Law vs. Faith

"We hold that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law".
I didn't write that, Paul did in Romans 3:28.

Many Christians think that they are living in freedom because they do not live according to the Law of Moses. Some judge the Orthodox Christian faiths as leaning towards the law because of traditions and practices they observe. We miss the point entirely when we think this way.

Paul is writing about 'faith righteousness' and he uses Abraham as his example. He is making the point that we are righteous by faith in the finished work of Jesus not by any effort of our own. Not by performance. Not by good works. Not by man's measure or standard.

Romans 4:13 tells us that all the promises of God came to Abraham by faith. Verse 16 tells us that all these promises are ours by faith.

In the fourth chapter of Romans Paul goes to great length to make sure we understand this. Again, Abraham is his example. Paul is clearly saying that Abraham, before the law, even before he was circumcised, was reckoned righteous before God by faith. Rom.4:10.

What is the point? We hold that any human soul is righteous before God by trust in what Jesus did rather than what he/she does. It is not about the idea that since we are not required to live by the law of Moses any longer that we are now walking in the 'freedom' that the New Testament speaks of. No, we walk in true freedom when we are convinced in our hearts that we are secure in our relationship with God because of the great love He demonstrated toward us by the sacrifice of Jesus.

The point is best expressed in Romans 4:3 " What does the scripture say? 'Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness'"

What reckoned Abraham righteous? "It" What was the it? Belief. Faith. Trust.

God want us to trust Him.