“The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)
Paul goes on to explain the function of the law and that it is NOT to establish men as righteous before God.
The law was only a temporary institution until God’s promises would be fulfilled in Christ. Moreover, the law itself was no solution. It was given to bring us humans to the point of recognizing that we need God’s grace. For naturally, we are not even convinced of our need of salvation and forgiveness!
The law is like an X-ray that shows us what is wrong beneath the surface of our lives. It points out what God’s standards are, and how we fail to meet them. It defines sin and makes us aware how serious our condition is.
An X-ray can’t heal us. But it can help us realize our need to find a cure. There is only one possible cure for the problem of our sinfulness: “being justified by faith”. That’s what God’s law wants to teach us. Therefore, it is “foolish” indeed to turn away from God’s grace towards His law as if it could provide a solution.
Which role does God’s law have in your life?