Part 1: We Died Through the Law: Gal 2:19-20

Let’s continue our study on Galatians and read Gal 2:19-20

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.”
— Galatians 2:20

What a profound statement! In these verses, Paul explains that by being united with Christ in His crucifixion, our old way of living—bound by the strict demands of the Law—has come to an end. Instead, Christ lives in us, and we now live by faith in Him, the Son of God who loved us enough to give Himself up for our sins. There is so much to unpack here, so we will do these part by part.

Dying Through the Law

First it says “For through the Law, I died to the Law”. Wait. The law killed us? How?

Through Jesus’s death.

Galatians 4:4 reminds us that Jesus was born under the Law, meaning that He lived His earthly life subject to its rules and regulations. The Law, as stated in Romans 6:23, demands death for sin. When Jesus took on our sins, He bore the full penalty that the Law required. In doing so, He died. As believers, we ARE ONE with Him, and hence  and we were part of that crucifixion, death and resurrection. So, when Christ died, we died with Him.

What was the point of OUR death?

Quite significant in fact.

Before coming to faith in Christ, we were “married to the Law,” as Paul explains in Romans 7:1-4. That didn’t go really well, as God said “There is NO ONE righteous”, we were failing, all of us. By dying with Christ, we died to the Law and are no longer under its condemning power. Praise God!

This was the purpose of the law all along. The Law was never given as a means to attain righteousness through our own efforts.

All who are weary come here!

This was Jesus’s message. He did not come to reinforce a legalistic adherence to the Law. On the contrary, His mission was to demonstrate that no one can perfectly keep it. Notice how he ministered, Jesus welcomed sinners with open arms. He was, however, quick to challenge the Pharisees—who, though earnest in their efforts, relied on the Law for their righteousness—were trying.

Consider the encounter with the rich young ruler. Jesus pointed out what the young man lacked, urging him to understand that self-righteous adherence to the Law is insufficient. Instead, Jesus offers a radical alternative: believe in Him, abide in His grace, and experience a spiritual crucifixion with Him that frees you from the Law. This is the heart of the gospel message—freedom to live by grace and the Spirit rather than by the impossible standards of the Law.

Conclusion

Understanding that we cannot keep the Law on our own is essential to embracing the grace and freedom that Christ offers. Our identification with His death and resurrection is not just a historical fact—it is the foundation for a new life defined by faith rather than by works.