This is actually a question that divided Seventh-day Adventists in 1888
and the following years. Ellen White came out directly, finally, and
stated the following: "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). In
this Scripture, the Holy Spirit through the apostle is speaking
especially of the moral law. The law reveals sin to us, and cause us to
feel our need of Christ, and to flee unto Him for pardon and peace by
exercising repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ. {1MR 130.2}
As I read Galatians 3:17, it would seem to refer to the law that was revealed at the time of Moses. But the whole chapter says to my mind that to try to gain salvation by keeping the law does not work. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone. Nevertheless, those who are saved by Christ are obedient to him. While the law cannot save, it is part of the package. you cannot separate the Law and the Gospel. The kingdom of God has a king, that is Jesus, and a law, that is, the moral law of God which is changeless. We obey the law because we obey the king of the kingdom of which it is the law. We do not obey the law in hopes of salvation or in the belief that God will reward us with salvation if we keep it. We keep it because we are subjects of the kingdom of God in Christ, and the love of Christ constraineth us.
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