3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? - Galatians 3:2-3(AMP)
Many times as believers, we tend to forget that our salvation didn’t come because we obeyed the law or did some good works. Paul was so upset by this idea that he wondered if the believers who thought this way had been bewitched (Galatians 3:1). By the law, we mean the rituals and guidelines written out in the Old Testament. You got saved and received the Holy Spirit purely by the grace of God not because of anything you did. It was God’s grace that found and saved you. Why then do you think it is okay to continue your journey of salvation by your works done in the flesh or by religiously upholding the law? If you’re still holding strongly to that believe or religiously teaching others this, you are wrong and faith in Jesus is far from you!
The Purpose Of The Law
19 What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. - Galatians 3:19a (AMP)
As the scripture above says, the law came after ‘the promise’ was made. It’s purpose was to make you conscious of sin and the weight it carries. Jesus on the other hand came to make you conscious of God and His free gift of eternal life. If Abraham (the father of faith) was not made righteous because he religiously followed and obeyed some set rules and laws but because he believed in God (Galatians 3:6), why then do you think you need to follow the law to make heaven or be made righteous? The purpose of the law has ended with the coming, death and resurrection of Jesus. Since Jesus is the fulfilment of that promise and not the law, it means that for you to be made righteous and saved, your absolute trust, obedience and allegiance should be to Jesus alone and not to the law. The law has no power to save because it does not rest in faith (Galatians 3:12).
Evaluate What You Really Believe
Do you believe that the person of Jesus, what He stands for, what He has done is what saves you? Or you believe that how much of the law and regulations you uphold religiously is what saves? For example, the law talks about women not wearing men’s clothing and vice versa, not eating or drinking certain foods and drinks, keeping the sabbath day holy, stoning adulterers to death and so on. If you believe that following these laws would make you stand right before God and save you on the last day, you are making Jesus and all He stands for of no effect. In fact, you have fallen away from grace (Galatians 5:4) and lack faith in Jesus. If you then twist or upgrade the law to suit your idea of spirituality, you are still guilty. Jesus alone is the law that should bind you. This law teaches you to love God and love your neighbour.
Start living by the law of love that brings life. What laws have you bound yourself by? Do you follow them because they make people perceive you as being more spiritual? Or you do them strictly because they are in obedience to the law of love for God and your neighbour?
Live Like You’re Not Bewitched
11 Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live. - Galatians 3:11(AMP).
You need to remove your focus from the law and focus on Jesus who is the source of faith and the one who would bring that faith to maturity and perfection (Hebrews 12:2). Keeping your focus on the do’s and don’t’s of the law, places you under a curse (Galatians 3:10) - a sign that you may have been bewitched. From now on, as you read, study and meditate on the law and the prophets (the Old Testament), do so with the understanding that Jesus is the fulfilment of all that is written. Stop chasing shadows in the law and hold on to the real deal - Jesus.