We Jews know that we have no advantage of birth over “non-Jewish sinners.” We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good. [Galatians 2:15-16 (MSG)]

There are 613 laws given in the Old Testament that cover everything from sacrifices, religious rituals, and dietary laws to health rules, civil law and to how to get along with other people. A quick look at the Old Testament shows us that having the law and knowing the law certainly didn’t mean following it. Even the clear laws about not making graven images or setting up pillars for worship weren’t followed. In spite of well-defined directions about handling the Ark, we know David screwed that one up! Although the Jews were to heed the call of every prophet in every generation, deaf ears were turned to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others. The Old Testament demonstrates that mankind can never be made right with God by good behavior, simply because we are incapable of it on our own. The law demands perfection and it’s easy to see none of us are anywhere close to that.

Paul had his work cut out for him trying to unite Jewish and non-Jewish Christians in one faith. Several Jewish Christians believed that the laws of the Old Testament were binding on the new church. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul points out that salvation doesn’t come from following the law but from faith in Christ. Although Paul wrote that Christ freed us from the law, we must remember that salvation in Christ doesn’t free us from good conduct. Now, however, we don’t have to do it on our own power. With Christ is in us; good behavior is possible. When we get right with God by faith, we are changed. We follow God’s way, not because the law says we have to but because we want to and, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are capable of doing so.

So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade. [Romans 3:27-28 (MSG)]