Faith- Christ Living In Me

10-21- ‘01 FAITH- CHRIST LIVING IN ME

A. Armstrong

Galatians 2:20

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

In this portion of scripture, Paul is relating an experience he had with Peter and some other Jews.

He said in verse 12 that Peter had gone down to Antioch and was fellowshipping with the Gentiles. He ate his meals with them, etc.

But James sent certain men down to Antioch [who were Jews], and when they arrived, Peter separated himself from the Gentiles.

He did this because he feared those that were of the circumcision. The other Jews that were with Peter followed his example and separated themselves also. It was so bad, that even Paul’s companion in ministry, Barnabas, did the same.

So Paul withstood Peter to the face.

[Although Paul does not tell us Peter’s reaction to this confrontation, we do know that when they were in Jerusalem, debating concerning the Gentiles following certain works of the law, that Peter stood with Paul.]

Galatians 2:14-16

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

V14- If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews…

Peter knew that he was justified by faith, and not by doing the works of the law. He knew that he was saved by the same faith as the Gentiles. He lived after the manner of the Gentiles- that is justified by faith in Christ, not by the works of the law.

So Paul’s question was, ‘Why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?’

By his act of separation according to the OT law, he was in essence saying to the Gentiles that serving Christ by faith alone without becoming a Jew by works was not enough.

It was the same as to call them unclean. And God had already said...

Acts 10:15

...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

And it was the same as to say to them, ’the blood of Jesus isn’t enough to save you.’

Paul felt compelled to withstand this double-standard.

It was dangerous to the gospel.

1st - It was hypocritical. He said one thing (Galatians 2:9) but lived something else (Galatians 2:11-12).

2nd - It was yielding to fear [He followed the crowd simply because they put pressure upon him—even when he knew better.]…

2Tim. 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear….

3rd - It was esteeming some persons better than others…

James said that is evil thinking.

V15- We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles…

Paul was simply stating here, we were born Jews. That is, into the nation chosen by God as his people. Not born into a nation of sinners, [those who had not been called the people of God].

Even though we are Jews, we know that….

V16 - [Knowing that] a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…

Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Those Jews who had received Jesus Christ as their savior, by that very act, admitted that the law could not save them. If it could, then they would not have needed Christ,

Heb 7:19

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

And Paul wrote in….

Romans 10:4

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

This verse fits perfectly with ‘for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.’

It says that Christ is the END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. The word ‘end’ means -point aimed at; purpose; levy paid; uttermost ending.