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Apostle, Bible, Christianity, Church, Faith, Galatians, God, Gospel, grace, Jesus, Paul, Peter, religion, salvation, Scripture, study
- “is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ” (2.16). This is stated earlier in 1.4, where Paul writes that Jesus, “Gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age.” Then in 1.17, when Paul sets the stage for the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ, in comparison to a different gospel (which we now see is justification by works. Next, Paul demonstrates the work of that gospel of Jesus in 1.15-16, noting the active agent in the gospel of grace- that is, the gift of God (see also Ephesians 2.1-9).
- If a person is not justified through what they do, we must conclude that “faith in Jesus Christ” does not and in fact cannot mean an action we perform to be justified before God the judge. This is confirmed in Ephesians 1.3-14 and 2.1-9: salvation comes to us as a gift of God: God’s grace in the gift of salvation through the means of faith, which itself is a gift, not a result of or work of man, so that no one may boast.
- How then, can James write that, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2.14-26)? James writes of the proving legally of the presence of saving faith, while Paul writes of the proving legally of the person as righteous or sinful before God. Man does good not to make himself right before God (Gal 2.16), but proving his redeemed state (Rom 1.17, 12.1-2, 13.11-14). This is done by God in saving the lost (Rom 3.26). But those who are saved do not overthrow the law, but rather they “uphold the law” (Rom 3.31).
- “so we also have believed in Christ Jesus.” The NASB translate ‘kai’ as “even.” This helps accentuate what reads like a relative clause that intensifies the preceding statement. The past statement says that ‘we the Jews know that you cannot be justified by works, but only by faith in Jesus Christ.’ This relatively clause takes the principal of knowledge in its general sense and applies its truth to Paul and the brothers with him. As we might say it inflectively, “even we have believed…”
- “In order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law,” The verb ‘dikaioō’ (de-li-o’-o) is parsed by BLB.org as a passive subjunctive 1st person plural. The NASB, in keeping with the earlier clause, translates the verb to mean, “We may be justified,” while the ESV simply says, “to be justified.” I feel that the ESV is wide of the mark on this point by neglecting the person and number of the verb.
- This is a fairly significant point, since Paul’s argument, which culminates so magnificently at the end of the verse, depends on the universal application of the principles he is discussing. No one is justified under the law. “by works of the law, no one will be justified.” These assertions frame this verse, but how are they proven? By the testimony of Paul and the true Jewish Christians. They know from experience and history that the law cannot be kept. They also know from experience that peace with God (a product of justification) comes through faith in Jesus.
- What is your experience? Do you live out of the freedom of your salvation? Do you try to make yourself right in the eyes of others or in the eyes of God? How can you distinguish the good you do for self-justification from the good you do as proof of God’s grace in your life?
- You base your understanding of moral right and wrong, of justice and of holiness according to God’s standards and not according to human standards. Because you are not seeking to justify yourself, there is no cause to diminish His character and nature by supposing it to be like your own. After all, justice, holiness, righteousness, etc. are all defined by the character and nature of God, not the other way around. To the degree that we know Him, we will know what is “good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12.2). You can know God’s character from his word, including the law and his treatment of people in the OT.
- Following the knowledge and its source, question the source of your motivation for doing good works. Do you seek to do good for any reason besides the worship & glory of God? Interrogate your causes to see whether you obey the law for God’s sake or for your own sake, whether that be for a reward, for human recognition or satisfaction, to prove yourself, etc. “Do all to the glory of God.”
- Finally, do you humbly acknowledge your personal shortcomings, and dependence on Christ to do even one thing that is good? Christ is “the author and perfecter” of our faith. We are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” You know that you will fall short. “Who will delivery me from this body of death?” Jesus himself did, does, and will, so that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”