Galatians 2:18-21 (WEL) “For if I rebuild the things that I tore down, then I establish myself as a lawbreaker. 19 “For through the law I am dead so that I might live for God. 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live. Yet it is not I but Christ living in me, and the life I am now living in the flesh, I live in faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 “I am not going to make the grace of God ineffective. For if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ died for no reason.”
V18 “For if I rebuild the things that I tore down, then I establish myself as a lawbreaker.
Paul stopped looking for salvation from God’s wrath through keeping Mosaic Law. He now believes that salvation is only through Jesus Christ through faith in Him. If Paul stopped teaching that and began teaching Mosaic Law again, then that law would conclude that Paul is a sinner in need of salvation (conviction instead of justification).
Things torn down refers to salvation by keeping Mosaic Law. If Paul would again begin to believe and live by the Mosaic Law, then he is a lawbreaker. The law exposes sins and doesn’t atone for God’s forgiveness. The law only provides for a covering of sin to restore fellowship with the Nation of Israel and God.
V19 “For through the law I am dead so that I might live for God.
Paul states he is dead to the Law, that is, he does not and cannot earn salvation through it. By rejecting salvation (from God’s wrath) by means of obedience to the Mosaic Law, he embraces salvation through his faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Warren W. Wiersbe:
“If a man is justified by the works of the Law, then why did Jesus Christ die? His death, burial, and resurrection are the key truths of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). We are saved by faith in Christ (He died for us), and we live by faith in Christ (He lives in us). Furthermore, we are so identified with Christ by the Spirit that we died with Him (see Romans 6:1-23). This means that we are dead to the Law. To go back to Moses is to return to the graveyard! We have been “raised to walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4); and since we live by His resurrection power, we do not need the “help” of the Law.”
V20 “I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live. Yet it is not I but Christ living in me, and the life I am now living in the flesh, I live in faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Even though I was not on the cross with the Lord Jesus, my sins were laid on Him (Isaiah 53:6, Hebrews 9:28, and 1 Peter 2:24). Being laid on the substitute sacrifice is an Old Testament practice (Leviticus 1:4 and Leviticus 16:21).
My life died to the old ways and now lives in and according to the new ways that the Lord Jesus wants us to do. Faith is believing what God says in the Bible. Paul’s faith for salvation, forgiveness of sins, and living in the Kingdom of God is given to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12).
Love motivated God to seek the lost, die for the lost, and live (resurrection) for the lost if they but believe in Him.
Jesus was a volunteer. When asked by the Father to go, Jesus volunteered (Psalm 40:6-8).
V21 “I am not going to make the grace of God ineffective. For if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ died for no reason.”
If faith is God’s requirement and way of salvation, there is no reason to go back to a former one which cannot bring salvation.
If a person could obey the Mosaic Law perfectly in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, thus never sinning, then that person would live on earth forever. All die, however, proving that all are sinners (Romans 6:23).
We learn:
- The Mosaic Law cannot bring salvation; thus, works cannot bring salvation.
- The Lord Jesus came as the Passover Lamb, died, resurrected, and brought salvation possible for all humanity and guaranteed it forever.
Questions:
- Are you doing works to earn your salvation?
- Are you doing faith plus works to earn salvation?