Galatians 2:15-19 says,...
Today's verses are Galatians 2:15-19, which reads,
v.15, 16 - We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Paul had to speak to Peter about Peter's sin of hypocrisy. Peter was saying one thing and doing another. His actions were not matching up with his words and that action was not only having a negative response on Peter but those who were around him.
The Jews were different than the Gentiles because they were chosen by God to receive the Law and from them would come the Messiah, Jesus. In the light of these advantages and privileges "nevertheless" they all fall under the fact that they are justified (made right before God) not by works of the Law but through our faith in Christ Jesus. You may have had a phenomenal Christian upbringing within a Christian home, going to a Christian church, being a part of a Christian youth group and went to a Christian college but the fact remains in the face of all those advantages and privileges that you too will only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
v.17 - But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
The Judaizers were saying that you needed more than just faith in Christ so Paul is asking if that is so, was Jesus Christ lying to us? Jesus said to come to the Father was through Him and Him alone, nothing else. So was Jesus lying about this? "May it never be!" is Paul's response.
v.18, 19 - For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
When I come to faith in Christ alone and then live my life as if I need to work for salvation then I am back to square one. The Law points us to Christ so that we can stop working for salvation (that never works) and rest in His salvation (completed at the cross) and then live for Him in the light of His love and grace.
Paul is building this argument that will capstone in the next devotional. He is building a rock solid Biblical defense for Peter to hear so that he will see and stop this sin of hypocrisy. Why is Paul so strong on this point, faith only in Christ Jesus and nothing else? This is the sin in the church that is prevalent. Many have walked away from the church because their relationship with the Lord was something other than Him alone. Because Jesus was not supreme, they have gravitated away physically or are still here but spiritually not here. Jesus desires those who worship Him is spirit and in truth and that takes total surrender to our confession that Jesus is the Christ, the only Savior.
"Lord, I ask for Your help to help me to live my life in light of the cross and not in light of the culture. I pray for Your help to see that You were not lying but showed Your trustworthiness through the cross and the empty grave. I pray the church would become a place full of those who can't keep themselves away from the worship of You because You are so great. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.15, 16 - We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Paul had to speak to Peter about Peter's sin of hypocrisy. Peter was saying one thing and doing another. His actions were not matching up with his words and that action was not only having a negative response on Peter but those who were around him.
The Jews were different than the Gentiles because they were chosen by God to receive the Law and from them would come the Messiah, Jesus. In the light of these advantages and privileges "nevertheless" they all fall under the fact that they are justified (made right before God) not by works of the Law but through our faith in Christ Jesus. You may have had a phenomenal Christian upbringing within a Christian home, going to a Christian church, being a part of a Christian youth group and went to a Christian college but the fact remains in the face of all those advantages and privileges that you too will only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
v.17 - But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
The Judaizers were saying that you needed more than just faith in Christ so Paul is asking if that is so, was Jesus Christ lying to us? Jesus said to come to the Father was through Him and Him alone, nothing else. So was Jesus lying about this? "May it never be!" is Paul's response.
v.18, 19 - For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
When I come to faith in Christ alone and then live my life as if I need to work for salvation then I am back to square one. The Law points us to Christ so that we can stop working for salvation (that never works) and rest in His salvation (completed at the cross) and then live for Him in the light of His love and grace.
Paul is building this argument that will capstone in the next devotional. He is building a rock solid Biblical defense for Peter to hear so that he will see and stop this sin of hypocrisy. Why is Paul so strong on this point, faith only in Christ Jesus and nothing else? This is the sin in the church that is prevalent. Many have walked away from the church because their relationship with the Lord was something other than Him alone. Because Jesus was not supreme, they have gravitated away physically or are still here but spiritually not here. Jesus desires those who worship Him is spirit and in truth and that takes total surrender to our confession that Jesus is the Christ, the only Savior.
"Lord, I ask for Your help to help me to live my life in light of the cross and not in light of the culture. I pray for Your help to see that You were not lying but showed Your trustworthiness through the cross and the empty grave. I pray the church would become a place full of those who can't keep themselves away from the worship of You because You are so great. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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