Galatians – Chapter Three XVI

by Ed Urzi

“Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:21-22).

One function of the Old Testament Law was vividly illustrated by a commentator who observed that the Law is much like a mirror. While a mirror might reveal the need to clean your face, you do not wash your face with a mirror- you need soap for that. (1) In this analogy, the Old Testament Law is the “mirror” that reveals our sinfulness before God. The “soap” is “…the blood of Jesus, his Son, (that) cleanses us from every sin” (1 John 1:7 CSB).

But what does it mean to have “faith in Jesus Christ” as we read here in Galatians 3:22? Well, the Biblical book of Hebrews answers that question in the following manner…

“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith. By faith– by believing God– we know that the world and the stars– in fact, all things– were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen” (Hebrews 11:1-3 TLB).

However, “faith” should never be confused with “blind faith” or faith that has no basis in reality. Genuine Biblical faith involves the belief in a God who has proven Himself within the Scriptures and the lives of those who sincerely follow Him. Former homicide detective and Christian case-maker J, Warner Wallace addresses this difference with the following explanation…

“Blind Faith: Believing in something WITHOUT any evidence. We hold a blind faith when we accept something even though there is no evidence to support our beliefs. We don’t search for ANY evidence that either supports or refutes what we are determined to believe.

Reasonable Faith: Believing in something BECAUSE of the evidence. We hold a reasonable faith when we believe in something because it is the most reasonable conclusion from the evidence that exists

The Bible repeatedly makes evidential claims. It offers eyewitness accounts of historical events that can be verified archeologically, prophetically and even scientifically. We, as Christians are called to hold a reasonable faith that is grounded in this way.” (2)

(1) Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, 1:703. Quoted in Constable, Thomas. DD. Notes on Galatians 2017 Edition. Copyright © 2017 Thomas L. Constable. https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/galatians/galatians.htm#_edn183

(2) J. Warner Wallace, Is the Christian Faith Evidentially Reasonable? https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/is-the-christian-faith-evidentially-reasonable/