IN CHRIST ALONE

In Galatians 2:15-21 we read: "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. If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

I think it's safe to say that one of the great themes (if not the main theme) of the book of Galatians is that you cannot mix law and grace. Like the same poles of two magnets they repel one another. That's why Paul says, "I do not set aside the grace of God." He means by that, I don’t trust in any works of my own.

In the Jewish mind 'Gentiles' were 'sinners' and should be shunned. They (the Jewish nation) were, after all, the Covenant People of God. They were and still remain God's Covenant People. God is not done with them yet, and following the rapture of the Church He will once again turn His attention toward them. However, in the 'Dispensation of the Church' all (Jew or Gentile) who embrace Christ as Savior become the children of God. John 1:12 makes that clear.

There were those called 'Judaizers' who were coming into the church and teaching that accepting Christ was the first step in salvation, now keeping the Jewish laws and rituals would finish the work of salvation. How foolish! Yet, today there are many who teach that same basic doctrine. Accepting Christ might be a nice 'first step' but now you must be a part of their church, accept their teachings and abide by their rules. The words of Paul ring out to us in chapter three of Galatians. "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?.......Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Vs. 1,3. In verse 20 of chapter 2 Paul said, "I was crucified with Christ." I believe Paul is saying that when he recognized his need for forgiveness and when he recognized what Christ did on Calvary for the sins of mankind that all his self-righteousness died with Christ. He went on the say, "The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God." Paul says my Christian life depends on faith alone in the One who died for my sin.

He further argues that if salvation comes by any means other than Christ, He died for nothing. If you can get to heaven by your good works…Christ died for nothing. If you can go to heaven by trying your best to keep the law…Christ died for nothing. If the good you do in this lifetime outweighs the bad, therefore, qualifying you for heaven…Christ died for nothing. If you can go to heaven by being a member of a certain church, or baptism, or conformation or any other religion work or human effort…then Christ died for nothing. How insulting to Christ!

So we conclude that Paul's argument is…. Salvation is by the grace of God, through faith in His finished work…plus nothing. We are saved in Christ alone. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

If you want to know salvation you must set aside all your self-righteousness and trust Christ alone. "….there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12.