers to is the Mosaic Law, the principle applies even to Adam who was given the command not to eat the forbidden fruit. Adam was given a conditional covenant. The Covenant theologians believe that Adam was given the Law to keep. Paul is refuting their idea by saying that the saints’ righteousness is not from keeping the Law. If our righteousness is not from the Law, Christ’s righteousness that is imputed to the saints is not from the Law. The Law, as Paul says, is for people who violate the Law (v.19). Adam was given the command to keep because he had the potential to sin and fall. Christ was born under the Law, meaning He became a man, to redeem those under the Law, meaning God’s chosen people. Christ came to fulfill the Law, not to keep the Law and gain righteousness by the Law. The apostles always connected Christ being a man with the ultimate sacrifice. Christ did not become a man to keep the Law perfectly to gain righteousness. Righteousness imputed to the saints is from the cross, Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul says in Galatians 3 that our righteousness has a different source apart from the Law.

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. (vv. 17-18)

Righteousness that comes from keeping God’s command is only uprightness that Adam had. That uprightness does not lead to eternal life. Those who think they are righteous by the Law will be rebuked as Job was rebuked by God. No deeds can satisfy God unless the heart that produces the deeds is from God. The unconditional promise given to Abraham had been given to the Son before creation. The relationship between the Son and the Father is not based on the Law. Therefore, our relationship with the Father is not based on the Law because we are united with the Son and have the Holy Spirit. Christ’s glory is our glory.

I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world existed. (John 17:4-5)