Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today in our reflection, we are going to be looking at Galatians 2: 15-21.  

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. 17 But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is 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 justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Today in our New Testament reading we look at Galatians.  Galatians is such a wonderful book, and I would encourage you to read through it sometime, so much good stuff there.  Today we see Paul and Peter having a conversion about what you must “do” to be a Christian. Remember the first generation of Christians were Jewish, it wasn’t until later that the church began to spread among Gentiles (non-Jews).  So, one of the earliest debates in church what this – what do you have to do to be a Christian?  Do you have to first become a Jew? Do you have to follow the Jewish ritualistic practices?  

Before this, remember, this conversation is not pitting the Old Testament against the New Testament.  Jesus tells us that He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).  Jesus came to show us the heart of the law and move aside the religious traditions that had taken the place of that heart.  

What he tells us in the end of this passage is key – if I can be justified (saved) by keeping the law, then Jesus died for nothing. That’s so key y’all.  If I can do enough to save myself, then what did Jesus come for?  We can’t save ourselves. If there is anything we have to “do” to be saved – correct worship, even correct doctrine, then we are saying that we are really saved by our actions, not by Jesus alone.  

It is not Jesus + me = salvation. It is Jesus = salvation. I don’t earn it. I receive it.  It is not a wage I earn, it is a gift I receive.  If there is anything, anything I have to do right to be saved, then I have earned my salvation. My salvation rests on Jesus, and Jesus alone.  

Then He changes my heart and my life and I am a new person.  If I can save myself, Jesus died for nothing.  Always remember that. Salvation is not a thing we earn, it is a gift we receive.  

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