2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ga 2:16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Is there anything in life that is worth dying for? Are there any issues you face that are worth “falling on the sword for”? At times we may find ourselves in an argument with someone and later realize that it was a futile debate rooted in selfishness. Maybe even in the heat of the argument you moved so far off course that you forgot what you were even arguing over in the first place. That was not the case in the argument between Peter and Paul. Galatians 2:16 cuts to the heart of the Gospel and how a person comes to faith in Christ. The issue of salvation through faith and not works will be reinforced throuhout much of Galatians, and here Paul establishes a summary position, or a thesis statement of sorts.
In his thesis statment Paul marks the fundamental difference between Judaism and Christianity. Judaism is marked by the observance of the law in order to have right standing with God. On the contrary, Christianity if marked as the gift of salvation being freely offered through Jesus Christ alone.
George paraphrased 2:15-16 by saying, “Forget the Gentile sinners. We know they are outside the covenant and hopeless before God. But even we Jews who could claim all the privileges of the chosen people, even we had to realize that no one could be justified by observing the law. We too, no less than the Gentiles, have been accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ.” George, T. (1994). Vol. 30: Galatians. The New American Commentary (189–190). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Paul’s position is stressing justification, which in its simplest definition means, “to declare that someone is right”. This is a forensic, or law, term that declares someone as righteous based upon the evidence and the verdict of a Judge. In our salvation, God is the Judge who has given us the verdict of righteous, based upon the evidence of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the atoning sacrifice for our sin.
Simply, what Paul is stressing is that our salvation is not up to us; but is entirely up to God. There is nothing we have done to earn our position with God, yet it is the grace and mercy of God that imputes righteousness upon us. It is our faith and belief in Christ, that justifies us. This fundamental fact of salvation by faith is resounded throughout the New Testament. Ephesians 2:8-9 is the classic verse emphasizing that salvation is a gift of God.
As our culture today becomes more open to spiritual conversation, it is important that we sieze that opportunity to engage in discussion and maximize our efforts to share the Gospel. Even those conversations require respect toward other thoughts, we can never compromise the truth. Keep in mind there are some things worth dying for and there are some issues worth falling on the sword over. Clearly and unapologetically, the message of the Gospel falls into that category.
very good