A long time ago in a land called Galatia where some of the early Gentile churches existed a letter was being circulated because believers in Jesus were being tempted to go back under the law to maintain their righteousness.  Not only that they were being told by some very persuasive men who seemed eloquent and polished and only appeared to have authority because they came out of Jerusalem, that unless they came under the law their salvation experience was not genuine.  It was a subtle lie that was gaining ground.

Paul as an apostle of Jesus to the Gentiles took this lie on and wrote the letter that was circulated to the churches.

Galatians 3:10   For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”  13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

You see returning to a place where you put your trust in keeping the law puts you back under cursing.  The same type of cursing that was pronounced upon Israel at the giving of the law when Moses read it to them and then told them about blessing and cursing based on keeping, or not keeping it.

There’s no need to return to something that brings you under curses because Christ became a curse for us already.  He took our punishment at the cross by taking on the sin of the whole world past, present and future and giving us His righteousness which was the Righteousness of God.  We now get to live under the blessing of Abraham.  The law could never make anyone righteous because it relied on the strength of the flesh and as Paul stated so well in Romans the flesh is weak. No one will never be able to comply with law in the flesh, it can only be satisfied in Christ by faith. Jesus kept the law perfectly for us and the only time we are made perfect is when we are in Christ.

You and I will never be more secure than we are, and can be, in Christ!  This is why the reality of being in Christ is such a huge and important one.  We are now hidden with God in Christ!  It is in that promise and reality that our confidence needs to remain and to grow.  Why then was the law given?

Galatians 3:19   What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made;

The Seed (Jesus) has come and if a person is born again they have that Seed living within them.  We who believe are now the children of promise, because we have the Seed of promise!  The law is no longer what we are subject to.  We are now subject to life in the Spirit because the Holy Spirit of promise is ours through faith just as salvation is ours through faith.

This is the glorious work of Christ who gave Himself for us at the cross and made the way!  Don’t go backwards to something that no longer is in effect as it pertains to you as a believer in Jesus.  Jesus has set you free from that!

Don’t ever let eloquent preachers or teachers convince you that Jesus wasn’t enough and that you need to put your effort into complying with the law now, if you have truly been saved.  That is a lie and it is error that does not line up with the true gospel.  It is Old Covenant thinking and we are not under the Old Covenant.  In Christ we have been brought into a New Covenant He established with His own blood.