Faith or Law: Which Came First?

In Christianity, the understanding of the relationship between faith and the law is often a muddled one. However, it's becoming one of my favorite topics as the Lord seems to bring it to my attention often. It's as if it's really important for us to "get it." So, I was not surprised when I asked Him what He wanted to share with my mom and I once I arrived back at home from church. As we sat down together, I prayed and He said to read Galatians 3 as it relates to Philippians 4 (the applicable discourse begins at 3:17). I had no idea what the relationship was but we were about to find out. Crucial Scriptures in Galatians 3:17-18, 23-24.

A little background on these 2 letters from the Apostle Paul, who wrote at least the one to the Philippians from the "comfort" of a Roman prison, particularly house arreas. I know this from Paul himself who sent greetings from those of the faith who were of the household of Caesar. But we know from history that Paul was under house arrest in Rome when he penned the letter to his spiritual children. 

I want to keep this short and pertinent to what the Lord was saying to us today and why He led us to these Scriptures. I'll give you a clue: He wanted to teach us about identity and on the one hand and how it plays out on the others hand. How do we walk out this identity in Christ as we live this life of faith free from the subjection of the law. It is important to never deny the importance of the law before the better covenant of faith, but which came first? Both.

Now that I have your attention, let's dive in ...

GALATIANS 3 (New King James Version)

THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT

Justification by Faith 

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? ² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ⁴ Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

⁵ Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— ⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” ⁷ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

THE LAW HAD ITS PLACE WITH ALL OF ITS LIMITATIONS

The Law Brings a Curse

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

THE LONG AWAITED PROMISE WAS FULFILLED IN CHRIST

The Changeless Promise

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. ¹⁶ Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

THE LAW WAS OUR GUARD UNTIL THE FULFILLMENT OF THE SEED

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
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. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

OUR IDENTITY THROUGH FAITH NO MATTER WHAT OUR STATION

Sons and Heirs

²⁶ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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.
(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+3&version=NKJV)

The reason I said both the law and the covenant of faith came first is because the Abrahamic Covenant was a covenant of faith. "Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness." He had faith in God that He could bring about whatever He promised. But Abraham's faith was not enough to win back the whole world to the Father. That was not his role. Only One could accomplish that "impossible" feat. Yet, he did receive the Promised Seed, Jesus Christ, Whom God would indeed use to redeem the world - winning back His family through His First Son!

This promise came to Abraham 430 years before God gave Moses the law to guard the people from sin until the fullness of time when the Promise Seed, Jesus Christ, would come. So the covenant of faith, as it were, came before the law and was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as was the law. "¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matt. 5:17). So see that Jesus really is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. He was before the Law (the promise of Him), and He manifested in the earth as the incarnate God, after the Law. Is that not good stuff?

Philippians 4  (New King James Version)

4 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

THE HOPE WE HAVE IN THE LIFE OF FAITH: JOY, UNITY, AND THE POWER OF PRAYER

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

OUR THOUGHT LIFE: A CRUCIAL COMPONENT TO WALKING OUT THIS FAITH

Meditate on These Things

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

THE SECURITY OF GENEROSITY TOWARD KINGDOM EXPLOITS

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Here, Paul is imploring the believers to be and remain united in Christ, with joy, never overwhelmed but always prayerful. He shares that they are to reign in their thought lives and focus only on that which is "noble, ...just, ... pure, ... lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." He does not just say think on these things but "meditate" on them; fill your mind with them." Why? "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, you become what you meditate on. 

In summary, we have dealt with our identity as it relates to the law and living by faith through Christ the Promised Seed from the Scripture in Galatians and from the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians while under house arrest in Rome, he shared some practical ways to live out that identity to the glory of God. 

A CAUTION: THE LAW IS NEITHER UNIMPORTANT NOR WITHOUT PURPOSE BECAUSE UNBELIEVERS AND BACKSLIDERS LIVE SUBJECT TO/UNDER IT, WHILE IT HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN CHRIST, AND BY EXTENSION, BY THOSE WHO FOLLOW CHRIST.