correlation between faith and the law

  

Since both faith and grace do not make void the law of God, what is the relationship between faith and the law, and grace with the law? The relationship between faith and the law stems way back with Abraham with whom God made a covenant based on faith, as it is written: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Galatians 3:16-18).

So then, since the promise of the inheritance is a covenant God made with Abraham based on faith through his Seed, who is Christ, the law has absolutely nothing to do with one inheriting the kingdom. Nevertheless, the question is asked, “Is the law then against the promises of God?”
Again, the answer is, “Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:21-22).
The lesson that we are learning here is simply this, one cannot inherit the kingdom of God or receive salvation on their own merit by keeping a set of laws, because it is “by the grace of God we all have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
If one could have received salvation and inherit the kingdom of God through their own works by keeping the law, they would have a reason to boast. But the question is asked; “Where is boasting then? It is excluded: By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:27-28).
The real significance of the law is to teach us how to live, and have a relationship with God, and with one another. “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God: Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:19-20).    
Another important thing that should be noted with regards to faith and the law is that, faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. And so the question is asked, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”
“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe --- and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:14-20).  
Without any shadow of doubt, no amount of law keeping and good works can earn anyone salvation or citizenship in the kingdom of God, because it is a promise God made to Abraham through his one Seed, who is Jesus Christ, and the prerequisite is only to believe in Jesus Christ. 
Nevertheless, the promises of God and faith in Jesus Christ did not relegate or relinquish one’s responsibility towards the laws of God, because they are certainly not against the promises of God. In addition to this, the one Seed through whom the promises are obtained, when He came into the world said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).
An important point to note in what Jesus Christ said, is the fact that those who disobey the commandments and teach others to do the same, will not be inhibited from inheriting the kingdom, but unfortunately, they will be regarded as the least in the kingdom of heaven, even though the commandment which has been transgressed is the least of them all. While on the other hand, those who have obeyed even the least of the commandments and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
So then, what exactly is the liberty and freedom that we have received since the advent of Jesus Christ? The freedom and the liberty that we have, is not from keeping the law of God which is holy, just and good, but freedom from the bondage of sin and death. For this is what the scriptures say, “ Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
We therefore are to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. That bondage which we are not to be entangled with is the bondage of sin and death, and peradventure that we sin, we have the consolation which says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin (transgressing the laws of God). And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
There is a particular way of life that is compatible to the way God has ordained for humanity and whether one is knowledgeable of it or not, observing them will result in reaping the benefits, and disregarding or violating them will automatically results in paying the consequences, because there is no partiality with God. 
And so we have been instructed saying; "For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel" (Romans 2:12-16).