Galatians 2:17 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. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Yesterday we saw in chapter 1 Paul jumped right to the point in his concern for this body of believers: they were being led astray by a false gospel. He began immediately to give his personal testimony. In the opening verses of this chapter he shares his "history" in the church, talking about all the places and people with whom he had connection, especially all the church leaders. Each and every one agreed to justification by faith and not by keeping the law. At times Paul had "called them to task" for inconsistency on the matter, and they all "got back in line." The final verse in the passage above (and the chapter) is astounding. The bottom line of their false gospel is that Christ would have died in vain if salvation could be from keeping the law. Let that sink in. We all need what Christ has done, not just "those sinners."
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