Galatians 3:21

Against the promises. The law appears to be incompatible with the covenant. It may even seem to have replaced the promise of salvation by faith with a program of salvation by works.

Of God. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the omission of this phrase.

God forbid. Perish the thought! Such a thing could never be. God was the author of both “the law” and the “promises,” and He would not repudiate His unconditional promise of salvation by faith in Christ (see Heb. 6:17-20)! To do so would be a denial of His integrity as God. It would prove Him inconsistent and unreliable.

Have given life. The law was never intended to impart righteousness and provide eternal life (see on v. 19). Only through Christ can men have access to righteousness, the more abundant life in the present, and in the world to come, life eternal (Luke 18:30).

Verily righteousness. Had it been possible to attain righteousness by the “works of the law” (see on ch. 2:16), the covenant promise would thereby be rendered superfluous. To the carnal heart a program of righteousness by works has infinitely more appeal than God’s plan of righteousness by faith. It is always more flattering to the human ego to do something to earn righteousness, than simply to accept it by faith as a gift. To accept righteousness as a gift is an acknowledgment that there is nothing one can do to achieve it on the basis of personal merit. It injures carnal pride to accept charity, whether it be material or spiritual.