Not Justified by the Law: Gal 2:16

In our previous post, we defined what justification is. Now, let’s continue into Gal 2:16.

“We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Paul dives into a couple of key points: first, we’re not justified by the Law, and second, we’re justified only through faith in Jesus Christ.

1. We Are Not Justified by the Law

Paul makes it clear in Romans 3:20 that “through the law comes the knowledge of sin.” No matter how hard we try to keep every rule, the law just can’t make us right with God.

If you try to live by the law after being born again, you end up back in the yoke of slavery. For instance, Galatians 5:1 tells us, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Then in Galatians 5:4, Paul warns, “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” And in Galatians 2:21, he drives the point home: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” He further explains in Galatians 3:10–13 that relying on the works of the law puts us under a curse, while true freedom comes from living by faith.

Are you following the law in some form?

Moral Laws

Now, you might think, “But I’m not really following any law!” But you may be shocked that you are. Many people argue that the Law can be split into moral and ceremonial laws—with the ceremonial laws no longer in effect after Jesus’ resurrection, but the moral law still binding (see The Gospel Coalition on the Continuity of the Moral Law). However, the Bible doesn’t really make that distinction. Both moral and ceremonial is Law, so if you’re trying to keep the moral law, you’re still trying to earn your righteousness. I’ve talked more about this in my posts “Do Christians Have to Keep the Law?”.

Traditions

For many churches, they go by traditions. They will not “allow” anyone to take part in the communion unless they remove the jewellery. Men should be clean shaven. Every congregant should only wear white. If you don’t do that, you are unholy. Often people who come from these type of denominations, because of their legalistic upbringing find it hard to accept the freedom and grace in Christ Jesus, and get offended in churches that practice freedom. They often brag about the number of hours they prayed, how long they clapped their hands in worship (typical in India when people speak in tongues). They don’t realize that they have erred like the Pharisees and have created a system of legalism.

Now that you are born again, you should keep the law.

Some say that before we’re born again we can’t keep the law, but after we’re born again, we should be able to do so. Others even argue that while we were justified by faith at salvation, if we don’t “live right” afterward, then we lose that justification. Paul answers this in Galatians 3:2–5 when he asks, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Essentially, once you’ve started in the Spirit and been justified by faith, you continue by faith. Read more here.

2. We Are Justified Only Through Faith in Jesus Christ

This was a huge sticking point for the Judaizers. They’d been trying to keep the law for years, only to find out that Paul was teaching that not only that it doesn’t help in righteousness—and now justification is available freely by faith in Christ Jesus, even to the Gentiles! But the truth can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow my friend.

When you have faith in Christ, you’re admitting that you’re not perfect, that you can’t earn your way to righteousness, and that you need to surrender everything to Him. Instead of chasing after rule-based righteousness, you get to live in the freedom of Christ. The law might try to lock you up, but grace through faith transforms you from the inside out. And that’s how we are justified. Read this passage, and see this message being preached by Jesus.

⁹ Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be ^[a]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

In short, Jesus and Paul’s message is clear: trying to earn your righteousness through the law only brings you back into bondage, while true freedom and justification come solely through faith in Jesus Christ.