It is that child who looks at his father with pride and says, “Leave me alone; I can do it.” We have either seen this or perhaps even acted as the child ourselves. This is the very thing the law draws out of us: our pride. Paul emphasizes that for the Jew who continues to strive for their own goodness in light of the law, true righteousness will remain unattainable because of the sin within them. This issue is not limited to the Jewish community; many branches of Christianity also place unattainable laws upon their followers, and the followers strive for the same attainable righteousness. (Galatians 3:10).

While these laws are admirable, and ideals, we cannot live a life perfectly following all of them apart from Christ. We become so focused on ourselves that we often ask, “What can I do?” instead of looking to Christ and saying, “Look at what He has done.” We trust in ourselves, and are often encouraged to do so; this is why the self-help industry is so lucrative. What Paul is conveying is that the righteousness portrayed in the law is not something we can achieve on our own; it has already been obtained by Christ. The simplicity of receiving this gift lies in confessing that Jesus is Lord and trusting in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9).

That belief, that trust, justifies and saves us. The law, which continually tells us that we can do better, transforms into an instrument that points us to Christ, helping us know Him more deeply and understand the significance of what was accomplished at the cross for us (Romans 8:1-8, Ephesians 3:18-21). We are then compelled by love rather than condemned by law (2 Corinthians 5:14). This is the good news we bring to those around us: the good news of freedom that we have obtained in Christ (Galatians 5:1).

It is a message of hope for stubborn people who insist, “I can do this; leave me alone, Dad,” only to realize they truly can’t. They are encouraged to embrace the gift the Father has given them in His Son. This is the good news for those whom Paul yearned to be saved and for those we also desire to see saved, those who continue to seek their sense of righteousness and meaning apart from Christ. We must carry this good news to all, so that some may be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Lord, empower us to proclaim this good news to those around us and even to ourselves. May we truly understand our freedom and have our faith increased.