In Galatians 4:1, 2 the Apostle Paul says,
“Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child…is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
One of the characteristics of childishness and immaturity is that children live under people – guardians and tutors; they cannot do anything without being supervised. In the same book of Galatians, Apostle Paul made a very remarkable statement when he said,
“The Law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came…” (Gal. 3:24, NLT)
From this I have come to understand that living by the Law is a sign of spiritual immaturity, but living by faith is a sign of spiritual maturity.
Christians who live by the Law show that they still need to be under the guardian and tutorship of the Law, which of course is a sign of spiritual immaturity as stated in scripture. But when we put aside the Law – our legalistic mindsets – we show that we have come of age spiritually and no longer need to live under guardians (the dictates of the Law), but by the rudiments of faith. Apostle Paul also said,
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” - 1Corinthians 13:11
One of the childish things he did away with in his life was living according to the Law – a legalistic attitude, mindset, and approach towards salvation and righteousness. He said,
“For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for Christ. I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die” (Gal 2:19-21, NLT)
It is written that the righteous shall live by faith (Romans 1:17; Gal. 3:11), which therefore means that those who live by the Law and not by faith have not brought themselves round to accepting the righteousness that is by faith through Jesus Christ. They have been made right with God but are yet to accept their righteousness in Christ Jesus, but are rather pursuing the righteousness that is of the Law.
If we live according to the Law we show that we do not have confidence in the righteousness that is by faith through Christ Jesus, but in the righteousness that is by the Law. However, the righteousness that is imputed by the Law is nothing but self-righteousness. The reason the Law could not and cannot make us right with God is because it promotes self-righteousness, and such righteousness is like “filthy rags” before the Lord (Isaiah 64:6).
It is written that “Christ makes the Law no longer necessary for those who become acceptable to God by faith” (Rom 10:4, CEV). Therefore let us not deny ourselves this once-in-eternity-opportunity to live be right with God by accepting the righteousness that is by faith.
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