Is the law based on faith or works?

Definition and Scope of the Question

The question focuses on whether the law—which encompasses the commandments and ordinances given primarily through Moses—operates on the principle of faith or works. Throughout Scripture, “law” can mean the Mosaic law (the commandments given at Sinai), the moral law (principles that reveal God’s character), or even the entire Old Testament instruction. Yet the core of the question remains: Do these commands function as a means of salvation based on human effort, or do they point toward faith in the One who fulfills the law?

Origins and Purpose of the Law

The foundational texts for understanding the law’s purpose often include Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. These passages characterize the law as God’s instruction to His chosen people. In Exodus 20, the giving of the Ten Commandments is presented with clear moral commands that reflect God’s holy nature.

Scripture clarifies that one of the central purposes of the law is to reveal sin and humanity’s inability to attain righteousness by works alone. As Romans 3:20 says: “Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.” The law also safeguards justice and points Israel toward a life distinct from surrounding nations.

Testimony of the Prophets and Psalms

The prophetic writings and the Psalms repeatedly affirm the value of God’s commands but also emphasize the necessity of a heart responsive to Him. Psalm 19 celebrates the perfection of God’s law, describing it as “restoring the soul” (Psalm 19:7) yet consistently reminding worshipers that mere external obedience is insufficient without genuine faith and reliance on the LORD (see Psalm 51:16–17).

Prophets like Isaiah reveal that consistent ceremonial obedience could become hollow if one’s heart were far from God (Isaiah 1:11–17). This perspective readies the biblical narrative for the New Testament revelation of the ultimate resolution to sin: the Messiah’s atoning work, received by faith.

New Testament Clarification on the Law and Faith

In the New Testament, the Law’s role is deeply discussed, particularly in the letters of Paul. Galatians and Romans stand out as key epistles that explain how the law interacts with faith and salvation.

1. Galatians 3:10–11: “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, because ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

This passage underscores that adhering perfectly to the law is impossible for fallen humanity. Consequently, trusting in one’s works under the law leads to condemnation, for any single violation of the law institutes a curse (Deuteronomy 27:26). By contrast, Scripture insists that “The righteous will live by faith,” echoing Habakkuk 2:4.

2. Romans 3:28: “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

Paul concludes in Romans 3 that justification—being declared righteous before God—cannot come by human effort or fulfillment of legal requirements. Instead, it is a gift received through faith.

3. Ephesians 2:8–9: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

While not referencing the Mosaic law directly here, this passage reinforces that no set of human efforts meets the ultimate standard for salvation.

Faith as the Operating Principle

Scripture shows that God calls His people to trust in Him rather than to rely on any human-generated righteousness. Even under the Old Covenant, the faithful remnant understood that God’s favor originated in His grace. Abraham is the clearest example: “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, quoted in Romans 4:3). This demonstrates that saving righteousness was never earned but was always credited by faith.

The Law’s Role in Light of Christ

The New Testament teaches that Christ alone kept the law perfectly. Through His death and resurrection, He provides redemption from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13 states: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” Believers are thus freed from the impossible task of earning righteousness by works. Instead, they are called to exercise faith in the finished work of Christ.

This does not nullify the law’s moral imperatives. Rather, as Romans 3:31 notes, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.” The moral essence of the law, expressing God’s holiness, remains significant. Yet the legalistic approach of using the law as a means of self-justification is decisively rejected.

Works as Evidence of True Faith

While the law is not based on works in the sense of obtaining salvation, Scripture also insists that genuine faith naturally produces obedience and good works. James 2:26 teaches that “faith without works is dead.” This highlights that believers do not abandon moral living but rather fulfill the righteous requirements of the law through the Spirit’s power as a result of genuine faith (Romans 8:3–4).

Manuscript Evidence and Consistency

From a textual standpoint, the consistent witness of the earliest manuscripts—be they ancient Greek papyri of Romans and Galatians, or the Dead Sea Scrolls for the Hebrew Bible—attest that these key doctrines have been transmitted faithfully. These documents affirm the continuity of the scriptural teaching: God’s plan has always been to justify humankind through faith, foreshadowed under the Old Covenant and revealed fully in the New.

Historical Insights and Scholarly Affirmation

Jewish historians like Josephus confirm the prominence of the Mosaic law among first-century Palestinian Jews. Yet the early Christian writers (Paul, Peter, John) unanimously emphasize that salvation rests in Christ rather than in strict observance of the law’s ceremonial and civic components. Archaeological finds—such as first-century synagogues and evidence of worship patterns—illustrate that believers in Christ frequently discussed how the Messiah fulfilled the law’s deepest intentions. These discussions show that from the outset, the church upheld salvation by faith while still honoring God’s moral standards.

Behavioral and Philosophical Outlook

From a behavioral perspective, understanding that the law is not based on works for salvation, but rather fulfilled by faith in Christ, transforms the motivation for ethics. Instead of obeying out of fear or the assumption of earning divine favor, believers are empowered by gratitude and the Spirit to live righteously. Philosophically, the law’s purpose points to humanity’s need for a mediator, culminating in Christ, aligning with the principle that ultimate moral perfection and salvation come from a source beyond human capability.

Conclusion

Scripture consistently teaches that the law, while holy and good, was never intended to be the means of meriting righteousness. Its true design was (and is) to reveal sin and point to the necessity of faith in God’s redemptive provision. Through Christ’s perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection, salvation by faith is made available to all who believe. Therefore, the biblical answer to whether the law is based on faith or works is clear: it is, at its heart, grounded in faith, with works serving as the natural evidence and fruit of genuine trust in God.