Part 2: We Died To the Law: 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. – Gal 2:19-20

We saw in the Part 1 of this blog that we died through the law. Now, we see that we died to the law.

But how? It’s time for some flash-back.

Not so-perfect marriage

Our relationship with the law was like a marriage; we were married to Mr. Law. He is perfect, without any blame, amazing. However, the problem is that we were not as perfect (Rom 3:19-20). We try, and then fail, try and fail, and can never keep up to the standards of Mr. Law. Every time we failed, Mr. Law would punish us severely. Mr. Law had made it very clear what his expectations from us were from the very beginning. It wasn’t like he was having a temper tantrum and swinging at us, but he was very calculated. It was ONLY when we erred that he did that, and when we did something great, Mr. Law, gave some gifts. But the problem was that more often than not, we failed, and were subjected to punishment.

The Bondage of the Law

How could one come out of it? Mr. Law would live forever (Matt 5:18). So there was only one way out of getting out of that marriage, and that was our death.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that through Christ we have died to the law.

While the law was once like a strict and unyielding marriage—perfect in expectation but impossible for us to uphold—we have now been set free. Our past relationship with “Mr. Law” was characterized by:

• Inescapable standards: No matter how hard we tried, our failures were met with punishment.
• Fear and condemnation: Every error reinforced our sense of inadequacy and kept us under constant fear.

Because “Mr. Law” lives forever, our only escape was through our death with Christ. In Christ, we are released from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor by perfect adherence to a set of rules.

Examples of Legalistic Practices in Church Life

Even today, some church environments inadvertently echo the old, binding relationship with the law. Here are several examples:

1. Strict Dress Codes
   • Enforcing specific attire (e.g., suits for men, dresses for women) as the primary sign of reverence, rather than emphasizing inner transformation.
2. Rigid Rules About Entertainment
   • Banning secular music, movies, or literature outright, leaving little room for personal discernment and context.
3. Excessive Focus on “Forbidden” Behaviors
   • Listing activities that “good Christians” must avoid (such as dancing or playing cards) and using this list as the ultimate measure of spiritual maturity.
4. Legalistic Tithing Practices
   • Insisting on an exact percentage (like 10%) as a requirement for salvation or divine favor, ignoring the biblical principle of cheerful, generous giving.
5. Judging Personal Holiness by Outward Observances
   • Valuing spiritual worth based solely on church attendance or the duration of personal devotions, rather than on genuine heart transformation.
6. Fear-Based Compliance
   • Using guilt or threats of losing salvation (“If you don’t do X, God won’t love you”) to enforce guidelines instead of encouraging a loving, graceful walk with God.
7. Elevating Cultural Preferences to “Divine Law”
   • Treating denominational traditions—such as a specific worship style or Bible version—as the only true path to holiness.

Read more in Traditions disguised as holiness: A demonic attack on the Church

Distinguishing Spiritual Disciplines from Legalism

What about disciplines? Is Paul saying that people should not have any system of discipline. No! that’s not what he is saying. While disciplines are designed as tools for personal growth, legalism focuses on strict rule-following as a measure of worth. Here are key points to help distinguish one from the other:

The simplest way to determine whether your practices are discipline or legalism is to ask yourself:
“Am I doing this out of love, or out of fear of falling short?“

If it is not out of love, you were living under the law. It’s time to come out of it!

Conclusion

We are redeemed from the law—not to replace it with our own man-made rules, but to live by the Spirit. This means trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk with God rather than being confined by rigid, external mandates. As you evaluate your own practices, remember that true spiritual growth comes from a relationship based on love and grace, not on the fear of falling short.