Galatians the freedom Letter 2:12-21

11) Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12) for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

13) And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14) But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

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 faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

17) “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18) “For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19) “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.

20) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21) “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

14) But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

15) “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, This is a very proud statement and shows how the Jews viewed themselves. They had good reason to take this view though, due to the endless wickedness of every kind, among the Gentiles.

Do we not see this in Romans? “But of course the Jews were sinners in a different way. Their way of sin was more hidden. They could be callous, judgmental, racist. They despised gentiles. But they felt they were ‘respectable’. The truth is, there are two kinds of sinner: the scandalous sinner and the respectable sinner.”(Michael Eaton; Galatians p.55) Do we not see this in Romans?

Rom 2 1) Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2) But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

3) And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

16) “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Let’s see what Paul says and doesn’t say here.

He does not say, ‘You are justified by the important parts of the law, but you are not justified by the Jewish parts.’ He does not start making distinctions within the law and say, ‘You are justified by that part, but not by this part.’

He does not say, ‘You are justified by the ten commandments, but you are not justified by the less important regulations.’ It is true that the issue in Galatia focused mainly on circumcision, but when Paul contradicts the false teaching he does so by widening the issue and dealing more generally with the way of salvation.

His positive statement does not mention the law His positive statement does not mention the law. He says, ‘A person is justified by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.’ That is all! He does not say, ‘By the faithfulness of Christ, plus the ten commandments.’

He says we have believed in Jesus Christ, in order to be justified by the faithfulness of Christ, and not by the works of the law.’ He does not say, ‘ . . . and only by a few of the works of the law.’

he says, ‘No one at all – Jewish law- keepers or anyone else – will be justified by the works of the law.’ Surely it is clear that no one is justified by any part of the Mosaic law at all! Not even by the ten commandments. Michael Eaton Preaching Through the Bible: Galatians P. 55-57

Romans 2:12) For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13) (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

Galatians 3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 1 Corinthians 15:56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

Galatians 3:19) What purpose then does the law serve Galatians 3:19) What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come… 21) Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23) But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24) Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25) But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Galatians 3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 2 Corinthians 3:5) but our sufficiency is from God,

6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7) But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious,…

8) how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious 8) how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9) For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 11) For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

13) …the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14) But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

15) But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16) Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 18) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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