Liberated- Part 6

Introduction- Galatians 2:17-21

Last time we were here in the book of Galatians we considered the conflict which developed between Peter and Paul surrounding Peter’s contradictory behavior.

Peter, upon his arrival in Antioch, had engaged in close fellowship with the Gentile believers there sharing meals with them.

Then when Jewish believers from the church at Jerusalem arrived in Antioch Peter separated himself from them contradicting his own former behavior.

This led to a public confrontation between he and Paul wherein Paul pointed out his error and corrected him—reminding him that justification came not by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ.

The passage we will consider today is a continuation of this thought as Paul further explains why grace and law cannot be mixed.

The Fault is Not with Christ (Vs. 17-19)

These verses flow out of the statements from verse 16 where Paul reaffirms the truth that justification comes not by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.

He then poses a question which serves to demonstrate that Peter’s actions in reimposing the dictates of the law are misguided.

Those who understood that justification came through faith in Christ—not by keeping the law—rightly recognized that that they were no longer bound by the law.

It is evident that Peter himself recognized this because when he arrived in Antioch he did not hesitate to fellowship with the Gentile believers there—he understood there was not legitimate reason to separate from them.

Yet when the brethren from the church at Jersualem arrived he needlessly separated from them because he feared what they might think of his association with them.

The point being made in verse 17 is that if one seeks justification from Christ it is contradictory then to behave as though the law is still binding.

It is Christ which led Peter to fellowship with the Gentiles and if this is true and it be sinful to do so then this makes out Christ to be the minister of sin.

Paul then poses the question— “is Christ therefore the minister of sin?”—the answer is obvious, of course Christ is not the minister of sin.

Pauls response is clear—here as in other places he replies adamantly “God forbid.”

The reality is that the problem was not fellowshipping with the Gentile believers but rather the error was separating from them as though the law were still binding.

Both Peter and Paul had been behaving as though the law was no longer binding upon them and this they were right to do recognizing that the law was never intended to be the means of their justification.

The building again which is referenced speaks of the reimposition of the law—to reimpose the law as a means of justification and righteousness was to make oneself a transgressor.

The fact remains that no one was or is capable of adhering perfectly to the law and thus to subject oneself to it as a means of justification or righteousness is only to make oneself a transgressor.

Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Christ was by no means responsible for sin—rather it was He who had given liberty from the law.

To seek justification through Christ while still insisting that the law is binding is to attempt to mix grace and law—something which Paul has insisted cannot and should not be done.

In verse 19 Paul speak of being dead to the law so that he might live unto God

Romans 7:1-6- explanation of what it means to be dead to the law.

The point here is that Paul rightly understood as did Peter that the law no longer held influence in their lives after they had come to Christ.

Their life now was not now to be lived according to the dictates of the law but rather according the leadership of the Spirit of God.

Where before these men lived striving to measure up to the impossible standards of the law, now in Christ they have been given liberty to live for and to serve Jesus Christ.

The law only served to remind men of their sinfulness and could never produce righteousness—in Christ men are set free from the bondage of the law to live unto God.

Crucified with Christ (Vs. 20)

This verse is a verse which has been memorized by many and which has been claimed as a life verse by scores of believers and rightly so.

This verse describes what should be the nature of the life of all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

Pauls speaks now of having been “crucified with Christ”—this is of course not meant in the literal physical sense but rather in the spiritual sense.

This is meant to be a description of what took place when Paul placed his faith in Jesus Christ—he was crucified with Christ in the sense that who he was before Christ had now been put to death.

Romans 6:6-11- the old man is crucified

The point that Paul is making here is that his life is no longer his own—he does continue to live but now he lives for Christ.

Now he does not live for himself—for the fulfillment of his own desires and wishes—but now it is Christ who lives in him.

This simply demonstrates that Paul has now dedicated his life to Christ and his intent is to allow Christ to live in him.

This should be true of every believer—we should not live as we did before coming to Christ—our life should now be lived in service to Christ.

This is the reason that you and I remain on this earth after that we have believed on Christ—so that Christ may live in us.

Our lives should now manifest forth Jesus Christ.

Paul speaks of the fact that he still lives in the flesh—which simply means in his physical body—but that now he lives his life by the faith of the Son of God.

Those who know Christ should now live by faith—trusting in Jesus and being led by His Spirit to live in accordance with His will.

Paul also expresses what is his motivation for now living for Christ—the fact that it is Christ who loved him and gave Himself for him.

Christ has purchased us with His own blood—demonstrating his love for us through laying down His own life for us.

It is only reasonable that we would now live for Him after all that He has done for us.

Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Christian life is meant to be lived not in our own strength but through Christ’s enablement as He lives in us enabling us to live for Him.

Do Not Frustrate the Grace of God (Vs. 21)

Finally Paul brings his argument to a fitting conclusion expressing the fact that if righteous is achieved by the works of the law then Christ has died in vain.

Paul speaks now of not frustrating (invalidating) the grace of God.

The idea here is that in returning to a works based righteousness one invalidates the grace of God.

Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

The point which Paul is making is that if righteousness is attainable through the works of the law then Christ’s death has no real value.

If men could be righteous apart from Him then there was no need that He should die and His death is then “in vain.”

There was no reason for Jesus Christ to be crucified if men are able to achieve righteousness and justification on their own.

The fact is that men are utterly incapable of achieving righteousness and justification on their own and this is precisely why Jesus Christ came!

The law was never meant to be a means for attaining righteousness—it was only ever meant to reveal our sinfulness and ultimately to drive us to Jesus Christ.

Righteousness cannot be achieved through the law—it simply reveals our unrighteousness in order that we may turn to Christ and receive His righteousness.

If we turn back to the law in the hope of attaining righteousness, we frustrate the grace of God.

Righteousness is only found in Jesus Christ and rather than pursuing a strict adherence to the letter of the law we should concentrate instead on obeying Christ.

Conclusion

This passage serves to remind us that righteousness comes not through the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.

It was not sinful for Peter to fellowship with the Gentile believers—in fact it was his separation from them which was sinful.

If we believe that justification comes only through faith in Christ we must not behave as though it comes through the works of the law as Peter did.

In Christ we are dead to the law so that we may live unto God—this does not mean that we live as we please but that we live as Christ leads.

The liberty which we have now in Christ does not lead to licentiousness but rather allows us the opportunity to live for God.

Those who believe are now crucified with Christ being dead now to what they once were but alive unto Christ as He lives in them.

The life we now live should be one no longer characterized by stringent rule keeping but rather by faith in and obedience to Jesus Christ.

If we imagine that we can attain righteousness by the law, we frustrate the grace of God and make it as though Christ died for nothing.

We must look to Christ and live by faith in Him—the one who loved us and gave His life for us.