But the question deserves even more context. The letter to the churches in the region of Galatia (in Asia Minor) was, in great part, a rebuke of Judaizing that was happening in the churches. In Galatians 1:6-7, Paul writes, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.”
A reading of the whole of Galatians demonstrates that Paul is uniquely qualified to deal with the issues arising in the churches of the region. Christianity cannot devolve into Judaism. Christians are not under the law but walk in faith.
The recipients of this letter are gentile Christians who have been troubled by a number of Jewish Christians, Paul calls the Judaizers “those who were of the circumcision.” (Galatians 2:11)
Perhaps the central passage of the letter is Galatians 3:1-9:
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
A little later Paul writes:
Is the law then against the promises of God? 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. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:21-25
Suffice it to say that Paul is mounting a vigorous argument against returning to the Law.
To what does Paul refer when he says, “Against such there is no law?” The natural conclusion is the Law of Moses. For the Galatian brethren, the point is taken that a righteous walk in Christ, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, is not contrary to the Law but the fulfillment of the Law.
For us, as with the brethren of Galatia and all Christians across time, Paul’s plain statement can be taken to heart no matter what law we may live under or what law anyone may want to foist upon us: there is no law against righteousness.
In Romans 12, Paul makes it plain that we are to live under the obedience of whatever governing law we live (as long as that law does not compel us to disobey God), however, we do not look to law to define our life in Christ. It is faith that guides us as we look into God’s word and follow Jesus.
The Law of Moses regulated the flesh. Faith leads away from the entanglements of the flesh. If we diligently seek and follow Christ, we will put away sin and live righteously. The Law was a tutor teaching faith to those willing to learn.
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — the fruit of the Spirit — were never contrary to the Law of Moses or any law. This is Paul’s point when he says, “against such there is no law.”
There is nothing holding us back from living righteously. Not the law of Moses. Not the law of man.
A few verses before our initial text, Paul writes, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
If we will strive to walk in the Spirit, we will exhibit the fruit of the spirit and will exceed the expectation of any law, proving “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2