Can the Law Justify?

This is an important theological question which many people out there continue to wrestle with. Many teachers teaches that strict adherence to the law can justify, but is this teaching in concordance with the other parts of the scriptures? To be justified is to be declared righteous. The truth is that the law has never justified anyone since it's inception. None of our father's who dwelt under the law could perfectly keep the law, therefore the law couldn't justify them. This tells us that the law cannot be a means of justification, because by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. 

The saints who lived before the law was given were justified and yet their justification was never by their works of obedience of any sort. For example, Abraham lived before the law and yet was justified not by works, but by grace through faith: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:1-3). The way of justification prior to the giving of the law, was never by works, but only through faith.

Those who lived under the law themselves were not justified by the law, but they were like Abraham justified by faith: But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works (Romans 4; 5-6). The prophet Habakkuk also wrote; the just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2; 4). And in our time, the way of justification is also not by works of righteousness, but only through faith, see (John 3: 16). The only ingredient for justification before the law was given, during the time the law was in force and after the law, has always been by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. 

Scriptural Evidences that the law cannot justify 

The bible says: Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin  (Romans 3: 20). This verse exposits the truth that no flesh can attain justification through the works of the law. In the same chapter, it written: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3: 28). The apostle states clearly that faith and not by the works of the law can a person be justified. In Paul's epistle to the Galatians he wrote: 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). 

The verse teaches that justification is by faith in the Man Jesus Christ and not by works of the law. Paul also wrote: I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly (Galatians 2: 21). Because we couldn't fulfill the legal requirements of the Law, Jesus Christ came and fulfilled it for us. This verse tells us that if righteousness could be by the law, then there was no need for Jesus Christ to come and die in order to fulfill it. It is also written: Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11). Justification by works is not a scriptural teaching and those who teaches such doctrine are preachers of another gospel, and not the gospel conspicuously revealed in the bible that justification is by faith alone.

Why can't the Law justify?

The law in of itself is good, holy and righteous. The law reveals the holiness of God, and also requires perfection in holiness from sinful creatures. The reason why the law cannot justify anyone was because of the weakness of our sinful nature. If man could have kept the law in it's entirety the law would have justified them, because it is written: for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified (Romans 2; 13). But the question is can anyone keep the law perfectly? Certainly not. Even if you keep all the laws and yet offends in one, you are guilty of breaking all the laws: For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all (James 2; 10).

The problem is not with the law, for the law as I have afore written is good, holy and righteous, but because of the weakness of our human nature we couldn't fulfill it, as a result, the law was powerless to justify us. Apostle Paul by the leading of the Spirit debunked the false notion that justification could be obtained by works in his epistles especially in Romans and Galatians. Therefore, those seeking to made righteous by the law should cease from henceforth, because it is utterly impossible to keep the law, for the law requires one hundred percent perfection in holiness which you do not have.

What then is the purpose of the Law?

If we cannot be justified by the law, then why did God give the law in the first place? This is a good question to ask, the purpose of the Law was to reveal the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Through the law we come to the true knowledge of what sin is: What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet (Romans 7; 7).

The law defined sin for us, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. It revealed how sinful we are. The law only diagnosis a sickness, but do not offer any treatment. It tells you that you are wounded badly, but it offers no remedy. The law was not designed by God to be the means of our justification, because of the weakness of our sinful flesh, but was given to serve as our tutor to lead us to Christ, so we can be justified by faith, see (Galatians 3; 24). The primary function of the law was to lead us to Jesus Christ. To seek justification by the law only results in condemnation and death, for the letter kills.

The true way of Justification 

The true path which leads to justification is by faith without the deeds of the law. The bible says: But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction (Romans 3; 21-22). The righteousness which God accepts is not the righteousness which comes through the law, but the righteousness which is on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. Peradventure, if you do not have any personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then it means you are still unjustified. Justification comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, you need to believe from the depth of your heart his death and resurrection, and to acknowledge him as your Lord and Savior and you shall be saved (Romans 10; 9). 

To be justified you need to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for it written: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5; 1). You only need faith in Jesus Christ to be justified, and to secure all the benefits which comes along with it. I love what Paul wrote: But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace (Romans 11: 6). We are saved and freely justified by grace through faith in the resurrected Christ and not by works of the law. 

God bless you

A thought to ponder 🤔 

 You only need faith in Jesus Christ to be justified, and to secure all the benefits which comes along with it.

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