Galatians 2:15-21
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. 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.
Being a Christian requires much more than simply desiring to do right. It requires dying to self. As Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (verse 20). If it is just me and my own willpower, I am sure to fail. But the goal is to replace my will with Christ, and then let His power guide my life. That is the only way to walk in holiness. What Paul says about "works of the law" (verse 16) is similar to our attempts to be good in our own strength. We are not strong enough or good enough in ourselves to succeed. Thus Paul says that "by works of the law no one will be justified" (verse 16). This is why we need a savior. Yet we still can find ourselves trying to be pure in our own strength, or trying to perform to gain God's favor. As Paul says in verse 21, "if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose".
God, in my own strength I cannot live a pure life; I need You and Your strength. Thank you for what you did on the cross, and help me to live in You.
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. 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.
Being a Christian requires much more than simply desiring to do right. It requires dying to self. As Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (verse 20). If it is just me and my own willpower, I am sure to fail. But the goal is to replace my will with Christ, and then let His power guide my life. That is the only way to walk in holiness. What Paul says about "works of the law" (verse 16) is similar to our attempts to be good in our own strength. We are not strong enough or good enough in ourselves to succeed. Thus Paul says that "by works of the law no one will be justified" (verse 16). This is why we need a savior. Yet we still can find ourselves trying to be pure in our own strength, or trying to perform to gain God's favor. As Paul says in verse 21, "if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose".
God, in my own strength I cannot live a pure life; I need You and Your strength. Thank you for what you did on the cross, and help me to live in You.