GROUP GUIDE: Galatians 2:15-21

One day, we will all stand before God, and on that day, God will declare us righteous or guilty. The question that arises is: How can I be declared righteous? Verses 15-21 of chapter 2 of Galatians answer this question. Now it is important to know what justification is. Justification is an act of God by which He declares the sinner righteous. Justification has to do with God's declaration about the sinner, not with any change within him. That is, justification, in itself, does not make anyone holy; it simply declares that he is not guilty before God. We are His children, and there is nothing that can separate us from God's love. It is only through the gospel, through Jesus, that we can be declared righteous. In this passage, Paul reminds Peter of the gospel, the good news of Christ Jesus. This passage shows us three things:

The problem:

The first verses show us what the problem is. The problem was trying to achieve justification through works of the law. That is, trying to be right with God through our own efforts, and what Paul reminds them is that neither Jew nor Gentile can be declared righteous by their own efforts. Paul reminds them how futile it is to try to "earn" justification through works of the law. He reminds them of the reality that no one, no matter how hard they try, can fulfill God's law.

You know, you and I are not exempt from the problem that was happening in Galatians. How often do we forget the gospel and try, in a way, to "earn" our justification through our own efforts, through doing good things, and we fail? No one can be declared righteous through their own efforts.

The Solution

We not only see the problem but also the solution. The solution is that we can be declared righteous, but it is through our faith in Christ Jesus. It is through faith in Christ that we can live for God. It is through Christ Jesus that God declares us as his own. Romans 3:21-26 says the following: 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God's merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Justification is by faith in Christ Jesus and not by works.

The Result

This passage also presents us with the result. Verse 20 says: I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The result is a life transformed by Christ. It is in Christ that we can live for God. We are not only declared righteous, but it is in Christ Jesus that our lives are transformed.

Let us be careful not to nullify God's grace by trying to obtain through our own efforts what is only possible through our faith in Christ Jesus. We are declared righteous only through our faith in Christ Jesus.