Galatians - "Justification by Law or Christ?" - Galatians 2:15-21 - Tim Nay

Justification by Law or Christ?

Galatians 2:15-21
Tim Nay

Part of Galatians

September 28, 2025

11 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.” —Galatians 2:11-12 

14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” —Galatians 2:14 

JUSTIFICATION = to declare righteous 

JUST - [as] - IF - I’D - [never sinned] 

15 “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 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.” —Galatians 2:15-16 

It is IMPOSSIBLE to be JUSTIFIED by the Law. 

19 “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” —Romans 3:19-20 

The Law condemns both Jews and Gentiles. 

 —Romans 3:21-24 

A person believing they are saved by works…

• Cannot rest 
• Needs others approval and validation 
• Wonders if they have done enough 
• Wonders if they are enough 
• Never sure of their salvation 
• Has fear of others 
• Fears their faults will be found out 
• Judges others by outward appearance 
• Continually carries guilt and shame 
• Lacks fellowship with other people 
• Disputes and divides over non-essentials

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! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.” —Galatians 2:17-19 

We were not justified by Christ to return to justification by works. 

6 “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” —Romans 11:6 

G - God’s 
R - Riches 
A - At 
C - Christ’s 
E - Expense 

8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” —Ephesians 2:8-10 

TAKEAWAY: 
I no longer live, but Christ in me.