Faith that Works: Paul Defends Himself in Galatians 2

Galatians 2

We’ve skipped some of my favorite parts of Romans, but covered quite a lot of the book, all in search of the answer to: If we’re saved by faith, why bother to obey?

We now turn to Paul’s direct answer to that question in Galatians 2, but with a deeper, richer understanding of Paul’s theology to help us understand.

(Gal 2:17 ESV) 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!

Yes, Jesus saves sinners — who remain sinners. We don’t stop sinning just because we’re saved. Does that mean Jesus serves sin? Does he condone or encourage sin? “Certainly not!”

But does Paul’s theology lead to that interpretation for those with a shallow or weak understanding? Of course. Obviously. But remember from Romans 3 that he calls those who make that accusation slanderers and justly condemned. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be in that number! I want to understand why Paul is right, not challenge him.

(Gal 2:18 ESV)  18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.

First defense: If a supposed Christian rebuilds his fleshly mind and worldly worldview, if he rejects the work of the Spirit and refuses to be conformed to the image of Jesus, he proves himself to be a transgressor — that is, he is damned (Compare Heb. 6:4-6).

Paul uses “transgressor” in —

(Rom 2:25-27 ESV) 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.  26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?  27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.

— to make the same point. Being a transgressor leads to damnation. And that’s a pretty good reason to follow the Spirit and become a living sacrifice.

But, of course, there’s a whole lot of gray between between becoming a living sacrifice and becoming a transgressor! And there are Christians all along a continuous line between the two. Why not inch really close to the transgressor line and not cross over? Why bother to really commit when a lukewarm commitment just might work?

Paul responds,

(Gal 2:19 ESV) 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

This is one dense verse! But let’s start at the end. He is clearly referring to his choice to become a Christian, which he made to “live to God.” In other words, he chose Christianity for a reason — to live for God. Therefore, why would he not still want to live for God now that God has accepted him?

But for many modern evangelicals — and members of the Churches of Christ — well, we didn’t really have this experience. We were baptized but we did so, not to live for God, but to escape hell. We were taught an incomplete, deficient gospel — so that our motivation was self-serving, not to serve Jesus. And that’s a serious problem.

Of course, it’s still true that a Christian who becomes a transgressor can become damned — can fall away — but obviously the real motivation that should matter is a desire to be a servant — even a son! — of God.

Why say that through the law he died to the law? In light of chapter 3, which is all about Abraham, I have to figure that “through the law” means “by means of the Abrahamic covenant found in the Torah” (remember: “law” = Torah, which may refer to the Law of Moses or may refer to Genesis – Deuteronomy. Abraham is part of Torah.)

“Died to the law” surely refers to dying in Jesus to be freed from the requirements of the law.

(Gal 2:20 NET) I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

But this death Christians experience at baptism is more than dying to the requirements of the Law of Moses! It’s being crucified with Christ to be resurrected with Christ living within us!

Now, we know from Romans (and Paul explains in Galatians 5) that “Christ lives in me” via the Spirit. It’s not just that I read the Bible and obey it. It’s God transforming my heart by the Spirit.

Therefore, I now live a life steeped in gratitude for the faithfulness of Jesus, for his love, and for his sacrifice for me. But this is not mere human gratitude, it’s gratitude empowered by the Spirit.

(Gal 2:21 ESV) I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Paul says that if he were to live a sinful live, he would “nullify the grace of God.” That is, God’s very purpose in giving him grace is so that he’ll live a transformed life as a bearer of the very image of Christ. Indeed, that’s why Jesus died!

Jesus died not merely to save us but also to change us so that Christ would live in us, that is, so that we’d live as Jesus lived, empowered by the Spirit.

Thus, to refuse to obey — to sin in reliance on grace — is to stand opposed to God’s cosmic purposes, to defeat the very death of Jesus! Oh … wow … !!

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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31 Responses to Faith that Works: Paul Defends Himself in Galatians 2

  1. Jerry says:

    Dying to law in order to live for God! What a novel idea. How did Christendom ever lose this concept? Maybe we lost it because we never wanted to “die to law.” We have been taught – maybe we instinctively believe – that law will control us and keep us free from sin. Hasn’t worked at any time since the Garden of Eden!

    This is similar to

    How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14, ESV)

    Jesus did not die just to forgive us – but that we might serve the living God.

  2. Price says:

    It seems to my simple mind that there once once a time when God had to do it all (O.T.)…and He preferred that we be involved. So He gave us His Spirit so that we could sync our will with His…Even if we could, why would we want to do anything on our own? To prove that we don’t need Him? How absurd is that?

    Jay, I thought it was interesting that you chose to remark about living to close to the edge.. the edge that most people would imagine would be the one of sin… But, what about the edge of the Law of Perfection. Don’t we sometimes come too close to acting like we don’t need Grace at all ?

  3. Skip says:

    The ultimate goal in many Churches of Christ is baptism (Get the teens baptized. Get denominational people baptized. Show everyone how they don’t understand baptism. Count the baptisms….) Once that is achieved members put their spiritual life on cruise control and just debate doctrine for the remainder of their Christian life. However, baptism is not the ultimate goal for every person – it is the beginning of a spiritual journey. Baptism is when we begin working on loving the Lord, growing, serving, loving others, and becoming like Jesus. This quest never ends until we die. I have met many self-satisfied CoC members who got baptized many, many years ago and they now simply show up for services, fill a pew, and go home fully confident that they have completely pleased the Lord by their mere attendance.

  4. laymond says:

    Skip, said “I have met many self-satisfied CoC members who got baptized many, many years ago and they now simply show up for services, fill a pew, and go home fully confident that they have completely pleased the Lord by their mere attendance.”
    ‘Skip, I would be interested to know how You, Price, Jerry and Jay do this differently than others do. give us a list of what you do every day, so we to can be as good a Christian as you. I believe you all are members of the “saved by faith club” what do you have faith in, that others will do the work. or can you give us a list, how about a list that Paul did every day. Or was “mere attendance.” enough for Paul. It has been said “talk is cheap” actions is what shows faith.

  5. Price says:

    Laymond, your approach to Christianity reminds me of the Pharisee’s approach…They kept asking Jesus about the rules and He kept responding with the principles… You need to stop worrying about a list of do’s and don’ts and listen to the voice of God speaking to Laymond..

    I think I’m beginning to see what Alexander and Jay have been thinking regarding Romans 2…We are convicted in our conscience about what God would have us to do because He put Himself in us in order for Him to tell us what we should do…individually… It’s the Holy Spirit and me….working in me….convicting me….because He loves me…It’s no longer a series of laws and rules…it’s a relationship…

    P.S. You need to learn to pay attention if you’re going to attempt a backhanded comment…at least towards me…I don’t believe Faith saves…Grace saves…

  6. skip says:

    Laymond, so you want to compare our lists with your list. Sounds like legalism to me. I have goals but I don’t have a daily check list. I am motivated by love not lists.

  7. laymond says:

    Price, I must apologize, I thought “faith” was your brand, but If grace alone is the way, then none should worry.

    2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  8. laymond says:

    Skip our lives consist of a right and wrong list, I hope my list is checked right , instead of wrong. even worse is to leave it blank.

  9. Ray Downen says:

    Are Christians to rely on the Spirit somehow enabling them to live for Jesus? Peter says WE are to add to our faith. Should he not have said we are to rely on the Spirit to add to our faith? That’s if indeed it’s up to the Spirit to cause us to live for Jesus. Did I only imagine that the Spirit was given to HELP us instead of force us?

  10. Jay Guin says:

    Ray,

    I’m not aware of anyone arguing that the Spirit forces us to obey. Indeed, the scriptures are clear that we can resist, grieve, and even quench the Spirit.

    (1Th 5:19 NIV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

    “Quench” is used in the sense of quenching a fire, rather than quenching a thirst — the difference being that a fire does not come back by itself once quenched.

  11. Jay Guin says:

    Price,

    I was speaking of the line between true perfection — the image of Christ — and transgression/rebellion. From that perspective, we should strive toward perfection, of course.

    But there is more than one way to leave perfection. One is by willfully sinning — rebelling. Another is by doing the right things out of arrogance. As Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount, if you obey to win the praise of men, that’s the only reward you get.

    Or to put it another way, in the absence of an understanding of grace, we will either be beat down and feel inadequate, unsaved, and hopeless — or we’ll convince ourselves that we’re really good enough and really deserve heaven. You find both kinds in church all the time. And it’s the arrogant ones who are in the greatest jeopardy for their souls.

  12. skip says:

    Laymond, your life may be composed of right and wrong lists. However, I like Paul am the worst of sinners and I am grateful to be clothed with Christ. I am forgiven by the blood of Christ, not because I did 10 things wrong today but 11things right.

  13. Alabama John says:

    Skip,

    This used to be a great and popular debate.
    Whether you are baptized or not is far more reaching than most realize.

    You see, if you are not baptized, when you sin as we all do, you cannot pray for forgiveness and receive it so your sins cannot be forgiven.

    When you are baptized and so added to the Church, if you do the same sin, you have the privilege of asking forgiveness by prayer and being forgiven right then.

    That is why so much emphasis and urgency is placed on being baptized. Without it, it is taught no matter the circumstances, you cannot get forgiven, saved, and are lost for sure. Once a person or child is baptized, you can be more comfortable knowing in a wreck or any catastrophe, in their last breath they can ask for and get forgiveness and die and go to heaven.

    This is very comforting.

  14. laymond says:

    I got some news for you Skip, Paul was speaking of past sins, sins he had repented of.

  15. skip says:

    Laymond, got news for you, Paul said I am the worst not I was the worst.

  16. laymond says:

    Skip, Paul not only claims to be free from sin, but he claims he is an example for us to be freed from sin. yes we are all sinners, but we are to be repentant sinners, or ex-sinners.
    Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
    Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

    NIV 1Jo 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
    1Jo 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

    I don’t know what put the idea in some that they can continue sinning and yet remain in Christ, it is not possible.

  17. Price says:

    Laymond…are you suggesting that only the perfect are in Christ? Surely not.

  18. laymond says:

    Price, I am not suggesting anything, just pointing to what one of the apostles said “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”
    Answer the question Paul asked, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ”
    Yes I believe those who intentionally live their lives in sin, after being baptized are lost.
    Hbr 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

    One might get by by playing ignorant, but I really doubt it.
    Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

  19. skip says:

    Laymond, you said above that Paul is sinless. Are you serious? Paul arrived at total perfection? Only Jesus was without sin. Not even churches of Christ teach this. Maybe you just say extreme things for shock value.

  20. Larry Cheek says:

    Laymond, are you stating that since you became a Christian, that you stopped sinning? This appears to be the message that I am receiving from your communications. As you state, “I don’t know what put the idea in some that they can continue sinning and yet remain in Christ, it is not possible.” I hope that you are not attempting to state that through your own abilities you do not sin, but I could agree with your statements if you are applying the following messages to conclude that you have no sin.
    (Rom 4:8 NIV) Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
    (Rom 6:12 NIV) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
    (1 John 3:9 NIV) No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
    (1 John 5:18 NIV) We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.
    But, as has been mentioned Paul admitted that he (at the present time was a sinner) and he should have fully understood these verses. So how do you reconcile the messages from Paul, in light of your statements.

  21. laymond says:

    Skip, said; “Not even churches of Christ teach this.” I wasn’t quoting “the church of Christ” I was quoting the bible. If you don’t believe the scripture I quoted, “word for word” why do you believe any of the bible. Explain the scripture I quoted, and I will listen to you more carefully.

  22. laymond says:

    Larry, do you mean to say you can go right on living your sinful life, it just won’t be sin anymore. Do you believe that Jesus got rid of all sin, there is no more sin. is that what you believe, sounds like it to me.

  23. laymond says:

    Jesus washed us clean once, but if you return to the hog wallow, don’t expect him to die for you again. he won’t.

  24. laymond says:

    2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

    2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

    2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

    2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  25. Larry Cheek says:

    Laymond, I notice that you do the typical rearrangement of my statement in order to indicate that I believe something that cannot be construed in my text, I believe this method could be called building a straw man so it can blown away.
    You can be assured that I do not believe that you can just go on sinning after being forgiven and expect to be saved. My communication was comparing your statements to the scriptures that I supplied. Now, I find that I must address this scripture to the concept that you have given. You do see that the communication here is to Christians that are just like us, don’t you. I believe that it is through God’s Grace, our repentance , our desire to follow his word that he continues to cleanse us, but if we deny that we sin, which is what I understood you to be saying. Please, correct my understanding if you see that I misunderstood. How do we reconcile ourselves with the following scripture if we claim not to sin?
    (1 John 1:7 KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
    (1 John 1:8 KJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
    (1 John 1:9 KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    (1 John 1:10 KJV) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

  26. Alan says:

    But for many modern evangelicals — and members of the Churches of Christ — well, we didn’t really have this experience. We were baptized but we did so, not to live for God, but to escape hell. We were taught an incomplete, deficient gospel — so that our motivation was self-serving, not to serve Jesus. And that’s a serious problem.

    Great point. Yes, that’s a serious problem. Jesus insisted (Luke 14:28) that a person must count the cost before committing to Jesus as Lord. It’s not enough to start the building– we have to carry it on to completion. There is a cross to bear; a yoke to wear. Salvation is not all about believing the right things and getting dunked. It’s about the old person dying and a new one being born, one that lives to serve God.

  27. Price says:

    Laymond, willfully continuing in sin is far cry from the imperfect lives we all lead… But, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has benefited from a merciful God that allowed me to work through my rebellion without casting me out of the family.. I’m reminded of Jesus’ words, “let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

  28. laymond says:

    Larry, let’s look at the first two verses you quoted,

    “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
    Now the second pair, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

    John is giving a solution to a problem, before he gives us the problem.
    Let’s look at it problem first. and then the solution.
    (If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.)

    second pair, (If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,)

    Why it was written the way it was, I do not know, I can only guess.

  29. “Skip our lives consist of a right and wrong list…”
    >>>
    Not mine. Mine is much richer than that.

  30. Skip says:

    Charles, Thank you. My life also is filled with many deep and loving relationships. Great times in the Word. Great prayers. Great times encouraging and bonding with others. I can’t imagine defining my Christian walk with right and wrong lists like the Pharisees had.

  31. I rear my children. I lead them, teach them– largely by example– and help them to learn to do what I believe they should do. While they are indeed the central participant in their own growth, they do not lead. I also discipline my children; I choose the actions they are to take. If that is “forcing” them to walk in a certain path, then so be it. That is what a parent does. I know as a boy I felt my dad was often exerting his own will over me and enforcing that will with chastisement. These days, I find that I have been inculcated with most all his values, and I have not been to that particular woodshed in many years. I think our lives as Christians somewhat parallel this process, but we are too proud to admit it. We resist taking on the form of small children born to a great father. Rather, we see ourselves as strong and able volunteers who sign up for a cause, able to read the map and carry our own weight and discern our own path, and needing but a little indirect guidance now and then to accomplish everything set out for us to do.

    “Unless you become as little children” is hard to embrace because we are SO proud and SO enamored of our own capacities. I fear that our basic theology is that of us making all the choices, us making all the decisions, us making all the progress, with divine Dad pretty much limited to cheering us (or booing us) from somewhere way up in the nose-bleed section. Such a view of the Christian life has God speaking the prologue in the misty past, Jesus appearing briefly in the second act, after which the main characters take over the action and accomplish the intentions of God in the earth– with the occasional line being tossed to us in a stage whisper by the Holy Spirit.

    I am beginning to think we should not introduce people to the gospel by pointing them to John … but rather, to Job.

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