I am crucified!
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Galatians 2:14-21
Galatians 2:14-21
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Oh the hypocrisy of Christians that still demand others to live in a way they themselves do not live, nor does the Bible teach us to live!
Galatians 2:14 “14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?””
Is the typical church of the West and the church of the world today! Demanding others the are new in the faith to live according to their cultural standards, but is not in accordance with scripture.
How do we know if something is out of line with scripture? We first have to read the holy scripture! Does the gospel demand it or is that a human dictate?
Paul knew the scriptures, he had been taught by Jesus Christ what the gospel teaches!
We too much know that the gospel teaches and it’s direct impact on daily living!
“I saw that their conduct (manner of living) was not in step with the truth of the gospel!”
What was not in step with the gospel?
Salvation “the good news” of Jesus Christ - the good message or “news” is that Jesus Christ in response to man’s great need of salvation, came to this earth, died on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day in accordance with scripture!
Why is that so important? Because God sent a Savior! His name Emmanuel literally mean God with us! God that day visibly, actively, purposely, and officially saved mankind that day!
This is why Paul, says the leaders of the Church were not living in step with the truth of the gospel!
What is the truth of the gospel that the leaders were violating?
The Gospel literally is good-news!
1. The first good-news of the gospel is Christ Jesus justifies sinners not our actions of goodness! Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
A. We are not justified - that is legal wording to say declared righteous by works of the law!
This might seem redundant, but it simply means we are justified only through God’s holy standards of Jesus Christ! This holy standard is not accomplished by observances of Jewish custom!
Sometimes we feel we are alone in the battle for truth, and the gospel! We feel we are alone as we fight for truth, justice, and the way of the cross! But in fact Christ goes before us and fights for us! Just like for Paul in 2 Timothy 4:16-17
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Galatians 2:12 “12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.”
This was the culture, Jewish Christians living in Judaism ceremonially and forcing others to take that life style as well!
We are not justified by works of the law, but by Christ Jesus our Lord!
B. We are justified through faith in Jesus Christ! Faith that Jesus is who He says He is, and that He fully accomplished all that He said He would accomplish!
If it were the works that justifies then our object is the works of the law, but our object is Christ! Thus, Christ justifies us! The text even tells us this much!
“But by” literally of, in, and on the name of Jesus Christ alone! No other name given among men were by ye must be saved! He “Christ” is the object of our faith and is the ground work of our justification!
Paul rests his cause in this Old Testament phrase, “For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified!” Psalm 143:2 “2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.”
I can love a man, not because of his goodness but because of the one who is making him good!
I can love a man, not because of what I see, but because of what God sees!
2. Second good news is those “in Christ” are not outside the law of Christ! 1 Corinthians 9:21
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Peter was living as a man pleaser! Both worlds he was a transgressor of the law! But in verse 17 Paul states, “Is Christ an end of the law”
To whom?
A. Christ ends the law to all those that believe on His name! Romans 10:4–5 “4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.”
The result of those that live by Christ - eternal life!
Those that live by the law? Death!
What was the purpose of the law? Galatians 3:24–25 “24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,”
The purpose of the law was to become dead, thus needing a miracle of life! Romans 7:4–6 “4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”
Galatians 2:19 “19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.”
The revealing of the law came, and we all died! But because of Christ we live!
Christ is the minister of eternal life! Again the laws purpose was to reveal we needed a Savior! That Savior is Christ Jesus the Lord of all!
Conclusion: For this reason Paul says this Galatians 2:20 “20 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.”
Literally “I have been crucified with Christ” the old man has gone through the crucifixion process! Meaning the death that Jesus Christ on the cross for me, is the one I identify with for it is no long I that live. But Christ lives in me!
“No longer the old man” Romans 7:7 “7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.””
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Colossians 3:11 “11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
Simply said, “Christ, is my true life!” Or Christ equals life!
The new person lives by faith! That is faith, not flesh!
Christ is the source of life giving power, and thus I live when Christ who is my life is number one!
Galatians 2:21 “21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
Literally I will not make the grace of God void, like you Peter are doing by going back to Judaizing! Did Christ die needlessly?
His death is not in vain! All things done for Him is not in vain! All words that are said, actions done, and blessings for Him are because of Him! They are not in vain!
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
How can we be so confident that words, work, and labor isn’t in vain that is for Him? The text tells us because salvation is because of the Lord! Salvation’s gospel is dependent on the Lord! I am confident the Lord’s people will respond! I am confident the Lord’s work will be done!
I am confident the Lord’s will… will be accomplished!
Will you join me in doing the Lord’s work?
