Christ vs. the Law (Galatians)

According to St. Paul, all Jews are cursed.

“Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law.”¹

The law of Moses did not provide the Jews with a means of proving themselves worthy of eternal life. That would only be possible by perfectly doing everything commanded therein.

Rather, the law of Moses made known God’s requirements for salvation, which could only be fulfilled by the Messiah.

Jesus Christ was born under the law and perfectly fulfilled it. He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” ²

Having fulfilled the law by His own perfect obedience, He offered Himself to the Father as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” ³

Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of the world and ended the Mosaic system of sacrifices which led all men to look ahead to the coming of the Messiah.

In place of the Mosaic priesthood, sacrificial system and temple in Jerusalem, Christ established the faith of the Catholic Church, which is the Gospel.

The law of Moses was, in effect, for Christ alone. It was the means by which He would be justified before God the Father.

The Catholic faith was the way of salvation for men, prefigured in the Old Testament (which includes several different covenants between God and men) and fulfilled in the New Testament.

Men need only the faith of the Catholic Church to obtain both the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. These two gifts are the sole means by which men can justified, and they are inseparable. Men are called by God to seek eternal salvation through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and to seek to be worthy of salvation by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

It is, after all, the reception of the Holy Spirit which is the goal of the Christian life as the Holy Spirit’s presence in us proves that we are in Jesus Christ and enables us to please God. The promise of the Gospel is not Jesus Christ. The promise of the Gospel is not faith. The promise of the Gospel is the Holy Spirit. St. Paul writes, “through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.” ⁴

What is given to those who believe in Christ? The Holy Spirit.

1. New American Bible, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Ga 3:10.[↩]
2. New American Bible, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Mt 5:17.[↩]
3. New American Bible, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jn 1:29.[↩]
4. New American Bible, Revised Edition (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Ga 3:22.[↩]