Galatians 2:16
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“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.”
Does this scripture say that Christians should not attempt to keep God’s law because law—commandment—keeping cannot save anyone? This is the first of several usually-misunderstood passages in Galatians supposedly teaching that the Ten Commandments are no longer in effect.
Notice that the scripture actually says, “the works of the law cannot justify us.” Grasp this all-important point. The living Christ never condones sin. He is always willing to forgive it, but then commands, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). Notice that Galatians 2:17 asks, “is…Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” Now read Romans 2:13, which states that Christians must be “doers of the law to be justified,” and Romans 3:20, which seems to contradict, “by the…law…there shall no flesh be justified.” Either Paul contradicted himself in successive chapters or both statements are true!
Galatians 2:16 states that Christians are justified “by the faith of Christ…” Since Christians must be doers of the law to be justified by Christ (Rom. 2:13), it becomes clear why James recorded that faith and works go together (James 2:18).
Let’s make this even more clear. If men were saved by keeping the law, then they would be able to brag to God that they had earned salvation (Eph. 2:8-10). Ephesians 2:10 states that Christians are “created…unto good works,” while Eph 2:9 shows that these works have no power to save anyone. Christians keep the law—but that cannot pay for a single past sin (Rom. 6:17-18)! People are justified by the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14) and saved by His life (recall Romans 5:10), but Christ will not justify anyone who continues to disobey Him!
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