Studies in Galatians Part 3
Galatians 2:15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life 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 nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
1. What differentiates Jews from Gentiles apart from ethnicity? (hint: think of what was said in ch. 1)
2. Justification in simple terms means to be accepted by God. What would you say is the popular belief today about how people are justified?
3. How can Paul be so confident that no one will be justified by works of the law?
The next section (v.17-21) can be tricky to understand. Paul is responding to criticism of justification by faith. The argument goes: if people are justified by faith without works, it will create a situation where people are free to sin. In other words, if bad people can be accepted through faith, why bother being good? Instead of producing genuine faith, Jesus now incites people to sin, hence the question “is Christ a servant of sin” (v.17). Paul’s answer is a resounding no. If a Christian sins, it is his own fault (v.18).
4. How does the fact that Christians still sin make you feel about your own faith?
5. Starting in v.19, Paul describes his experience of living as a Christian. In what way do you identify with his experience?
6. Have you ever felt like being a Christian is killing you? How can Paul say he’s been crucified with Christ when he wasn’t?
7. According to v.21, why did Christ have to die?
8. How would you complete the following sentences?
a. A Christian is someone who…
b. Being a Christian is…
c. When I sin, I…