DEAD TO THE LAW, ALIVE IN CHRIST

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

DEAD TO THE LAW, ALIVE IN CHRIST

 

Galatians 2:17-21

Introduction: Galatians is as relevant to understanding salvation as any book of the Bible. In prior studies, we examined the problem Paul faced with the Judaizers who followed him into the churches he had established in Galatia. They came with a message contrary to the preaching of salvation through Christ plus nothing. In prior studies, the examples of the Judaizers have been general, but to begin the study for today, it is important to see how bizarre some “false religious groups” twist the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the Bible. Note how one theologian exposes the false teaching of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” or popularly known as “Mormons” of Salt Lake City, Utah, established by Joseph Smith. The following description of one of their beliefs is described by one of their leaders, Mormon apologist Bruce R. McConkie:

Grace is simply the mercy, the love and the condescension God has for his children, as a result of which he has ordained the plan of salvation so that they may have power to progress and become like him. . . All men are saved by grace alone without any act on their part, meaning that they are resurrected and become immortal because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ. . . In addition to this redemption from death, all men, by the grace of God, have the power to gain eternal life. This is called salvation by grace coupled with obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Hence Nephi was led to write: “We labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do” (Nephi 25:23, Book of Mormon). 

Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this subject, however, is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation. Many go so far, for instance, as to pretend and, at least, to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept Him as our personal Savior, we are thereby saved. His blood, without other act than mere belief, they say, makes us clean. . . Finally, in our day, [Day of the Mormon Church of “latter day saints] he has said plainly: “My blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not.” Salvation in the kingdom of God is available because of the atoning blood of Christ. But it is received only on condition of faith, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end in keeping the commandments of God. [Emphasis added.]

This is an example of what goes on in some of the cults that are “false religions” according to the Bible, God’s word. We can see how deceptive they can be, twisting the truth to fit their heretical position. The deception is dangerous, yet one can see how they sound biblical, with a little addition, which is heresy.

Back to Galatians. The subject of Peter’s faulty spiritual life is still under discussion in our text. This section, vss. 17-21 brings the conclusion of Paul’s “Rebuke of Peter” (vs. 11). Peter was trying to please his Jewish friends and maybe some family members. That means he would enjoy fellowship with Gentile believers, but when the Jewish leaders “from James” came around Peter would leave the Gentile believers, “withdraw and separated himself” from the Gentiles, and the troubling phrase, “fearing them which were of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12). This influenced other Jews and even Barnabas with their “dissimulation” (vs. 13). This was hypocrisy at its highest level. The word “dissimulation” means a person who pretends to be someone they are not. We usually use the word “hypocrite” in this sense. A pretender or play actor. That is what Paul called Peter and his “circumcised” friends. Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, 1828, defines “hypocrite” as “One who feigns to be what he is not; one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue, when he is destitute of true religion.” As seen above, a dissembler is “one who assumes a false appearance.” This is Paul’s description of those who follow Peter’s activity and an accusation of Peter. Paul's confrontation is very strong. He describes what he means in Galatians 2:14 (KJV) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Paul contends here that these Jews did not walk “according to the truth of the gospel” and then gives an explanation of what he means by vs. 14, when he says in Galatians 2:15-16 (KJV) 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [Emphasis added.] This is the heart of Paul’s defense of his confrontation with Peter and the first time he also uses the phrase “the works of the law” in Galatians 3:2, 5, and 10, and only once in Romans 9:32. One cannot “play-act” Christianity for very long and succeed. The evidence becomes very clear when examined in light of what God has said in His Bible. The use of the phrase “the works of the law” in Galatians 2:16, Paul emphasizes that “by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” [Emphasis added.] The word “justified” means “. . . to declare righteous.” This review of earlier passages now takes us to the heart of the biblical description of what salvation in Christ Jesus is all about. The study here will demonstrate the heart of what Paul wanted the believers in Galatia, as well as Peter and his friends, to know, and also what we, nearly 2,000 years later, need to know. What we find in Galatians 2:17-21 is the definition of a believer and a spiritual Christian. 

  1. GOING BACK TO THE OLD WAYS, MAKES THE BELIEVER A TRANSGRESSOR, Galatians 2:17-18. Paul says, “. . .a man is not justified by the works of the law” three times in Galatians 2:16. In Galatians 3 he continues to emphasize the point and even drives to teach the Galatian believers the truth about salvation and justification. Christians today struggle with this doctrine, as did the Galatian believers, making it a major difficulty. This teaching is even found today among different groups, as seen earlier. Paul found abundant frustration in dealing with the Jewish people, who were trying to make the principle of the “works of the law” the vehicle for securing one’s salvation. The Jews have an axe to grind because they have been told repeatedly that the Law of Moses is God’s provision for having a relationship with God, and there is no reason for them to change. They rejected the Saviour, Jesus Christ, even though He walked among them, and they had the Old Testament scripture repeatedly prophesy the information to be able to identify the Messiah. They failed to know the scripture for that purpose, but the Law of Moses was their defining document to secure a relationship with Jehovah. Paul delivered a lengthy sermon at Antioch in Pisidia in Acts 13:14-43 and drove home the point at the close of the sermon when he said in Acts 13:38–39 (KJV) 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. [Emphasis added.] At first the response was good and both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 13:43) responded positively to the message until the next sabbath day “. . .came almost the whole city together to hear the multitudes” (Acts 13:44). When the Jews saw the multitudes they “. . .were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” The Jews did not like the messages Paul was delivering because they spoke against the Law of Moses being the means of justification. This was possibly the seed plot that led the Jewish leaders to turn against Paul's message and to promote the Law as the means of justification. That would explain why Paul had to address this problem with the churches in Galatia by writing a letter of warning and explanation. 
  1. Galatians 2:17. Paul makes a statement that has baffled many. It says, “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” Paul has delivered a clear statement against “the works of the law” being the means of justification. He says that a person is “not justified by the works of the law,” but “by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ. . .” Dr. Vance makes a statement today that clears the matter for believers. He says, 

“The nature of justification prohibits the sense (except by way of application) of someone who, after being initially justified, is still seeking justification, either in this life or at some final judgment. The apparent contradiction between Paul’s teaching of a present justification without works and a future judgment according to works (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Col. 3:24-25) that so vexes some commentators is due to the failure to recognize that salvation is not the focus of any future judgment. The present tense signifies that all Jews up to the present time, if they are going to be saved, must take their place as “sinners of the Gentiles” (vs. 15).

This false teaching about the law being the means of justification is seen especially in       

  Reformed Theology. They have a position in their “Five Points of Calvinism” called 

“Perseveration of the Saints.” This belief says that a believer must “persevere,” which means “to persist in doing something or continue trying to achieve a goal despite difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It is a verb that implies steadfastness, determination, and refusing to give up even when things get tough” (Internet definition). While there are differences among Calvinists about the meaning of the subject, the doctrine was initially developed by the statement found in the Westminster Confession of Faith, as well as the Canons of Dort, a published statement pertaining to the subject of “Perseverance of the Saints.” [From the internet.]

  1. Galatians 2:18. This verse is clearly a statement to clarify the fact that if Paul followed the Judaizers who promote keeping the law for justification, then he would revert to being a sinner, since keeping the law has been set aside and the church has entered a new dispensation where the function of grace is stated. It says in Romans 3:24 (KJV) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This is followed by the statement in Romans 4:4 (KJV) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Those who believe they are justified by keeping the Law or some other activity a person can perform (such as keeping the law, baptism, joining a particular church, etc.) revert to being a sinner; salvation is up to God. If we understand the statement by the Mormon theologian who, by his manipulation of words, makes one believe the Mormons are taught to trust Christ, then Mormons are saved. Their crafty use of words makes a person think they are saved, only if they understand the closing statement, where he says they have the power to receive Christ, provided it is received on the condition of faith, repentance, baptism, and enduring to the end in keeping the commandments of God. This is why a person in the cults has little evidence of biblical salvation. This is the battle Paul fought, and we live 2,000 years later. 
  1. GOD’S PROVISION IN CHRIST IS THROUGH HIS CRUCIFIXION, Galatians 2:19. We find a clear statement of salvation in Galatians 2:19 (KJV) For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. Being “dead to the law” provides a clear path to eternal salvation in Christ. The Christian life is simple in many ways if a believer understands the process God has established. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection make it possible for us to have eternal life. You and I must realize that we can add nothing to our salvation. Jesus has done all that God has determined is essential for you and me to have eternal life and eventually reside in 21heaven with Him.
  2. GRACE FROM GOD IS FRUSTRATED WHEN A PERSON TRIES TO FIND RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE LAW AND REJECTS THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST, Galatians 2:20-21. The statement in Galatians 2:20 is Paul's clear teaching on how to live a life pleasing to God. This passage will help any Christian who wants to live unto God and not self. It begins with “I am crucified with Christ. . .” You say, I was not in Israel, outside of Jerusalem, when Jesus was crucified. The two thieves were crucified with Christ, but with a different meaning. Their crucifixion was a “physical act” where ours is a “spiritual” act. This is the difficulty in understanding this important doctrine; we try to apply it physically when it is a spiritual transaction. 

       

 

Again, let me quote Laurence Vance. He says, “The place where all believers died to the law was on the cross of Christ (Col. 2:14). Because those under the law are under a curse because they cannot keep the law (Gal. 3:10), ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us’ (Gal. 3:13). Christ did not die because he violated the law but because we did. And it is by virtue of death that we are delivered from the law (Rom. 7:6), for ‘the law hath dominion over a man as long as liveth’ (Rom.  7:1). The identification of the believer with Christ is so strong that not only is the Christian said to be crucified with him, but also that he has died with Christ (Col. 2:20), is buried with Christ (Rom. 6:4), is quickened with Christ (Eph. 2:5), is raised with Christ (Col. 3:1), lives with Christ (Col. 3:3-4), and is seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:6). Union with Christ is the ground of salvation. All men are either ‘in Adam’ or ‘in Christ’ (1 Cor. 15:22).” A similar way of looking at this important doctrine is Romans 6:1-18. These verses describe how to live the Christian life. Now we need to apply it. Paul concludes this chapter with another statement of the principle he has been discussing. He said in Galatians 2:21 (KJV) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. AMEN!! [Emphasis author’s.]