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For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, \u201cthe man who does those things shall live by them.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Eternal life can\u2019t be earned by obedience.<\/p>\n \u201cDoes<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek verb poie\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto make\u201d or \u201cto do.\u201d It is expressed here as an aorist participle, so it can be translated as \u201chaving done.\u201d<\/p>\n The word translated \u201clive<\/span>\u201d is dza\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto live\u201d or \u201cto have life.\u201d It is expressed here in the future tense. In other words \u201che will live\u201d or \u201che will have life.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul is quoting from Leviticus 18:5<\/span> <\/strong>which says, You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am<\/em> the LORD.<\/span> Also in his treatise to the Galatians, who had tried to add works of the Law onto faith, Paul quotes this same passage.<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s point is that the zealous Israelites who went about to establish their own righteousness by keeping all of the Law, were trying to fulfill the command of God who declared that the person who has kept all the commandments of the Law throughout his or her life shall live in them. Notice that this quotation does not declare that the person who has kept the entire Law \u201cis alive,\u201d but \u201cshall live in them\u201d (future tense).<\/p>\n The problem is, as Paul told us earlier in this letter, no one can keep the whole Law. Remember back in Romans 3:23<\/span>,<\/strong> for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.<\/span> And if we look at the Galatians passage, we see that Paul is contrasting faith and works of the Law. In the book of Galatians he says,<\/p>\n So then those who<\/span> are<\/em> <\/span>of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 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.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God<\/span> is<\/em><\/span> evident, for “The just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “The man who does them shall live by them.”<\/span> (Galatians 3:9-12<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n In order to receive future life (that is, eternal life) from the Law one would have to keep the entire Law for their entire life, which is not possible for any man with a sin nature. But since the only man to ever live without a sin nature is Jesus Christ (as Paul explained earlier), it is impossible for any of the rest of us to fulfill the entire Law.<\/p>\n Therefore, no one can attain the righteousness of God by keeping the Law. And no one can get saved by following any methodology of any church, or by going through any kind of classes taught by a church, or of partaking of any sacraments of any church. Salvation (and God\u2019s imputed righteousness) can only come through faith, that is, believing in the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross to pay for our sins. The perfect, sinless, Lamb of God was slain for us imperfect, sinful, human beings.<\/p>\n We can\u2019t satisfy God\u2019s righteousness by obeying the Law or all the rules of our church. His righteousness is only granted by faith to those of us who know we don\u2019t deserve it.<\/p>\n Thank you, Lord, for faith and for the sinless Lamb of God!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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