“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. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Gal. 3:21, 22).
The law could not possibly be against the promises of God. For when God had given a promise, why should he, and how could he, set up anything against the promise? Why should he desire to weaken or to frustrate his own promise? Therefore his “God forbid” is set against any such suggestion. Instead of the law being against the promises, it is, as we have again and again seen, an aid to men in attaining unto the promises.
The divine reason here given as to why the law is not against the promises is that “if there had been a law given which could have given life,” then “verily righteousness should have been by the law.” And if righteousness had been by the law, there would have been no need of any promises. Indeed there would then have been no place for any promises. For “to him that worketh [obtains righteousness by the law] is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt” (Rom. 4:4).
If righteousness could be obtained by working, it would be possessed in the very act of the work performed. And when possessed, there could not possibly be any room for any promise of it. And if righteousness could be obtained by working, then the reward of righteousness would be earned, and so would be a debt due; and any with holding of it from him who had earned it, and to whom it was so due, would be injustice. Thus again, if righteousness were by the law, there would be no room for any promise; for even to promise to a person that which he had already earned, and which was already due, would be a withholding of the thing earned and due, and so would be injustice.
Therefore upon every consideration, if righteousness could be obtained by the law, then the law would be against the promises of God. And for any one to expect righteousness by the law, he in that very thing does set the law against the promises of God. But against all thought of obtaining righteousness by the law the Lord sets his “God forbid” that the law should be against the promises.
Another reason given why righteousness cannot be by the law is that the law cannot give life—“if there had been a law given which could have given life,” then “verily righteousness should have been by the law.” Thus it is certified by the word of God that righteousness and life come from precisely the same source, and in precisely the same way; and that is, as the free gift of God by his creative power as, the Author and Prince of life.