Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. (Lev. 18.5 NIV)

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them (Rom. 10.5 ESV)

But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” (Gal. 3.12 ESV)

Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. (Gal. 3.19a NIV)

The promise was life (eternal) to anyone who could keep the Law completely, or perfectly (Lev. 18.5). Paul characterizes the Law as saying exactly this in Gal. 3.12: The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

Jesus fulfilled this requirement since He was not able to sin (Jn. 8.46). He lived a perfect life and kept what the Law required including attending the 3 yearly feasts, at least, after He was 12. Also, He couldn’t be defiled in any way since this would have been an uncleanness. This is why that when the “women with an issue of blood” (Mt. 9.20-22, Mk. 5.24-34, Lk. 8.42-48) was healed immediately and Jesus did not initially know about who was healed. Additionally, Jesus would have been defiled by touching a dead person’s coffin. This is why the widow’s son from Nain came back to life (Lk. 7.11-17). The same can be said of Jairus’ daughter (Mt. 9. 18-26, Mk. 5 21-43, Lk. 8.40-56). Jesus is the Author of Life (Acts 3.15) was able to resurrect anyone whom He chose, except, they would later die again.

The Jewish Understanding of Obtaining Salvation

Paul, being a Rabbi schooled at the feet of Gamaliel, indicated that this formula (Do this and you will live) summed up the path to acceptance with God in the Old Covenant (Gal. 3.12). I will argue from the New Testament that the understood method that Jewish Theology taught was salvation through keeping the Mosaic Law. Yes, everyone knew they sinned, but, the Day of Atonement would have wiped the slate clean every year. There is an instance recorded where a commander paid his deceased soldier’s Temple Tax so that they were enrolled in the sacrifices, even though expired.

Jesus’ Reply to the Insincere

Lk. 10.25-28 records the instance which prompted the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” Here a Mosaic Law expert put Jesus to the test by asking what it took to receive eternal life. Jesus had to answer correctly or He would have been liable to the charge of heresy. Jesus answered point blank in Lk. 10. 28: “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” (NIV). Jesus has affirmed the Mosaic Lawyer’s answer when the expert quoted Dt.6.5 and Lev.19.18 which summed up the 10 Commandments: Love for God and man (Lk. 10. 27). In essence, Jesus quoted Lev.18.5 as the way to earn eternal life. Adam broke the one commandment he received. The Mosaic Law, summarized in the 10 Commandments, was multifaceted righteousness which, if anyone would keep them, would give eternal life. It was a second chance, if you will, and was probably understood that way.

Notice, also, the account of “The Rich Ruler” in Lk. 18 .18-25. The question to Jesus was: Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? (vs. 18 NIV). Jesus referred him to the commandments toward others in the Decalogue. That this rich ruler did not really keep them is the obvious point of that encounter. But the greater point is, that, when asked, Jesus returned to the scripture’s promise given in Lev. 18.5: Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. (NIV)

Most of the Mosaic Law was About Cleansing from Sin

Most of the Jewish Bible (the O.T.) involves the Mosaic Law and the subsequent human failure to achieve it. This is, of course, by design. Paul reveals who the promise of eternal life (by keeping the commandments) referred to in Gal. 3.19a: Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. (NIV) This tells us that God’s promise in Lev. 18.5 (Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. NIV) was for the purpose of living with God forever, salvation. Paul just quoted this verse in Gal. 3.12 and indicated that this formula summed up the path to acceptance with God in the Old Covenant. In verse 19, Paul reveals who the promise ultimately was for, Jesus: Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

Jesus was the only one sinless and thus rose bodily from the grave and ascended to His Father and can graciously redeem all who trust Him.