To many people, Paul seems to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth, especially in relation to “law and “grace”. The two verses immediately below appear to be totally contradictory, at first glance, and from each view flows two different streams of doctrine.
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
But then Paul also says:
Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the law are justified before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
In both verses “justified” is the same Greek word dikaioo which means, “to show, “to exhibit”. In the first verse we have the active present tense “are justified” whereas in the second verse we have the passive future tense, “shall be justified”. In all the “grace” and “faith” verses, tense cannot be overlooked if we want understanding. Also, we need to understand what “Law” means.