Since the law does not give us life, we must not look to the law for life, but instead trust in Jesus Christ alone for this life.
- The Law doesn’t give us life because it came after the Promise. (15-18)
“We share in these promises, therefore, by coming to Christ and being found in him. ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed,’ God said to Abraham. But how do we get into Abraham? Not by getting into Israel through the law, but by coming to Christ by faith. As Paul will say a little later on, ‘In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. … And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.’” (3:26,27,29) —Todd Wilson
- If the law doesn’t give us life, then what is the purpose of the law? (19-20)
“The law did not come to tell us about salvation, but about sin. Its main purpose is to show us our problem, that we are law-breakers; and to prove to us that we cannot be the solution, since we are unable to be perfect law-keepers.” —Tim Keller
“The law can tell you how to channel your desires in a way that honors God, but it cannot give you God-honoring desires.” —Todd Wilson