Gal 2:15-16 Justification by Faith

1. Gal 2:15-16 Justification by Faith 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

2. 15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; We are Jews by nature We – Paul and other Jewish Christians nature - physis - origin, birth or condition We are not sinners from among the Gentiles What does this mean ? - Gentiles are sinners - Jews are not sinners

3. 15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; • How the Jews viewed the Gentiles • Eph. 2:11-13 • called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision,” • excluded from the commonwealth of Israel • strangers to the covenants of promise • Eph. 4:17-20 • the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, • being darkened in their understanding • Acts 13:44-48 • ‘I have placed you (Jews) as a light for the gentiles, • that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth.' "

4. 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law knowing – oida - to know factually (on the basis of facts) justified - dikaioō - to deem to be right: "to show to be right or righteous;" in the Passive Voice, to be justified Vine “works of (the) Law” – works whose object is fulfilling the Law see Rom 3:28 and Gal 3:11

5. 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. but through faith in Christ Jesus or a man isjustified through faith in Christ Jesus through – dia – through or by means of faith – pistis – means belief, trust or confidence “faith in Christ Jesus” – faith whose object is Jesus Christ see Phil 3:9, Gal 3:26, Acts 24:24

6. 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. even we (Paul & others) have believed in Christ Jesus have believed – pisteuō - "to believe," also "to be persuaded of," and hence, "to place confidence in, to trust,“ Vine “believed in” see the following verses John 6:69, 1 John 5:10

7. 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. so that we (Paul & others) may be justified by faith in Christ so that – with a purpose that may be justified –dikaioō (God does the justifying) and not by the works of the Law or we (Paul & others) may not be justified by works of (the) Law

8. 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified since or because flesh - sarx - the human body no flesh will be justified or all flesh will not be justified (all = pas – none excluded) see Rom 3:20

9. Galatians 2:15 -16 Summary * • Gal 2:15 The Jewish Mindset – prior to faith in Christ • We (believers), who are Jewish, by birth and therefore • we are not sinners like the Gentiles • Gal 2:16a Their roots in Christianity – their knowledge • We (believers - who are Jewish) know factually: • 1. A man (any man) is justified (judicially declared righteous • by God) not by (his) works whose object is a Law system • 2. But, a man (any man) is justified by (his) faith whose • object is Jesus Christ • Gal 2:16b Their roots in Christianity – their belief • We (who are Jewish) believed in Jesus Christ - purpose that: • We might be justified by (our) faith whose • object is Jesus Christ • 2. And, we might not be justified by (our) works whose • object is a law system * Hal Molloy 2/26/1995