Galatians 2:15-21

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.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time


Paul and Peter were Jews by birth and yet they knew that they were not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. They too had to believe in Jesus in order to be justified because no one is justified by works of the law. This is the exact opposite of what that Judaizers were teaching and the opposite of what Peter had done in action.

But if we are justified by faith and not by keeping the law, does that not mean that we can go on sinning and Christ is promoting sin? Certainly not. If he were to return to the law, all it would do is prove that he was a sinner. All the law can do is show that we are sinners, it can never save us. The law demands death for those who break it and so Paul says that because of that he died to the law so that he could live for God. Christ paid the death penalty for us so we can say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and now it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Because of Christ in you, you can now live for God. How? By living by faith in Jesus who loved you and gave Himself for you. Faith is not just for salvation but also for sanctification (right living). If Jesus loved you enough to die for you, then He loves you enough to live through you. But if we insist on trying to be right with God by how we live (works of the law) then we nullify God’s grace and Christ died for nothing.