Made Right in Faith

Me

Tried to solve an issue on our own

Story about worry

And this is something as fallen humans, we all struggle with at times.

We

This is a human thing we have all done, Im sure. We worry and try to handle things on our own, both without trusting support.

We are reminded though, in our struggle, God makes us right in faith

We are made right in faith alone.

God

Pray: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer.

Galatians 2:15–21 ESV

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

We are made right in faith alone.

Not by works, but by faith

Gal 2:15-16 “15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

Paul is identifying them as the Jews

He plays into the prejudices of the time. Generally speaking the Hebrews saw those around them as tainted and dirty.

They were seperated by God, but they seemed to miss the fact they were no less fallen.

But he immediatly turned it around on them.

He says we are Jews and not Gentile sinners, but we know that does not matter without God’s grace.

Here Paul is restating the factthat the law cannot save.

This would have been such a counter cultural idea, but digs into the issue at the church. Salvation does not come following the law, but by putting faith in Christ alone.

Our works, no matter how perfect can save us. The most dedicated person cannot be saved by works of the law, but we are justified through our faith in Christ because of his perfect work.

We are made right in faith alone.

Justified in Christ, transgressor in self

Gal 2:17-18 “17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.”

Paul seeks to counter some arguments that either he assumed could be raised or things that had been raised.

There was such a connection to the law there was a belief in a responsibility to keep everyone following the law (this is why Paul persecuted the church)

In this there was potentially the idea, if people saw they could leave the law because of Christ, he was a servant to their sin. Paul immediately turns this around.

In building up he is likely refering to the walls and boundaries that divided Jews and Gentiles and he would be the transgressor of sin.

This also points back to Peter and his judising. There is a difference here between following the law to witness to the Jewish nation as opposed to build walls back up to make God happy.

We are made right in faith alone.

Died to the Law, That I Might Live in Christ

Gal 2:19-20 “19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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.”

This can be seen as a central point to the argument that Paul makes through this entire letter.

Died to the the law. Gives the idea that the law did play a role in redemption history and shows us are inability to accomplish our salvation in the law. To the law we will die.

I die to the law, I realize my inadequacy that God may save me.

My testimony

We have been crucified in Christ.

In this our death, our punishment was counted for on the cross with Christ.

Baptism

It is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me

We cannot do it alone, but through the work of Christ.

We live because of Christ

Being crucified with Christ implies a radical transformation within the believer.

{Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 201.}

As I continue to live in a fleshly by, I do so by faith in Christ, who loved me first.

Our lives should reflect that

We are made right in faith alone.

If we can be saved in works of the law, Christ died for nothing- Saved By Works or Christ

Gal 2:21 “21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

There is one way to the father, through the son.

We are made right in faith alone.

You

We Are Saved by Faith Alone

We Have Died to Self, and live in Christ

We are made right in faith alone.

We

Kadanja

John Williams - Army rope fall - trust

We are made right in faith alone.