The issue that is most hotly contested is the place of grace, works, and law in a Christian's life. Keeping God's law has not even one time, since mankind was created, ever justified a single person before God. The function of God's law is to define righteousness, to define sin, and to guide us along a path of life. Law's function is to set standards of conduct and to educate one upon a line of conduct that will please God, but it will not justify one. In the biblical sense, justification means to clear of guilt, and it is the blood of Jesus Christ that aligns us with the standard of God's law. Obedience to God's laws cannot justify us, but everyone who is saved will be a keeper of God's laws, because God details in the law the path that He wants us to use to be prepared for His Kingdom. It is the breaking of God's laws that has gotten everybody in trouble with God, and has required Christ's death to pay the penalty. It is obedience to God's laws following forgiveness that glorifies God and provides Him with the evidence that we have learned our lessons well, and that we are striving with all of our being to keep ourselves free from falling into the same trap once again.

The issue in Galatians is not merely a belief in the God of the Jews or acceptance of a few Jewish beliefs, but rather the acceptance and adherence to the entire system of the Pharisaic/Sadducean lifestyle, combined with demon-driven Gnosticism. This system, known as halakha, was the Jewish way of life that Paul called the traditions of his fathers. It was this halakha, not God's law, that was in question in the book of Galatians. The Jews in Galatia defined their relationship with God through the law, but their understanding of law was not the same as that of a true God-fearing Christian. To them, law meant halakha, which they believed was the law of Moses. They thought that possessing the law and the quality of their halakha law-keeping was what motivated God to choose them, thus circumventing God's sovereignty over His creation. Paul saw that this belief also circumvented the true way of justification, as the Jews believed justification was something God owed them because they earned it through their law-keeping. This perspective nullified the Father's grace and Christ's sacrifice, suggesting that Christ died in vain. Paul recognized this as a vanity trip, made in ignorance, but completely wrong, as it implied that God was indebted to them for their law-keeping. In contrast, Paul emphasized that justification is an act of God by which He declares a person acceptable before Him because Christ has borne the sinner's sin. This act of justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law alone. Paul clarified that while works without faith in Jesus Christ are of no avail, works coupled with faith in Jesus Christ are essential. Faith without works is dead, and living faith and works go together in terms of justification or sanctification, as long as Christ is part of the equation. Paul's argument in Galatians is not against God's law but against the laws men added, thinking they were doing God service. He stressed that God expects someone who has faith in Christ to keep His law, as works are evidence of one's faith.

The relationship between law and grace is central to understanding both the Old and New Testaments. Salvation is by grace through faith, as we have broken the law and face its death penalty. Justification, which is necessary for salvation, comes through God's grace via Christ's sacrifice and our faith in that sacrifice. However, this does not diminish the importance of the law; rather, it clarifies its purpose. The law serves as a guide for good works, which we were created to do. Obedience to the law produces a witness to God's sovereignty, proves loyalty to His government, assists in developing godly character, and provides a foundation for a stable community. The law is described as a path, a way, or a course, indicating its role in guiding our lives. Despite salvation being by grace, it is possible to fall short of God's grace by not following the law's path. The law defines sin, and all wrongdoing is sin. The Bible categorizes sin, showing that some sins are more serious than others, with the most severe being blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. God expects us to strive for perfection, understanding that we will not achieve it but desiring our honest effort. The attitude and motive behind our actions are crucial, as persistent willful sin can lead to rejection. Thus, while grace is essential for salvation, the law remains a vital guide for living a life that aligns with God's will.