The Doctrine Of Salvation
Obedience And Works Do Not Save ; But Jesus
Galatians 2:15-21
V:15. "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles."
A. Believers have never been under the law, therefore are not subjected to the penalty of
the law. Believers are under Grace.
1. The Jews were under the law. The issue was Jews socializing with Gentiles
who were uncircumcised.
2. Circumcision was a sign of a covenant between God and Israel. It was the promise
of a land given to Abraham and his descendants. (Gen 17:11). Gentiles were not
included in this covenant.
3. There were some Jews who imposed part of the law on the Gentile Christians.
a. They thought it unlawful to socialize with the uncircumcised Gentiles.
B. Paul was dealing with leaders who were having trouble making the transition from
the law to Grace.
1. Peter, the leader of the church socialized with the Gentiles in Antioch until the
other leaders came to the city. Peter then separated himself from the Gentiles.
2. Paul made it known to Peter in front of the other leaders that his attitude of
separation was not in keeping with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. The problem with Peter and the other Jewish leaders was their
training. They had been taught to follow the letter of the Law.
a. It is difficult to let go of your training.
b. It is difficult to be different from those around you.
C. Paul identifies two sets of Christians:
1. "We who are Jews by nature" are those who were born and raised in the promise
land with a true Jewish heritage.
2. The "Sinners of the Gentiles" are the none Jewish Christians.
3. God is no respecter of our heritage, but a respecter of our faith in Jesus Christ.
4. In God's eyes all Christians are the same. No separation is acceptable.
V: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."
A. Justified= dikaioutai=to render innocent
1. We cannot work our way into heaven.
2. To enter heaven, we must first be rendered innocent of our sins.
a. Our innocent comes only through our faith in Christ Jesus.
b. When we believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Savor, we are immediately
made innocent of our sins.
c. No amount of service will render us innocent.
B. The Law is presented in the first five books of the Old Testament.
1. The Jews were given commands concerning every area of life. Some theologians
claim that there are 613 commands.
2. If you break one of the commands, you are guilty of the whole law. James 2:10
3. The Jews could not keep the Law, yet they wanted non Jews to keep the law.
4. The Law condemns, but does not save. Rom 4:13-15
5. The Law was given to make us aware of our sins. Rom 3:20.
V:17 . "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."
A. If we seek to be justified by Christ, we cannot seek justification by obedience to the
Law.
1. Obedience to the Law for justification would nullify faith which is in Christ.
2. Obedience to the Law for justification would make us the author of our own
salvation.
3. The law was not made for the righteous, but for the sinners. Philippians 3:9
4. If we seek Christ and the Law for justification, we make Christ the minister of
sin.
V:18. "For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor."
Transgressor=papabateen= what I am showing myself to be.
A. If I preach salvation through the Law having confessed faith in Christ, then I become
one who is against Christ.
1. If I show myself to believe that obedience to the Law merits salvation, then I am
against faith in Christ as a means to salvation.
2.The problem here is that acceptance into this new Jewish Christian Church by some
of the leaders, was to be based partially on the law, namely circumcism and then
faith in Christ.
a. Because the Gentiles were of a different race, the Jewish Christians wanted to add
some additional qualifications for salvation.
b. God is no respecter of race.
a. Salvation is through faith in Christ and Christ only.
V:19. "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God."
A. The law cannot save. The law was not given to save, but to show our sinfulness.
1. Man cannot keep the law.
2. Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the law with His death on the Cross.
Matt 5:17
B. Our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, therefore we have to be dead to any
thoughts of justification through obedience to the law. John 6:54
C. Two doctrines are indicated here:
1. Relationship.
a. Relationship is based on our faith in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
b. Belief in Christ is the only requirement for Eternal life. John 3:16
c. Eternal life is secure and can't be lost. Eph 4:30
d. Relationship secures our eternal life. 1Cor 15:22, 15:45
2. Fellowship.
a. "That I might live unto God"
b. Fellowship requires obedience to God's commands.
c. The Jewish system of sacrifices and purification ended when Christ offered
Himself as a perfect and final sacrifice for our sins. Heb 10:10-12
d. Fellowship establishes our quality of life.
e. We live for Christ because of our love for Christ.
f. The evidence of our love for Christ is our obedience to His commands.
John 14:15
G. The fruits of our salvation are obedience and works.
a. These cannot save, but they are the evidence of our love for Christ Jesus.
V:20. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me."
A. To live a life with Christ, we first must die to ourselves.
1. It is not about us and what we want, but the will of Christ who lives in us.
2. Christ redeemed us from a life of sin. We are therefore owned by Him.
3. We are new creations in Christ Jesus.
4. Christ lives in us through obedience to His Word. John 5:7
B. Two "truths" are indicated here;
1. Experiential Truth:
a. We are saved through Christ Jesus, yet we live in the flesh.
b. We are considered righteous before God because of our relationship with Jesus,
although sin is always present in our members.
c. Before God, any good that we do is not much more than filthy rags. Isa 64:6
2. Positional Truth
a. We are here in the flesh, but we are with Christ in the Throne room in heaven.
John 12:26, John 17:24
b. Before God our sins have been cast as far as the east is from the west. Ps 103:12
c. Before God in Christ Jesus we are cleansed from our sins and are as white as snow.
Isa 1:18.
C. As New Creations in Christ, we live by faith and not by sight. Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11
a. We do not have to know how things will turn out. We just need faith to know that
God will cause things to turn out for our good. Rom 8:28
V:21. "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain."
A. Frustrate=atheto= set aside, reject
1. Righteousness= dikaiosune= equity of character, justification
2. In vain= dorean=without cause
3. Grace= charis=favour
B. If we claim justification by our own works, we set aside the divine favor of God.
1. If we claim justification by works of law, we set aside the equity of character
God provides for us.
2. If we claim any part of the law, we set aside the Grace of God.
3. God has set us free from the law. What sense does it make to put ourselves back
under the law?
4. Because of the Grace of God, our salvation is secure.
5. Because of the Grace of God, we are not under the penalty of sin.
6. Because of the Grace of God, we are to extend Grace to others.
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