What does the book of Galatians show about whether Christians are under the law?
The book of Galatians shows that Christians are not under the system of law or any legalistic demands for salvation. Salvation is entirely by grace through faith plus nothing else. Adding anything to grace detracts from Christ's finished work on the cross. Believers stand justified, forgiven, sanctified, glorified by believing it is a finished transaction.
Les explains that the book of Galatians was written to believers who were going back, or being tempted to go back, under legalism. At that time, the legalism was prompted by the Jews and centered on circumcision. Paul dealt with that in particular. For us today, circumcision is not so much the criteria, but it is all the other things people try to tell us we have to do besides believing the Gospel. The whole concept is that we are not under the system of law or any kind of legalistic demands for salvation. Salvation is all of grace by faith plus nothing else. As soon as we try to add to that, we in actuality say Christ did not really finish it, but He did. Through the writings of the Apostle Paul, God has let us know it was finished, and we stand in His presence justified, forgiven, sanctified, glorified simply because we can believe it is a finished transaction.