When you first read the words of Paul in Galatians 3:11 you may not immediately understand the impact of what He said. “But that no one is justified by the law is evident…” This truth forces you to deal with how men were saved during the times of the Old Testament if no one is justified by the law. How could anyone be saved from Adam to the coming of Jesus?
When God revealed His covenant at Mount Sinai, He told them to offer sacrifices. Why? As He described the various animal sacrifices He repeatedly said, “And it shall be forgiven”(Lev.4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16, 18; 6:7; 19:22; Num. 14:19; 15:25, 26, 28; Deut. 21:8). More than a dozen times God told them their sins would be forgiven when they offered the sacrifices. How then can Paul describe some who did these very things and much more yet were not forgiven? Paul does say that no one is justified by the law!
What about Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and so many others, especially David? They lived under the Old Testament, and no one doubts their salvation, yet Paul said that no one is justified by the law. How can this be?
What about those in Hebrews 11. So many righteous people are listed there, and then the writer adds these words, “Time would not permit me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson, also of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Heb. 11:32). Yet, Paul said that no one is justified by the law.
The writer then lists verbs, nouns and adjectives to describe the righteousness of these unnamed saints. “Through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness; obtained promises…quenched fires…valiant… tortured…trials of mockings and scourgings… chains…imprisonment…stoned…sawn… slain…wandered in deserts and mountains… dens…and caves…” He then shows the assurance of their salvation by saying, “All these having obtained a good testimony through faith.” They were accepted and saved while living under Old Testament law. Yet, Paul said that no one is justified by the law!
The key to understanding how this could be is to look at New Testament scribes and Pharisees. They sought salvation by their own acts of righteousness based on the law. They boasted of the fact that they fasted twice every week, gave alms (with sounding trumpets) prayed long prayers (on street corners) etc. What was missing? Paul says, “Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law” (Rom. 9:32). Faith without obedience is dead faith; but obedience without faith is just as dead! Knowing the Bible but seeking salvation without faith leads to disaster. Is it possible that some today are making this same mistake?
-Dan Jenkins
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