1. The Epistle to the Galatians
Justification Misunderstood: Galatians 2:17-19
Galatians 2:17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!”
Let’s go back to Gal 2:15,16 first.
The truth of the gospel convincingly expressed!!!
justified– made righteous
law, despite the lack of an article, implies the Jewish Law.
Paul was speaking to Jews.
Christ is the object
even we – those under law
No one ever has, or can be, justified on the basis of works.
What does we ourselves also are found sinners in verse 17 indicate?
Like the Gentiles who were not under the law.
However, the Jews missed the point.
Rom 2:14 ‘for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves.’
Does this statement give you any sense of where the Jewish nation was in their relationship to, or their understanding of the principle of grace? 1
April 4, 2010 Bob Eckel

2. The Epistle to the Galatians
Justification Misunderstood: Galatians 2:17-19
Apparently Peter and Barnabus were advocating this position.
How could Christ have been a minister or promoter of sin?
Then, how did the Jews perceive the law?
Was it not given to convict man of their sin?
Yes, but - Rom 9:30-33
If not, the response in the form of good works was all self-righteous wasn’t it?
And, therefore if one is justified by simply believing then is there no ‘moral responsibility’?
Certainly not. God forbid. It could never be.
The Jews really didn’t have or recognize the truth about who Christ was.
Heb 7:24-28
So then what about our ‘moral responsibility’?
Romans 8:2-4; I John 3:8-10
‘Therefore if any man give himself to sin after he has received the Gospel, let him not accuse Christ nor the Gospel, but himself, for he destroys the work of God in himself. He goes from justification to sanctification, which is another benefit we receive from Christ, if we lay hold of him by faith’.- Geneva 2
April 4, 2010 Bob Eckel

3. The Epistle to the Galatians
Justification Misunderstood: Galatians 2:17-19
Galatians 2:18 “For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.”
Notice that Paul now turns to the pronoun ‘I’ vs. what Peter and Barnabus were advocating.
Is there any lesson we can learn from this?
Why would Paul, or any other believer, become a transgressor (parabatēs – violator or sinner) only if he returns to a law-based system?
Because sin is the transgression of the law.
From Christ back to Moses.
Because the law was given to convict not justify.
This position refutes the principle of grace and the true gospel, doesn’t it?
Gal 4:9 ‘But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?’
But we still sin don’t we? 3
April 4, 2010 Bob Eckel

4. The Epistle to the Galatians
Justification Misunderstood: Galatians 2:17-19
Galatians 2:19 “For I through law died to the law that I might live to God.”
Notice, no article before law again, but don’t you think in context that this relates to the Jewish law?
Or could it apply to any legal system?
Rom 7:7-11
Remember, death is separation.
Aorist, indicative, active
Rom 7:4-6
So what then is the purpose of the Law?
It is perfect – Ps 19:7
It declares the holiness and righteousness of God – Rom 7:12.
Defines sin, and that all have fallen short – Rom 3:19-25.
A schoolmaster to lead us to Christ
Gal 3:24 – ‘Therefore the law was our tutor [to bring us] to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.’ 4
April 4, 2010 Bob Eckel

5. The Epistle to the Galatians
Justification Misunderstood: Galatians 2:17-19
‘that I might live to God’
Notice the entirely different focus and source.
Rom 10:4 ‘For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.’
Heb 9:14 ‘How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’
Romans 6:14 ‘For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.’
Col 2:20 – ‘Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as [though] living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations.’
Rom 6:11 ‘Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
1 Peter 4:6 ‘For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.’
AMEN!! 5
April 4, 2010 Bob Eckel

6. The Epistle to the Galatians
Justification Misunderstood: Galatians 2:17-19
Galatians 2:17 “ 6
April 4, 2010 Bob Eckel