For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.  

                                                                                                            Romans 3:28 

Today’s passage could be considered a summary of the entire theme of Romans and the Gospels for that matter. In a single statement, Paul declares what the “main thing” is in the Christian life. Mankind is only justified (made right with God) through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross with no mixture of works of the Law. This same sentiment is beautifully illustrated in the following words:

…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

                                                                                                                   Galatians 2:16 

Three times we are told that justification (being right with God) is accomplished only through faith in Jesus (meaning faith in what He has done for us) and three times we are told that this outcome cannot be achieved by works of the Law. Yet it seems that so much of the Christian faith today revolves around our duty to adhere to some kind of legal code in order for our salvation to be obtained or perhaps kept. Nothing could be further from the truth. Consider Paul’s powerful statement indicating from whom we get our adequacy to become believers and ministers of the new covenant:

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

                                                                                                             2 Corinthians 3:4-6 

It is Jesus who has made us (believers) adequate to be called sons and daughters of God, Christ followers, and heirs to the kingdom of God. It is now by the power of the Spirit within us that gives us the ability to live in spiritual victory. And not only are we adequate in Christ alone, those desiring to make works a part of their justification process are actually working against the grace of God in their lives. Consider the following:

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

                                                                                                                   Galatians 5:3-4 

When we make law-keeping a part of our Christian experience, we are actually promoting the impossible. Everything that Christians study in the Old Testament should be viewed through the lens of the cross and the gospel. When we place ourselves under the Law, we are actually propagating a need to fulfill the entire Law, which none of us can accomplish (James 2:10). When we place ourselves under the old covenant, we are, in effect, being severed from Christ and we become a people that are actually falling from grace.

So two questions remain? What is the Law and why was it given? First, the Law is a reference to the Mosaic Law given by God to the people of Israel through Moses. Just as Moses is representative of the Law, Elijah the prophet represents the prophets. Both appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17) and both the Law and the Prophets have been fulfilled by Christ (Matthew 5:17). That is why salvation is now by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

This identifying of the Law as being the entire Mosaic Law can be seen in the following passages:

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?                                                                        

                                                                                                            2 Corinthians 3:7-8 

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He (Jesus) might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

                                                                                                               Galatians 4:4-5 

This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.                                                                                                

                                                                                                            Galatians 4:24-26 

Paul had no problem understanding that the Law was the entire Mosaic Law, including the Ten Commandments. So why the Law then? Consider the following:

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…

                                                                                                     Romans 5:20 

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

                                                                                                                   Galatians 3:24 

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

                                                                                                                 Galatians 3:25-26 

The Law actually increases our guilt before God and establishes our need for a Savior. And now that Jesus has fulfilled the Law, we are now no longer under that tutor (the Law). Salvation, justification, and forgiveness are now all obtained by faith in Jesus Christ.

So as we proclaim the gospel, let us not confuse or distort it by adding a mixture of works. We must, like Paul, maintain that mankind is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

                                                                                                                        1 John 3:23 

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

                                                                                                                       Matthew 7:12