Galatians 2:14-16

b.

Paul's Reproof Galatians 2:14-21

TEXT 2:14-16

(14) But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, if thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
(15) We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, (16) yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law; because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

PARAPHRASE 2:14-16

14 But when I saw that such eminent teachers did not walk rightly, according to their own knowledge of the true doctrine of the gospel, I said to Peter in the hearing of them all; in the hearing of Barnabas and all the Judaizers: If, in the house of Cornelius, thou, though thou art a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles in respect of meats, and not after the manner of the Jews, because thou knowest the truth respecting that matter, why now compellest thou the converted Gentiles to obey the law, by refusing to eat with them, as if the distinction of meats were necessary to their salvation?
15 I added, we apostles, who are Jews by birth and education, and not idolatrous Gentiles, who are ignorant of God, and of his will respecting the salvation of sinners.
16 Knowing by the law and the prophets, as well as by our own inspiration, that man is not justified by works of law, but only through the faith which Jesus Christ hath enjoined, even all of us believed in Jesus Christ, that we may be justified by the faith which Christ hath enjoined; and have not sought justification by works of the law. For by performing works of law, whether it be the law of nature or of Moses, no man shall be justified at the judgment.

COMMENT 2:14

I said unto Cephas before them all

1.

Here was a wholesale stampede and someone needed to bring soberness.

2.

Paul had the courage to do it.

3.

No doubt here was a history-making event.

4.

Paul urged Timothy to do this type of thing. them that sin rebuke in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 1 Timothy 5:20

if thou being a Jew livest as a Gentile

1.

In what sense were those words meant?

a.

Perhaps in the liberty of the gospel.

b.

Perhaps in the eating of meat, after his vision.

c.

Perhaps while living right there in Antioch, he had lived just like other Gentiles.

2.

Pointed questionto point out an inconsistency.

How compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews

1.

It is charge of inconsistency.

2.

It is not fair for a Jew to accept a new position and ask them that those of the new position accept the old position.

COMMENT 2:15

We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles

1.

Here we areJews with all of our background, acknowledging the Gentiles, who are ordinarily considered sinners, as now accepted to God. Why go back to the law? Why accept the gospel if it is not able to justify?

2.

Sinners refers to the bigoted attitude.

3.

This expression goes with what follows, not with what preceded.

COMMENT 2:16

Yet knowing that a man is not justified by work

1.

To justify literally means to pronounce righteous; not meaning that a man is righteous, but that God treats him as such.

2.

The history of justification is traced in the Scriptures.

a.

It was promised in Christ. In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. Isaiah 45:25

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11

b.

It is an act of God.

1)

He is near that justifieth me. Isaiah 50:8

2)

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Romans 8:33

c.

It is not of works of the law.

1)

And by him everyone that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39

2)

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 8:3

3)

Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident; for the righteous shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11

d.

It is of grace.

1)

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24

2)

For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law. Romans 4:16

3)

They that receive the abundance of grace. Romans 5:17-21

e.

It comes by the death and resurrection of Christ.

1)

Who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. Romans 4:25

2)

And if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17

3)

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. Romans 5:9

f.

It entitles one to an inheritance.

That being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7

but through faith in Jesus Christ

1.

What are we to believe about Him for justification?

a.

Faith in His blood. Romans 5:9

b.

Faith in His Resurrection. Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17

2.

Good morals, if love and all other things fail.

even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith

1.

All come the same way.

a.

If so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Romans 3:30

b.

Paul had to be justified this way.

2.

This eliminates the so-called good moral one too.

and not by the works of the law

1.

Is not of works, Acts 13:39; Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:11.

2.

Is not of faith and works of the law united. Acts 15:1-29

a.

We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Romans 3:28

b.

But if it is by grace, it is no more of works. Romans 11:6

c.

Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. Galatians 5:4

WORD STUDY 2:16

The definite article the is not present before the word law in Greek. Thus, Paul is not just specifying the Old Testament Law, but the whole concept of law in general. Man is not justified by his obedience to any legal code, new or old. Christ did not go to Calvary, nailing the Law to the cross, only to hand down another legalistic code just like the first! (Colossians 2:14) This same teaching is given in Romans 3:21 f, where the definite article before law is also omitted. Man is not justified by the works of lawany law!

STUDY QUESTIONS 2:14-16

201.

Discuss Paul's charge of failure to live uprightly.

202.

Whom did Paul address?

203.

What is meant that Peter lived as a Gentile?

204.

What is meant by compelling Gentiles to live as Jews?

205.

Why did Paul make an open issue of it?

206.

How could Paul be a Jew by nature?

207.

What is meant by the expression sinners?

208.

Does the expression go with what preceded or with the statement that follows?

209.

Describe justification.

210.

Is it a new word in the New Testament?

211.

Are we made just by works?

212.

Are we made just by living up to the law of Moses?

213.

How are we justified by grace?

214.

Will grace alone make us just?

215.

How is the resurrection of Christ connected with justification?

216.

How is faith connected to justification?

217.

If we have faith in the law and also works, could we be justified?