With this portion under our belts we should have finished chapter 2's look at Paul's struggles with those of a non-renewed mindset, even though they walk with the Spirit of GOD within. This sadly is caused by the spirit of religion that clings on for it's dear life! This we shall soon see as we progress deeper in this letter, this spirit power of deception is great as it brings with it a spirit of delusion spoken of in the Thessalonians letters.
Galatians 2:15-21 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, know that a man is not justified by the works of the (Mosaic) 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. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners (those who oppose Christ and Christ's revelation), is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through(G1223) the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (KJV)
Galatians 2:15-21 "We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the (Mosaic) 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. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners ((those who oppose Christ and Christ's revelation), is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through(G1223) the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." (ESV)
Galatians 2:15-21 "Sin is not a respecter of persons! Sin is sin whether you're Jew or Gentile. As Jews we should be the first to know that righteousness is not a reward for good behavior according to the requirements of the (Mosaic) Law. We have purposed righteousness for generations under the system of personal performance but have failed miserably! Jesus Christ embodied [1] GOD's belief concerning mankind's redeemed righteousness; this is the only valid basis of our belief. Our best intentions to do good cannot add any weight to our righteousness. As Jewish believers, we know this! For we have no advantage over any other person. Jew and Gentile alike were equally disqualified by the Law; now we are equally justified because of Jesus and for no other reason! (Paul uses the [1] objective Genitive - "faith of." "He is the author and finisher of faith; he is both the origin and conclusion of faith" [Hebrews 12:2]; "from faith to faith" [Romans 1:17]. It is GOD's persuasion in the merit of his Son's achievement that awakens faith in humanity." Romans 4:25.) However, if in our quest to discover righteousness by faith in what Christ did for us, we find that it is still possible to stumble; do not label yourself a sinner yet again! The fact that you sinned (with those who oppose Christ and Christ's revelation) does not cancel the cross and gives you no reason to abandon justification by faith as if Christ is to be blamed for your distraction! That would be absurd! (Now all of a sudden you want to keep the Law again to further add to your righteousness as if Christ did not achieve enough. Do not let your experience deceive you to invent a new doctrine.) Only a con artist will try to be a law-man and a grace-man at the same time! The Law [1] demanded my death; grace reveals that in GOD's mind Jesus died that death. So as far as the Law is concerned, I'm a dead man but as far as GOD is concerned I'm alive! (The word, [1,G1223] dia means because of, suggesting here that the Law was what demanded my death! But in the mystery of GOD's genius, Jesus died humanity's death; which means, in GOD's belief, I died to the old system of trying to please him with my own good behavior! We might as well admit it! Our most sincere beliefs as well as our best attempts to attain to a righteousness based on us getting ten out of ten all the time, fails! There is no way to get around this! Look at Romans 7 in the Mirror Bible!) So here I am dead and alive at the same time! I'm dead to the old me I was trying to be and alive to the real me which is Christ in me! Co-crucified, now co-alive! What a glorious entanglement! I was in him (as his human form) in death; now he is in me in my life! For the first time I'm free to be me in my skin, immersed in his faith in our joint-sonship! He loves me and believes in me! He is GOD's gift to me!
(The verb [1,G4957] sustauroo, is in the Perfect tense, indicating that not only was I crucified with Christ in the past, but I am existing now in that present condition. How can any human effort improve on this! Look at Hosea 6:2 and Ephesians 2:5, also Romans 7:6, But now we are fully released from any further association with a life directed by the rule of the (Mosaic) Law, we are dead to that which once held us captive, free to be slaves to the newness of spirit-spontaneity rather than age old religious rituals, imitating the mere face value of the written code. The moment one exchanges spontaneity with rules, the edge of romance is compromised!) It is an insult to the grace of GOD to prefer Moses to Jesus! If the Law could justify you then Jesus wasted his time dying your death! (That would reduce salvation to a ludicrous contest between your obedience and the obedience of Christ! [Romans 5:19]) (The Mirror)
Have we cleared the air of the message that has suffered at the hands of foolish men and women? This is the practice of all religious systems invented by man, some of which run along side the truth. Until our next visit may the LORD GOD bless, speak well of you and yours.
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