Galatians 2:15-21, The Truth of the Gospel

Paul has been defending to the Galatian churches how he got the truth of the gospel, that it was not of human origin:

• He received the gospel directly from Jesus (1:11,12)
• Only God’s commission could have turned him from such zealous Judaism (1:13,14)
• Paul did not confer with anyone until 3 years later and then was with Peter and James for only 15 days (1:15-24)
• On his second visit to Jerusalem Paul and his ministry of 14 years was endorsed by the church there (2:1-10).
• When Peter acted inconsistently with the freedom of the gospel, Paul’s rebuke was received (2:1-14).

Now he defends the character of the truth of the gospel that God gave him.

15 We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles, 16 but we know that a person is not justified by works of law but through faith in Jesus Christ, and we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of law. Because by works of law no one can be justified. 17 But if when seeking to be justified in Christ we are ourselves found to be sinners, then is Christ a servant of sin? Absolutely not! 18 For if I build again the very things I destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 Because I, through the law, died to the law, in order that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. 21 I am not nullifying the grace of God. For if through law I am justified, then Christ died for no reason. (Galatians 2:15-21)

Though it might seem more true of Jews that they would believe they are justified (declared righteous by God) on the basis of their law-keeping works (justified or declared righteous at the end of their lives), Paul asserts that he and the other Jewish believers know for certain that justification (immediately, at the moment of faith) comes only by faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, no one can be justified by works of law. That is true of works of the Law of Moses and any other law. Paul doesn’t explain here why this is, but it should be self-evident that no one can keep the law, any law, perfectly, and that is what would be necessary to be justified, to be declared righteous, that is, in total fulfillment of the law (see Galatians 3:10).

In point of fact, every major religion on earth today, except Christianity, believes that justification comes by keeping some law. Hindus believe this, Jews believe this, Muslims believe this, and any number of other faiths. Their faith teaches works.

Paul answers an objection that has often been made against the view that faith, not works, is what saves us. If we only have to believe in order to be saved, what need is there to do good works, to keep the law. We’ll just give ourselves to sin and besmirch the name of Jesus. This is what Paul means by “if when seeking to be justified in Christ we are ourselves found to be sinners, then is Christ a servant of sin?” And, of course, Paul’s answer is, “No way!” It is actually going back to dependence on works for salvation that makes us sinners or transgressors. And the reason is because when we trusted in Christ we were united with him in his death. We, in his crucifixion, died as penalty for breaking the law. We are now dead to the law. And with Christ’s resurrection we are resurrected to life with God. This fundamental change in our lives has led to newness of life.

I’ve been crucified with Christ, but raised with him also, so that now he lives in me. His life is coursing through me, and as I live by faith in him, the one who loved and sacrificed himself for me, I live a life of law-keeping that reflects his life. This is what Christ’s death (and resurrection) accomplished for me. If, in fact, I must work for my justification (my being declared righteous when the final judgment comes), then there was really no reason for Christ to die at all. All the other religions of the world get it right when they have no sacrifice for sin, no substitutionary death on their behalf. They don’t need it. It’s all up to me to save myself by keeping the law. Of course, the false teachers were not teaching that Christ’s death was unnecessary. His death on the cross just did not factor into their teaching.

We see this same mistake made today when we preach the need to obey God’s law, God’s word, and are urged that we can do it and must, therefore, just do it. That is the doctrine of this present evil age. That is a doctrine that gives credence to human ability to accomplish God’s purposes. That is not the truth of the gospel. Our sanctification, our becoming holy, comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not works.