Are we justified by faith or by works of the law? Are we made right with God by faith or by works? Are our sins forgiven by faith or by works? Are we made acceptable unto God by faith or works? That is the question that we have been seeking to answer. The reason we are endeavoring to answer that question is for the following two reasons: 1) It is the subject at hand as we are working our way through the book of Galatians. Remember, the Galatian believers were struggling with whether or not they could trust Paul and the message he preached. Thus, they struggled with whether or not faith in Jesus was enough to save them. They were conflicted between Jesus and good works to save their souls. 2) Majority of Americans share this same conflict in the 21st century. People remain conflicted as to whether Jesus or good works is what saves them. Part of the reason for that is we have poor Christology happening in our churches today. In other words, the study of the person of Jesus, his deeds, and his works are not readily taught or preached from America’s pulpits any longer. And so, we have a church and a nation that is overwhelmingly Christless.
If you recall, Paul began answering this question for us by saying (Gal. 2:16), “we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” Paul is saying two things here: 1) A person is not made right with God by works. A person is not declared innocent from sin by works. A person is not made acceptable unto God by good works. Being a good person is not going to get anyone into heaven. 2) Faith alone in Christ alone is what makes a person right with God. Faith alone in Christ alone is what declares one innocent from sin. Faith alone in Christ alone is what makes a person acceptable unto God. Faith alone in Christ alone is the only way a person can enter into the Kingdom of God.
One would think Paul would end his discussion there, but he doesn’t. Now, Paul continues to drive a nail in this coffin in verses 17-21, which is what we are going. And my hope for you is that you will read this and know for certain you are saved by faith.
Point 1: The first thing Paul wants us to know is that Jesus did not lead anyone into sin by causing them to abandon the law (good works) as a means of salvation.
Paul begins with a question (Gal. 2:17a), “But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Paul is asking the Galatian believers, rhetorically, did Jesus lead us into sin by causing us to abandon our effort to be made right with God through works of the law and instead be made right with God by faith in Jesus? Did Jesus lead us into sin by teaching us that salvation is by faith alone in him alone? Did Jesus lead us into sin by teaching us that no can be saved by good works but by faith alone in him alone? Did Jesus lead us into sin by teaching us that we cannot be made right with God through obedience to the Ten Commandments but by faith alone in him alone? Did Jesus lead us into sin by teaching us that we are not acceptable unto God by good works but by faith alone in him alone? Are we sinners because we believe the teachings of Jesus, that salvation is not by good works, but by faith alone in Christ alone?
Here is Paul’s answer (Gal. 2:17b): “Certainly not!” There are people in this world, mainly those who believe Jesus is nothing more than a good teacher, who would have you believe that Jesus has led you astray by believing you can be saved by faith alone in him alone. They would have you believe that good works are enough or they would have you believe you need Jesus & good works to be saved. They are liars.
If you endeavor to have your sins forgiven by faith alone in Christ alone, you will be forgiven. If you endeavor to be made right with God by faith alone in Christ alone, you will be made right with God. If you endeavor to be made acceptable unto God by faith alone in Christ alone, then you will be made acceptable unto God. However, if you attempt to have your sins forgiven, to be made right with God, or be made acceptable unto God by good works, your sins will be held against you. Works based theology doesn’t work. Why doesn’t works-based theology work? Why can’t we be saved through obedience to the law?
Point 2: According to Paul, the law does nothing but prove we are sinners.
Paul states (Gal. 2:18), “For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.” At one time Paul believed it was obedience to the law that saved him. At one time he would have preached and taught that adherence to the Ten Commandments, God’s moral law, is enough to save a person. However, having been enlightened by God that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone and seeing the Old Testament Scriptures through the light of the Spirit, Paul realized he could not be saved by obeying God’s moral law, and he tore down everything he once believed in regards to salvation.
Paul is saying if he reintroduces salvation by good works, he doesn’t save himself, he actually proves himself to be a sinner. If he rebuilds his message of salvation by works alone, all he is going to achieve is help people see how much of a sinner they really are. He will not help anybody receive the saving grace of God.
If you want to know how much a sinner you really are just compare yourself to the moral law, the Ten Commandments. How many have ever committed idolatry? How many of you love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and all of you being? The Bible says if you love something more than you love God, then you are an idolator. How many of you constantly keep the Sabbath day holy? How many of you honor your father and your mother the way you should? How many of you have ever murdered somebody? The Bible says if you have anger in your heart with another person, Jesus said you have murdered them in your heart. How many of you have ever committed adultery? Jesus said, if you have looked at someone of the opposite sex lustfully then, you have committed adultery with that person in your heart. How many of you have ever stolen something? How many of you have ever told a lie? How many of you have ever coveted or desired something that your neighbor has (that is idolatry)? How many of you love your neighbor the way you love yourself? How many of you treat your neighbor the way you want to be treated? If we don’t treat others the way we want to be treated, if we don’t love our neighbor as ourselves, we have broken the last 5 of the 10 commandments.
This is the point Paul is making: If he reintroduces salvation through obedience to the Ten Commandments, all he is going to prove is how much of a sinner human beings really are. We cannot perfectly obey God’s moral law, which makes us sinners. This is why we cannot be saved by obedience to God’s moral law.
Point 3: Not only does Paul want us to understand that the law only proves we are sinners, but Paul also wants us to understand that we cannot live for God until we stop trying to earn our salvation through works of the law.
Paul states (Gal. 2:19), “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” The Ten Commandments do nothing but condemn us. When we try to keep the Ten Commandments as a means of salvation all we really are doing is condemning ourselves. When we try to gain salvation, when we try to earn our way into the Kingdom of God, through obedience to the Ten commandments, all we are really doing is expressing our own sinfulness. And as long as we try to gain our salvation through good works we can never live for God. It is not until we stop trying to save ourselves through good works and try another means of salvation, that we can start living for God. But if the law does nothing but condemn us, how then do we die to the law and live for God?
Point 4: The only way we can die to the law and live for God is to be crucified with Jesus.
Paul states (Gal. 2:20a), “I have been crucified with Christ.” Paul is saying that his former self, that person he was trying to be before, that person who was trusting the moral law to save him, that person who was trusting good works to save him, that person who was trying to win his salvation, is dead. Paul is saying that his old self has been crucified, which means put to death, with Jesus Christ.
If you want to live for God, you have to die. If you want to live for God, you have to die to yourself. Understand, I am not talking about a physical death but a spiritual death. I am talking about killing the flesh. I am talking about putting to death the deeds of the body. I am talking about putting to death your goals. I am talking about putting to death your interests. I am talking about putting to death your pride and your arrogance. I am talking about putting to death your self-exalting desires. I am talking about putting to death your former self, which has been trying to win its way into heaven by being a good person. Self needs to be crucified and put to death with Jesus. Why do you have to die? Why do you have to be crucified with Christ?
Point 5: The reason we must die, the reason we must be crucified with Jesus, is so you can live.
Paul states (Gal. 2:20b), “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Paul wants us to understand the only true way to live is to die. The Christian life is not about dying only, it’s about living. But in order to truly live, we must truly die. Die to self, so that we can live with Christ!
Does that mean we have no personality? No. Does that mean we cannot have any goals? No. Does that mean we cannot have any interests? No. When Paul died to himself, when he was crucified with Jesus, it doesn’t mean he no longer had any personality, or goals, or interests, it meant that what Jesus desires is what Paul desired. When Paul was crucified with Christ, he stopped directing his own life. When Paul was crucified with Christ, he gave up control over his life. When Paul was crucified with Christ, he surrendered authority over his life. When Paul was crucified with Christ, he stopped living this life for himself, and started living this life for Jesus.
Now Christ directs him. Now Christ empowers him. Now Jesus’ desires are Paul’s desires. Now Jesus’ interests are Paul’s interests. Now Jesus’ goals are Paul’s goals. Everything Paul now does is directed by Jesus. Everything Paul is, is because of Jesus.
That is the crucified life, and that is the only way to die to the law and live for God – you must be crucified with Christ. If you are going to die to the law and live for God, you must surrender yourself to Jesus. If you are going to die to the law and live for God, you must give Jesus total authority over your life. If you are going to die to the law and live for God, you must stop living this life for your own interest, and for what you desire, put those interests and desires to death, and start living for what Jesus desires. If you are going to die to the law and live for God, you must stop living this life for self and start living this life for Christ. If you are going to die to the law and live for God, you must be crucified with Jesus. Only then will you truly live – if you want to find life, you must die and be crucified with Christ. How are we crucified with Jesus?
Point 6: We are crucified with Jesus by faith alone in Christ alone.
Paul said (Gal. 2:20c), “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” In other words, the life Paul now lived in his fleshly, earthly body he lived by faith. By faith in who? By faith in Jesus Christ. In the same way, if we are to die to the law and live to God, if we are to truly live, if we are to truly be crucified with Jesus, we must put our faith in Jesus Christ.
Why is faith alone in Christ alone the only means to die to the law? Why is faith alone in Christ alone the only way to live for God? Why is faith alone in Christ alone the only way to be crucified with Jesus? I have two answers for that: Answer #1) Without faith we will never truly surrender to Jesus. Without faith in Jesus we’ll never truly give up attempting to earn our salvation. Without faith in Jesus, we’ll never truly trust that Jesus alone is enough to save us. Answer #2) Jesus alone loved you and gave himself up for you. Jesus Christ was sent by God from heaven to earth, born of a virgin, to lay down his life for the forgiveness of our sins. When Jesus died on the cross over two centuries ago, he died to bear the sin of every human being. When Jesus died on the cross over two centuries ago, he died as our substitute. When Jesus died on the cross over two centuries ago, that was God pouring out his wrath on His only Son for the sins of the world instead of us.
What Paul wants us to understand is that there is no one else in the history of the world that has ever done this. Paul wants us to understand that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was not an impersonal transaction. Paul wants us to understand that Jesus’ crucifixion was not a mechanical, emotionless act. Jesus’ crucifixion was personal, it was for each individual, and it was Jesus’ personal expression of love for all people everywhere.
Point 7: Lastly, Paul wants us to understand that if works could save us, Jesus’ death was meaningless.
Paul writes (Gal. 2:21), “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” For the first time in Galatians we see the word grace used in reference to salvation. The Bible teaches us by grace we are saved (Eph. 2:5). What is grace? Grace is God’s unmerited favor towards sinners. In other words, God saves us not because we are deserving nor as a result of good works, but because of our faith in Jesus Christ. To say it another way: When we put our faith in Jesus, God gives us favor. Thus, we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
So, what Paul is saying to the Galatians is this: Do not set aside the grace of God. We should not consider the grace that God has bestowed on each one of us by faith alone in Christ alone as meaningless. We should not treat the grace of God as insignificant.
Paul continues his argument like this: If we were saved by works of the law then, we could treat God’s grace as meaningless. If we were saved by works of the law then, we could treat God’s grace as insignificant. If we were saved by works of the law then, God’s grace would be pointless.
In fact, Paul is arguing, if we were saved by works of the law, “Christ died for no purpose.” If we are saved by works of the law, Jesus’ death is pointless. If we are saved by works of the law, Jesus’ death is meaningless. If we are saved by works of the law, Jesus died a horrible death for no reason at all. The reason God’s grace has significance and meaning is because of the significance of Jesus’ death on an old rugged cross. If Jesus’ death was meaningless then, so is the grace of God.
But what Paul has been arguing up to this point is that we know Christ’s death was meaningful not meaningless. We know Jesus’ death was purposeful not purposeless.The reason Jesus’ death is meaningful is because of the problem with mankind. The problem with mankind is this: sin – we are sinners – and we are sinners because we cannot obey God’s law. Humanities sin cannot be remedied by the God-given law.
Sin is so serious that only the death of God’s son, Jesus Christ, could deal with mankind’s sin problem. Sin is so serious that only Jesus could accomplish for us what we could not accomplish for ourselves. Therefore, Paul is saying to the Galatians: since we know the law cannot save us, the grace God gives to men who put their faith in Jesus Christ, must be accepted as the only means of salvation.
The world needs to hear this message. Right now many Americans do not believe Jesus is the only means of salvation. The reason they do not see Jesus as the only means to their salvation is because they have bought into this heresy that they will get into the Kingdom of God because they are a good person. They do not believe Jesus’ work on the cross was and is enough to save them. And it’s up to the church to get this message out.
However, not only does the world need to hear this message, the 21st century American church needs to be reminded of this. We have replaced Jewish legalism with Christian legalism, and it is causing a majority of American Christians to doubt whether or not Jesus is enough any more. Somewhere along the way, sermons coming out of America’s pulpits have become work-based, not faith based. We are not saved by what we do in ministry, we are not saved by how much Bible we know, we are not saved by how often we pray or for how long we pray, we are not saved by how often we volunteer, we are not saved by how often we attend church, we are not saved by paying tithes, we are not saved by being a good Christian. We are saved by what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross. And we never need to forget that.