Lesson 11 June 30, 2002
Truth #3 A man is justified by faith in Jesus Christ,
Truth #4 even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law;
Truth #5 since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
2:17 Justification misunderstood.
Paul draws a logical conclusion based on the
thinking/actions of the legalists.
Here's how I see what your up to and its logical
consequence.
Paul's attempt to point out the error in their
legalistic thinking.
But if sets up
the conditional statement for argument sake, 1cc [prodosis]
while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been
found sinners
The conclusion, (Apodosis), is Christ then a minister of sin?
Paul's response to a totally unthinkable suggestion, May it never be!
Summary 2:17
1. If we
as Jews reject our religious practice and seek to be justified by faith in
Christ we're admitting 2 things.
#1. If we
turn our back on the works of the Law then we will be putting ourselves in the
same status as the Gentile sinners. (vs:15) who are seeking to be justified by
faith in Christ
- great
pride/arrogance on their part
#2. Are
we not saying also that the law has failed us as a justifying agent.
2. These
legalistic Jews (those who desired to
maintain the Levitical observations) like those troubling the Galatians argued
that because a violation of the Law is sin that abandonment of the Law in seeking to be justified by faith in
Christ is also sin.
3. If this
were true than the only conclusion you can arrive at with this logic is that
Christ is the minister of sin, the promoter of sin.
4. To
this, Paul emphatically replies, Absolutely not, don't think such a thing!
With
2:18 Paul amplifies this strong denial
Notice
that Paul shifts here to the first person pronoun "I".
"For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed,
I prove myself to be a transgressor.
Observations:
2:18
1. Paul is
refuting here the accusation that by communicating freedom from the law he
makes Christ an abettor of sin.
2. Notice
who Paul says is the source of sin, who is the transgressor, violates the
divine N& S not Christ.
3. Paul as
a zealous Pharisee had taught that the M/L
was essential for salvation.
4. After
salvation, being justified by faith he tore down the false concepts related to
salvation and the Mosaic law.
5. Now to
declare valid again the Law as necessary for salvation or for maintaining or
living after salvation what he rightly understood to be abrogated is hypocrisy.
6. This is
what Peter has done when he was intimidated and stopped fellowshipping with the
Gentile believers.
7. To say
that salvation is by works, any kind, or is necessary to maintain it, is to say
that Jesus Christ's work on the Cross is meaningless, has no value.
8. The law
does have the purpose of pointing out man's need for salvation, that they are
sinners and stand condemned before God.
The Mosaic Law breaks down into 3 sections.
1.
Codex I -
the moral code - human freedom.
2.
Codex II -
Spiritual code - sacrifices, feasts; shadow Christology.
3. Codex
III -
Social Code - LDE related to the nation's function
Limitations of the Mosaic Law
1. it
cannot justify - Gal 2:16;
Rom 3:20,28
2. it
cannot provide life - Rom 7:10; Gal 3:21
3. it
cannot provide the individual H/S -
Gal. 3:2
4. it
cannot solve the problem of the OSN
- Rom. 8:3
2:19 The Proper Effect of the Law.
"For through the Law I died to the
Law, so that I might live to God.
Summary 2:19
1. In the
phrase "for I myself through the
law" takes us to the point
in his life when he realized he was a sinner and therefore separated from God.
2. The
second phrase "died to the law"
indicates his separation from the law at salvation.
3. How is
all this possible? Totally through the
Work of Christ on the cross and our exhaling faith in Him.
4. When he
went to the cross he bore the penalty for our sin, the curse of the law having
become a curse on our behalf. Gal 3:13
- Rom
7:4,6; 10:4
5.
Attempting to live under the law, any system of religious works, to gain
acceptance with God actually prevents
one from living out their life for God.
6. Because Paul as a result of faith in Christ,
that is, identified with Him, the law's penalty has been exacted and the law is
satisfied.
7. By this
life sharing union with Christ we are free to live unto God, to present
ourselves for service to Him, no longer under condemnation.
8. The law
can never justify; on the contrary it
is a condemnatory agent.
9. Since
we died to the law, the Holy Spirit
will never lead us as believers in any law keeping, that is to have the law as
a rule of life.