Lesson 4: Justification by Faith Alone (Galatians 2:15-21)

Introduction: Let’s review what we have learned so far in our study
of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Paul has a special gospel message
that he received directly from Jesus. The early church leaders
believed this, but there was a pitched battle in the Galatian
church, and among the early believers, over the message and
requirements of the gospel. This week Paul explains his gospel
message. As we study it, we need to ask if it is still in dispute
among Christians? Is it still in dispute in our own minds? Let’s
dive into our study and examine again the heart of the gospel
message!

1. Paul’s Gospel Message

1. 1. Read Galatians 2:15-16. What role does obeying the law
    play in our salvation? (None. “By observing the law no
    one will be justified.”)

1. 1. 1. Is this the message with which the top leaders of
      the church agreed? (Yes. It might have been hard to
      stay the course (see Peter’s departure when the Jews
      from the home office arrived in Galatia), but that
      is the theology on which the leaders agreed.)

1. 1. 1. What “law” is Paul writing about? The Ten
      Commandments? The ceremonial law? All of the
      writings of Moses? (It doesn’t matter how the law is
      defined if keeping it does not save us. If salvation
      is a matter of faith alone, then whatever
      requirement you try to add is contrary to the gospel
      message.)

2. The Obvious Problem with Paul’s Gospel Message

1. 1. Read Galatians 2:17. This is the big question that is as
    relevant now as it was then – “Does righteousness by
    faith alone promote sin?” “How can you tell people that
    the law does not matter – they will go wild!” What
    answer does Paul give? (No, people should not go wild.
    The gospel of righteousness by faith alone does not
    promote sin.)

1. 1. 1. What if the question in verse 17 were applied to
      you, how would you answer it? Is it evident to you
      that while you seek to be justified by faith that
      you are a sinner? (It is evident to me.)

1. 2. Have you run into Christians who say that they are pretty
    much free from sin?

1. 1. 1. If so, were they strong righteousness by faith
      advocates? (I recall two people who told me that
      they thought they were doing pretty well on
      obedience to the law. One claimed to have been sin-free for two years. My judgment was that they
      believed obedience was necessary for salvation.)

1. 1. 1. My observation that those who think that they are
      pretty good also believe in keeping the law to be
      saved is not scientific. But, if you have seen the
      same thing, why do you think that people who believe
      that they are obedient believe their obedience is
      necessary for salvation?

1. 1. 1. 1. And, if this is true, then it would seem that
        salvation by works promotes obedience, right?

1. 2. Read Galatians 2:18-19. Why does Paul argue that
    righteousness by faith alone does not promote the
    violation of the law (does not promote sin)? (When Jesus
    died in our place for our sins, we also died to the law.
    Therefore the law no longer condemns us. But, if we
    rebuild the law – by that Paul means that if we believe
    that obedience to the law is necessary for salvation,
    then our sins are held against us and we are violating
    the law.)

1. 1. 1. Let’s look at this again. Paul says that the charge
      against my theology is that it promotes the
      violation of the law. But, Paul claims the reverse
      is true. Those who say keeping the law is essential
      to salvation are making law breakers out of everyone
      – even the most devout Christians!

1. 1. 1. 1. Is this just too “slick?” Is Paul’s argument
        like sleight of hand (magic)? If we nullified
        the speed limit, then none of us would be
        speeders. If we impose the speed limit, then
        all of us are speeders. Nullifying the speed
        limit makes us all law abiding citizens!

1. 2. Read Galatians 2:20-21. If my last question is creating
    trouble in your mind, explain how eliminating the law as
    the source of salvation produces more perfect people?
    (Paul tells us that just as we died with Jesus in His
    death, so we are to live with Jesus in His resurrected
    life. We “live for God” and “Christ lives in me.”)

1. 1. 1. This seems so abstract. Let’s say that tomorrow I
      “died” to all of the traffic signs and laws. Someone
      who is dead doesn’t know anything. So, I know
      nothing about the traffic laws. How is that going to
      make me a safer, more perfect driver? (Obviously, it
      is not going to do that.)

1. 1. 1. What if I added the fact that the person who
      designed all of the traffic laws “lives in me.” What
      kind of driver would I be? (If I was infused with
      the Spirit of the person who was the master designer
      of the highway design, the traffic laws and the
      traffic signs, I would have a perfect understanding
      of how to drive. I think that is what Paul is
      teaching us.)

1. 2. Let’s go back to Galatians 2:19 and examine the phrase
    “die to the law” in more detail. What does it mean to
    “die to the law?” Does it mean that we are insensitive to
    it? That we live as though it does not exist?

1. 1. 1. 1. Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with
        Christ.” Why did Jesus die? (He died to pay the
        penalty for violating the law. This means that
        we, too, died with Jesus (“crucified with
        Christ”) for violating the law.)

1. 1. 1. 1. In what way did I die to the law? (I died
        to the judgment of the law. I died to the
        penalty for violating the law.)

1. 1. 1. 2. Does that mean that we no longer pay any
        attention to the law? (No. God wrote the law.
        The law is good. However, it no longer carries
        the threat that if I do not obey it I will die.
        I already died to the law through Jesus.)

1. 2. Let’s go back to my original traffic question. Recall
    that I asked that if all the traffic laws were nullified,
    would that mean that none of us would violate the speed
    laws? I think Paul is saying something a little
    different: Jesus paid the fines for all of our traffic
    law violations. Therefore, those laws don’t make us law
    abiding. What makes us law abiding is to have the road
    designer and traffic law giver live in our mind!

1. 1. Read Romans 6:5-7. Paul again refers to us dying with
    Jesus when He died for our sins. However, he adds
    something more than the “fine being paid” for the
    violation of the law. What does he add? (He says that
    our “old self” died “so that the body of sin might be
    done away with.”)

1. 1. 1. What do you think it means to have our body of sin
      die? (This suggests that our old desire to sin
      dies.)

1. 1. 1. 1. What Paul writes here seems very clear, what
        makes it unclear is that I know my old desires
        are very much alive. What happened? Or, am I
        just a very poor Christian? (Scan Romans 7:14-24. Paul has the very same experience that I
        have.)

1. 1. 1. 1. How can your “old self die” and you still have
        the struggle that Paul describes? (Let’s turn
        to that next.)

2. Living By the Spirit of God

1. 1. Read Romans 7:4. If we have died to the law, what is the
    goal of our life? (To “belong” to Jesus to “bear fruit to
    God.”)

1. 1. Read Romans 7:5-6. The law plus the old nature promotes
    sinful passions. How does the Holy Spirit change that?

1. 1. Read Romans 6:11-14. How does this suggest that the Holy
    Spirit can help us live? (Offering ourselves to God must
    mean that we tell God, “Here I am, help me to live a life
    pleasing to you!”)

1. 1. Read Romans 8:5-9. How does this suggest that we should
    live? (Again, Paul tells us that we must make a choice to
    do what the Holy Spirit desires.)

1. 1. Our discussion seems so abstract. Let’s look at a comment
    by Jesus that might help us out. Read Matthew 5:27-28.
    What would someone who believed in righteousness by works
    do to keep this commandment? (Not have sex outside
    marriage.)

1. 1. 1. In one sense, Jesus makes the commandment much worse
      for law keepers – He says you also have to control
      your thoughts to avoid violating this command,
      right?

1. 1. 1. What would Paul tell us that Jesus is teaching? (If
      you want to walk with God, don’t concentrate on the
      anti-adultery commandment, instead, pay attention to
      the attitude of your mind. Ask the Holy Spirit to
      help you set your mind on what the Spirit of God
      desires for you.)

1. 1. 1. Is this walking in the Holy Spirit an essential for
      salvation? (Read Romans 5:19. No. Only Jesus perfect
      life makes us righteous. However, living in the
      Spirit is the desire of those who are saved.)

1. 2. Now you know why Peter said (last week) that Paul is
    difficult to understand in places! Friend, will you
    repent of your sins and determine today to ask the Holy
    Spirit every morning to help you set your mind on living
    according to God’s Spirit, and not set your mind on your
    sinful nature?

Next week: Old Testament Faith.