THE SEEMING CONTRADICTIONS OF PAUL REGARDING THE LAW
Our present world perceives a contradiction regarding the Laws of God and the Apostle Paul. The world looks at a few verses in the book of Galatians and asserts that the law is done away. However they also note that there are many verses where Paul wholeheartedly supports the OT Law. Is this a contradiction ? Obviously Paul is not pulling in two different directions. Note the key verses.
Galatians 2:16 NKJV 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Romans 3:31 NKJV . 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Acts 24:14 NKJV 14 "But this I confess to you,... I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Clearly those who wish to believe that the law is done away face a real conundrum.
THE CLEAR VALUE OF GOD'S SPIRITUAL LAW IS UNQUESTIONABLE
God as our maker knows what will work for mankind's happiness and fulfillment.
Psalms 119:105 NKJV 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
God's laws help us avoid the pitfalls and traps and live a safer and more wholesome life.
Romans 7:12-17 MKJV 12 So indeed the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. ... 16 If then I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me
Paul battles his human nature to follow the goodness of the law. Paul knew that the laws of God are good for us. He struggled to receive the goodness and righteousness that the law defines.
Romans 2:13 MKJV 13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
Paul says to the brethren that they must be doers of the law. What then is the meaning of GAL.2:16 ?
THE REAL MOTIVES OF THE JUDAIZING PARTY
The great number of uncircumcised gentiles coming into the church was handled prior to Paul's letter to the Galatians. The full church had supported his making an exception for gentiles with regard to circumcision. This would be a huge barrier to many adult gentiles having to be operated on before entering the church. Yet the Judaizers behind Paul's back kept pushing circumcisions.
Galatians 2:3-5 MKJV 3 (But not even Titus, the one with me, a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.) 4 But because of those false brothers stealing in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus;... enslave us; 5... that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
These false teachers wanted to push the gentiles and all the church into the bondage of extreme Judaism. Jesus said that the people were being led by people who enslaved the Jews.
Mark 2:24-28 MKJV 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, Behold, why do they do that which is not lawful on the sabbath day? ... 27 And He said to them, The sabbath came into being for man's sake, and not man for the sabbath's sake.
Jesus realized that the administration of the law was oppressing the people. The leaders with their rulings made people miserable on the Sabbath. God meant the day to be a joyful.
Matthew 11:28-30 MKJV 28 Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest....and you shall find rest to your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
Paul recognized the dangerous motives of these false teachers.
Galatians 2:12-14 MKJV 12 For before some came from James, he ate with the nations. But when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also dissembled with him, so as even Barnabas was led away with their dissembling. 14 But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before all, If you, being a Jew, live as a Gentile, and not as the Jews, why do you compel the nations to judaize?
The false teachers wanted to pull the Jewish members away from the uncircumcised gentiles. Further to get the church to adopt much of the Jewish practices condemned by Jesus. They wanted to isolate and diminish the gentiles within the church. They wanted most to be repelled by the church.
Galatians 2:5 NKJV 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
The judaizers wanted to limit the number of gentiles who would join the church. It is a form of religious ethnic bias. They wanted barriers to keep most gentiles out.
Acts 22:21-22 NKJV 21 "Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'" 22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"
Paul fought this bias and prevailed. Paul opened up the truth to all.
Galatians 3:28-29 NKJV 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
HOW ALL OF PAUL'S STATEMENTS WORK TOGETHER
First the people who received Paul's letter knew him and what he believed. They for instance would never have thought Paul was canceling the law. Why ? They had kept many of the Sabbaths with him and seen him preach out of the OT powerfully. They knew that when Paul said one could not be justified by the law he was not canceling the law but resisting the judaizers approach of trying to earn you salvation by keeping all the excessive Jewish rules about law keeping. Paul is giving the means of justification only. One receives justification from Jesus' sacrifice not from our own efforts. We cannot earn our own salvation.
Galatians 2:17 NKJV 17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
Sin is the breaking of the law so Paul is saying right after verse 16 that although we are saved by faith and grace God does not want us to be sinners or law breakers. Law and grace work together. The law defines what we need to repent of doing and grace covers our past sins which we could not do for ourselves.
Galatians 3:21-22 NKJV 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Romans 6:1-4 NKJV 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Both Paul statements are true. The law cannot justify a person and also God will not justify anyone unwilling to repent and commit to working at obeying the law.
James 2:14-18 NKJV 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ...17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
If we believe in God and Jesus we must show our faith by following the guidance of God's ways and laws.
