“We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So, we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.” Galatians 2:15-16 (NIV)
One word dominates this passage and it is the word justified. Justified is a legal word that belongs to the courtroom, where people are pronounced not guilty and cleared of all charges before the law.
The opposite of justified is condemned. These two words point us forward to the last day when God, our Creator and Judge, will pronounce His verdict on our lives. That verdict will either be justified or condemned. No one wants to be condemned, so the question is: How can I be justified? Paul gives the answer negatively and positively.
Negatively, you cannot be justified by observing the law. “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law” (2:15‑16). Positively, we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ” (2:15-16).
We cannot save or justify ourselves by anything we do (or don’t do). Therefore, if we are to be justified, it must be by faith alone in what Christ has done. Paul needed to remind Peter of this, because Peter was in danger of denying this crucial truth by his actions.
Can you think of one way you may have denied the gospel of grace by your actions?
