Gospel Integrity | Galatians 2:16

Geisler notes: “He had been beaten and whipped repeatedly the night before His crucifixion with a Roman scourge (a three-lash whip with pieces of bone or metal on the ends) which tore the flesh of the skeletal muscles and set the stage for circulatory shock. A crown of thorns had been pushed onto His skull.” [Geisler, N. L., & Brooks, R. M. (1990). When skeptics ask (p. 120). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

There was blood loss by the nails and subsequent side-piercing.

“The spear entered through the rib cage and pierced His right lung, the sack around the heart, and the heart itself, releasing both blood and pleural fluids.” [Geisler, N. L., & Brooks, R. M. (1990). When skeptics ask (p. 121). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

In the article “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ” the Journal of the American Medical Society concluded:

“Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to His side was inflicted and supports the traditional view that the spear, thrust between His right ribs, probably perforated not only the right lung but also the pericardium and heart and thereby ensured his death. Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge.” [Ibid.] (March 21, 1986, p. 1463)

Does your life make the death of Christ seem pointless?

Do you care so much about what others think that you are willing to change your behavior to make people think you are something you are not?

Paul is saying that if we are not living according to the true gospel then we are nullifying or making pointless the death of Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:21.

Galatians 2:21 KJV 1900

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Gospel integrity is having a life that is consistent with the justification by faith alone in Christ alone.

Justification by Faith Alone

As a reminder, justification is the legal declaration of righteousness or right standing before God. To say that justification is by faith alone means that the way someone gets a perfect standing before God is by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and refusing to place trust in any other person or thing — including self effort.

Thus, to lack gospel integrity is to say that you believe in justification by faith in Christ alone and to practice a life as if you are justified by some other source.

Are you nullifying the gospel?

Proposition:

Because of Christ’s finished work, we can and should strive to be people of gospel integrity.

Body:

The gospel eliminates religio-ethnic separation (v. 15-16) [assertion]

A. We who are Jews by nature - these are Jews of natural birth, by implication observing the law...

B. And not sinners of the Gentiles - the implication here is that both Jews and Gentiles are sinners but Gentiles were without the law, still sinners. Romans 2:14

Romans 2:14 KJV 1900

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

C. Knowing (reference to the Jews by nature) not justified by the works of the law…even we have believed in Jesus Christ...

D. Even the most religious must be justified by faith. To be legally declared righteous with God, you must have faith in Jesus Christ alone — regardless of your religious or ethnic upbringing.

Application: If you want to be right with God, to have your sins completely forgiven, then you must refuse to trust in you and trust in Jesus alone.

E. There is no immunization to self-deception about gospel integrity. Paul is primarily making this case because of the situation in Galatia.

Illustration: Galatians 2:11-14

Application:

Gospel integrity means that we not only believed in justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone, but also that we continue to believe in justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Gospel integrity means that both Jews and Gentiles, both religious and non-religious are on the same level.

Do you know that the same Jesus who died for you also died for the Chinese? the Muslim, the border refugees, and the Taliban?

Children, do you know that the same Jesus who died for you also died for your siblings? for the friends that are mean to you?

Christian, if you have full justification before God, then why do you struggle to have an image that is accepted around others?

The gospel eliminates religious/ethnic separation

The gospel condemns all sin (v. 17-18) [contrast]

A. But if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ serving sin? (option i) If find myself to be sinning after I accept Jesus, is Jesus the One who led me into it?

Is this salvation the reason I sin?

B. If I revert back to living according to the things that I destroyed, then I am the one missing the mark. It just doesn’t make sense. (Example: Galatians 2:14)

C. (option ii) Best interpretation is that Paul is pointing out how sinful it is to trust in religious works after you have already trusted in Jesus Christ.

Illustration: One of the most interesting stories is the story of the destruction of Jericho. This was the first place in Canaan that Israel destroyed, but they did so by walking around the city. It would be a pattern of how God would fight for His people and destroy the enemies of the people of God. It would become a story that would be passed ahead to the other cities in Canaan. It would be a testament for future generations. What is interesting is that there is a curse and a prophecy that Joshua gives after Jericho is destroyed. In Joshua 6:26.

Joshua 6:26 KJV 1900

26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

In the future, that which the people of God had seen destroyed by God would be rebuilt. In like manner, Jesus came and fulfilled the law, obtained righteousness for us. Paul was saved by faith in Jesus Christ, but if now Paul were to go around and preach that justification was by faith in keeping the law, then Paul is rebuilding that which had been torn down by Jesus Christ.

Application:

Gospel integrity means that you do not live in sinful works of the flesh

Gospel integrity means that you do not pride yourself on your good deeds or pedigree

Young parents, you feel the weight of decisions, but are you too proud to seek counsel from Christ-centered saints?

Teens, are you aware that how you use your tongue towards your parents may be revealing self-righteous pride?

Children, you have a world that is telling you to lead your parents; but the gospel tells you the truth about you — You are a sinner who is loved by Jesus. Let Christ lead you.

The gospel eliminates religious/ethnic separation

The gospel condemns all sin

The gospel unites us with Christ’s death and life. (v. 19-20) [reason for assertion/contrast]

A. For I through the law am dead to the law

Illustration: Imagine a husband and wife married for 50 years. They took their wedding vows quite seriously, and they stayed together until death parted them. If the wife dies, and the husband is still alive, he is free from that covenant; but is the wife also free from that covenant? The answer is yes. We often think about the partner who remains alive physically but we overlook the freedom of the deceased individual. This is how Paul wants us to consider our union with Christ. Romans 7:4

Romans 7:4 KJV 1900

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

B. I am crucified with Christ, yet I live...

C. Christ is the one who loved me and gave himself for me.

D. It is preposterous to attempt to find my justification before others by living according to the law, when Christ who loved me, gave himself for me.

Application:

Gospel integrity means that I recognize my union with Jesus Christ in how I live before others.

What does it mean to live unto God? In Romans 7:4 it means to bear fruit unto God.

Romans 7:4 KJV 1900

In Galatians 5:22, we have the fruit of God’s Spirit given, but I think that Galatians 2:20, he gives us what he means by personal testimony:

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

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.

(1) Mom, are you truly living with faith in the Son of God?

(2) Young adult, Are you living aware of the love of the Son of God?

(3) Teen, are you living in light of the sacrifice of the Son of God?

(4) Children, is Jesus Christ living in you?

The gospel eliminates religious/ethnic separation

The gospel condemns all sin

The gospel unites us with Christ’s death and life.

The gospel prioritizes the death of Christ (v. 21) [summary]

A. I do not frustrate the grace of God - nullify

B. If a right standing with God comes by the law, then Christ’s death is pointless

Is the death of Christ such a priority that when you are tempted to care more about what others think you war against those notions?

Or are you more concerned with a level of acceptance that would make you feel good about yourself?

Does the death of Christ change the way you live?

Illustration: There is an interesting sequence of events that takes place. Jesus begins telling his disciples that he is going to Jerusalem. Listen to his words. Mark 10:33-34.

Mark 10:33–34 KJV 1900

33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

What do you think the next question and argument was about? It was about who gets to sit on the right hand and left hand of Jesus throne. What a contrast! Jesus is speaking of his death, and these disciples are arguing about their position. In response to all of this listen to the words of Jesus in Mark 10:45

Mark 10:45 KJV 1900

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus shows how serving mankind would come through death. His death becomes the way of life for his followers.

Application:

Gospel integrity means that I live a life making Christ’s death of supreme worth by fully relying upon him. Daily denying self, taking up my cross, and following Him.

Are you able to say “No” to you?

Christo-centric Connection/Enablement:

How is living a life of gospel integrity possible?

There are people who live their lives without integrity and die.

Illustration: There is a story of a man who was supposedly a part of the people of God. When he had first experienced God’s redemption, he was under the age of 20, but he had lived a life where God had provided his food, water, clothing…etc In every way, he had been one of the people of God, but on one occasion God told his people that after they destroy the city of a pagan people, God’s people were not to take anything from the spoils. In spite of this, Achan had a greed lurking inside of him that was inconsistent with appearances. Ultimately, he stole what was not his and died for his sin.

What is it that makes the death of Jesus Christ different from all other deaths?

The answer is found in Galatians 2:21.

Galatians 2:21 (KJV 1900)

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

It is that Jesus was perfectly righteous — inside and out, and that through faith in his death, this righteousness is given to those who believe in Him. Galatians 3:22

Galatians 3:22 KJV 1900

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Because of Jesus’ righteousness, we enter into relationship with the Father, and God delights to give his adopted children His Holy Spirit — that from the inside out, we might live lives of integrity. Galatians 4:6

Galatians 4:6 KJV 1900

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Conclusion:

The gospel eliminates religious/ethnic separation

The gospel condemns all sin

The gospel unites us with Christ’s death and life.

The gospel prioritizes the death of Christ

A life of gospel integrity means that I daily live according to the justification I have in Jesus and am free from attempting to be justified by the approval of others.

You are so changed by the sufficiency of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ that you are free from seeking the approval of others.

Does your life make the death of Christ seem pointless?

Gospel Integrity.

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