Bible Studies
Galatians 2:15-21 – Christ’s Death in Vain?
Background:
The early Christian churches of Galatia, a region in Asia Minor including Turkey, were struggling with issues of faith. They were beginning to fall back again on Jewish laws and traditions as prerequisites to their faith. Paul writes this letter accusing Peter of hypocrisy. At one time, Paul states, Peter would eat at an integrated table of Gentiles and Jews. However, under the influence of legalists sent from Jerusalem by James, Peter had returned to the practice of Jewish laws that required circumcision and kosher foods in order to participate in the Christian Gospel. Peter’s decision to do this was causing uncertainty among Christian Gentiles and was creating a crisis of leadership within the early church.
Key Verses: (NCV)
- 15-16: “We were not born as non-Jewish “sinners,” but as Jews. 16Yet we know that a person is made right with God not by following the law, but by trusting in Jesus Christ.” – Paul reminds his readers of their attempts to live Holy lives through following certain religious practices. This pathway had always led to failure.
- 19: “It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.” – Failure to live up to the law and the resulting sin meant death and separation from God. Setting the law aside as a means to earning salvation turns our focus outwardly towards God and towards the building of His kingdom.
- 20: “I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore – it is Christ who lives in me.” – Christ’s death on the cross erased our burden of sin – it died that day on Golgotha. In its place, Christ lives within us putting us right with God and onto a pathway towards holiness.
- 21: “By saying these things I am not going against God’s grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ’s death would be useless.” – Why would Jesus have to die if it simply meant life would go on as before? He died for a reason and that reason is changed lives made right with God.
- Are you still trying to earn salvation?
Promises of the Gospel:
The early church struggled with the importance of traditions and ceremony. Leading a holy live had always meant following certain steps, procedures, or rites. It was difficult to accept that nothing had to be done to earn God’s love. Today, in many ways, we still struggle with this issue. On a personal level, we seem driven to prove we are Christians through the myriad of works we involve our selves in. We assume that busyness must equal salvation but then we find ourselves worn out, separated and alone. At a church level we debate and argue over traditions and ceremony. We feel that there are specific ways to worship God, certain steps we must go through to grow in His love, and certain life styles that are acceptable to Him. We build walls that separate us from those with whom we disagree and we close doors to those who are unacceptable. Paul says to let those walls fall down and open our hearts to the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ. For if we do not then His death was for nothing.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1228 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Gary Sims or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1228 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.