Galatians 3:21-22 "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
"... if there had been a law given which could have given life..." In
my own terminology, that is a mighty big "if". IF righteousness could
be obtained by our obedience,THEN the law of God would be the way. We saw in
Romans, "... the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and
just, and good." (Romans 7:12) So we can come to the understanding that
the problem was not with the law; rather, the problem was in us.
The law is holy. In my old nature, I was unholy (unrighteous). I could not
change that. But the Scripture, and our own experience of life, concluded we
were under the bondage of sin. We needed deliverance and we could not free
ourselves. Wherefore Christ was promised through the lineage of Abraham. We
will see in the next chapter that in the fullness of time, Christ was made of a
woman and made under the law to redeem us who were under condemnation.
Paul is laying out this great contrast to show our inability, but Christ's
ability. The law could have been the way, but we were the weakness. Jesus
declared that He truly is THE WAY! He was promised and we have received.
Trust the grace of God which the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the work of
Christ Jesus.