Galatians 3:12 – “The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, Paul continues his argument that righteousness does not come through the law but through faith. He makes a clear distinction between the law and faith by pointing out that they operate on two completely different principles.

Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5, which states that a person must obey the law in order to live by it. This means that under the law, righteousness is based on works—if you do everything the law requires, you will live. However, if you fail even once, you are guilty.

Faith, on the other hand, is not about doing but about believing. Instead of trying to earn life through obedience to the law, faith means trusting in what God has already done. Paul is showing the Galatians that they cannot mix these two approaches. They must choose either to live by faith or to try to live by the law—but the law requires perfection, and no one can meet that standard.

Historical Context

Many Jews in Paul’s time believed that obeying the law of Moses was the way to be right with God. Some Jewish Christians in Galatia were teaching that faith in Jesus was not enough—that Gentile believers also needed to follow Jewish customs and laws.

Paul is directly refuting this idea. He reminds them that the law is not based on faith. Instead, it requires perfect obedience. The problem is that no one has ever been able to keep the law perfectly.

The history of Israel proves this point. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people continually failed to keep the law, leading to judgment and exile. If the law had been enough to make people righteous, there would have been no need for a Savior. But because no one could keep the law perfectly, God sent Jesus to do what the law could not—bring true righteousness through faith.

Theological Implications

This verse highlights an important truth: the law and faith operate on different principles.

1. The law demands perfect obedience. If a person chooses to rely on the law, they must obey it completely. Failing in even one area makes them guilty of breaking the whole law.
2. Faith is about trusting, not doing. Unlike the law, faith is not about earning righteousness—it is about receiving it as a gift from God.
3. The law cannot save. It can reveal sin, but it cannot provide salvation. That is why Jesus came—to do what the law could not do.

Literary Analysis

Paul’s wording in this verse is very intentional. The phrase “The law is not based on faith” is a direct rejection of the idea that someone can be saved by a combination of faith and works.

By quoting Leviticus 18:5, Paul is emphasizing that the law requires action—“The person who does these things will live by them.” There is no room for failure under the law. You either obey it fully, or you fall under its curse (as Paul already stated in Galatians 3:10).

Paul is making it clear that no one can meet the law’s demands. The only alternative is faith in Christ, which provides righteousness as a free gift rather than something that must be earned.

Biblical Cross-References

• Leviticus 18:5 – “Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord.” (This verse sets the standard for the law—it requires obedience for life.)
• Romans 10:5 – “Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’” (Paul makes the same argument in Romans.)
• James 2:10 – “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (The law requires perfection—one failure is enough to bring guilt.)
• Galatians 3:11 – “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because ‘the righteous will live by faith.’” (Paul contrasts the law with faith—only faith leads to righteousness.)

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

Many people today still fall into the trap of thinking they must “earn” their way to God. Some believe that being a good person, following religious rules, or doing good deeds will make them right with God. Paul’s words challenge this thinking.

This verse reminds us that we cannot rely on both the law and faith at the same time. If we try to earn salvation through our efforts, we are choosing a path that demands perfection—something none of us can achieve.

Instead, we must put our full trust in Jesus. Rather than striving to “be good enough,” we rest in the truth that Jesus was already good enough on our behalf.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

At first glance, this verse might seem like bad news—the law is strict, and no one can fully obey it. But in reality, it highlights God’s love in a powerful way.

God loves us so much that He does not leave us under the impossible demands of the law. Instead, He provides a way out—through faith in Jesus. If God were only about rules and judgment, He would have left us to try and fail on our own. But because He is loving, He offers salvation as a gift rather than something we must earn.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the one who fulfilled the law on our behalf. The law demanded perfection, and Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. Because of this, He was able to take our place, bearing the punishment for our failure to keep the law.

• Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly, doing what we could not do.)
• Galatians 3:13 – “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” (Jesus took the punishment we deserved.)
• Romans 8:3-4 – “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.” (Jesus accomplished what the law could not—bringing righteousness to those who believe.)
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (Jesus became sin so that we could be made righteous through faith.)

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes that the law is not based on faith?
2. How does this verse challenge the idea that good works can earn salvation?
3. Why is it impossible to be justified by the law?
4. What does it mean to “live by faith” rather than by the law?
5. How does understanding that Jesus fulfilled the law change the way you approach your relationship with God?