Tag: Galatians 2
Faith and Identification with Christ
Scripture reading for August 18: Galatians 2
“For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. 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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness was through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:19-21
Paul explained to the Galatian believers how no one could be made righteous or be justified before God through the keeping of the law. The law involved personal effort and our work to keep it. However, through human effort to keep the law, no flesh can or will be justified. (Galatians 2:16) The law of God brought to light our sin nature but could not fix it. Paul explained it as dying to the law through trying to keep it. Human effort or good works will always fall short.
But now, through faith in Jesus Christ, Who Alone perfectly kept God’s law, we can now live for God and be justified. Paul described his death to the law as ‘being crucified with Christ.’ The old “Saul” who sought to kill Christ’s followers was now dead. But “Saul” now lived as Paul, made alive in Christ as a gift of His grace. Paul stated that if he could have earned righteousness through keeping the law, Christ’s death would have been in vain–of no value. But the true world view Paul now held was of eternal life through Christ living in him. By grace through faith in the one true Gospel, he had been justified before God and made righteous. Any attempt to add human works nullifies God’s Gift of grace!
Have you ever tried to keep God’s law or a set of rules to earn your acceptance with God? Have you identified with Jesus Christ so that you can personally make Paul’s confession of faith in Galatians 2:20? What does it mean to ‘nullify the grace of God?’
Prayer: Father God, I believe that I was crucified with Jesus Christ, Your Son. I believe that I was resurrected with Jesus as He arose from the grave. The life I now live is by faith in Jesus Christ Alone and His Gift of righteousness. Keep me safe from ever nullifying Your amazing grace! Amen.
Christ lives in me!
Scripture reading for August 17th: Galatians 2
Key scriptures for over-comers: Galatians 2: 19-21 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
The false teachers in Galatia were well-meaning and sincere Jews who had some knowledge of Christ but tried to add keeping of the law to simple grace by faith. Sincerity is not a test of truth! The ‘law’ could only reveal sin, not correct the problem or eliminate it from the human soul. Through the ‘law’, we are convicted of sin and found guilty bringing about a sentence of death. Then the gospel of Jesus Christ tells us that Jesus died on the cross to take the death penalty for us and now gives us His life and righteousness through the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who believe. There is nothing we can do but say “Thank You, Jesus!”.
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers recognize their Lord living in them and lovingly allow His life to flow in them by the Holy Spirit. “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” (Psalm 143:10)
Don’t set aside God’s grace!
Scripture reading for August 18: Galatians 2
The church of Jesus Christ in Galatia was under attack by Jewish false teachers. They wanted the Gentile believers to be circumcised in order to be a part of the church. Paul explained how he had worked this out with Peter. As Peter traveled to Antioch, he began to separate himself from the Gentiles and refuse to eat with them. He did this out of fear for the Jewish church members who were teaching that all must be circumcised to be right with God. Paul opposed him to his face and confronted him with the truth!
“You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no on will be justified.” (Galatians 2:14-16) The law cannot save anyone–Jew or Gentile. Paul stated plainly that it was by faith alone that any Jew or Gentile would be justified before God.
When a person adds the keeping of any part of the law to faith, they set aside the grace of God and exalt their own works. It is through Christ alone that we receive God’s grace. Paul stated his own faith to clarify this: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, l live by faith in the Son of god, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)