Did you know that it’s illegal to slurp soup in New Jersey? Did you know that it’s illegal to put ice cream in your pocket in Alabama? It’s against the law to use a snake as a weapon in Tennessee. All of these weird laws are actually written in the official public record in these states. It makes you wonder what lead to the legislation of such bizarre rules. Seriously, who puts ice cream in their pocket or throws a snake at someone?
You are constantly following rules. Whether it’s the speed limit, obeying your curfew, or a dressing in a spiffy uniform at work, there are dozens of rules that apply to you at any given moment. While it’s natural to resist the rules, there is also something very convenient about a list of laws.
When Paul is writing to the Galatians, many of his readers were obsessed with following the rules of the law instead of just following Jesus. Why would anyone chose to do that? It’s probably because rules are direct with easily measured outcomes. However, a relationship is more nuanced and subjective. It’s just easier to condense your faith down to a checklist. Paul warned them that checklists won’t emancipate you, and they’ll just exhaust you.
In the middle of Galatians, Paul addresses this checklist mindset head-on by saying, “No one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. It is through faith that a righteous person has life” (3:11).
When Paul says “the law,” he is referring to all the 600+ rules and regulations in the Old Testament. While following these rules are important, it’s not the path to salvation. The law was designed to reveal our weakness, not to help us overcome our own weakness (Romans 3:20). When Jesus saved you, He set you free from the law. Rules don’t save you; a relationship with Jesus does.
The law is like a mirror. It’s designed to show us a reflection of God’s character and our weakness. When you look in the mirror, you may see a zit on your forehead and a some spinach in your teeth. The mirror doesn’t help you take care of the problem. It just reveals it. That’s the nature of the law as well. It shows us where we fall short and points to a savior who can help. Our faith is not about rules; it’s about a relationship. It’s not about following a checklist; it’s about following Jesus.