Galatians 2:15-21
No one is justified or made right by obeying the law. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that we can be justified. That message came through loud and clear in Galatians 2:15-21. And to emphasize this point even more, verse 21 says "for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."
So many people today think that they're on their way to heaven because in their eyes, they're a "good" person. They have a job, pay their taxes, they help their neighbor, give to charity, go to church...and the list goes on and on. But no matter how large that list of good things done is, it can never get them to heaven
So how will you use this passage to explain Jesus Christ and the importance of placing faith in Him to others? Tami W.
The Bible says that unless a person has the Spirit of Christ living in Him He is not a child of God. No amount of human effort or work can open the heart to Jesus Christ. In vs. 20 Paul says that it is no longer he who lives but Christ lives in him. That can only come by faith. And only those who have the Spirit of Christ can claim "sonship" with the Father.
I will explain: from God's perspective we have all sinned. Driven by His unconditional love for us God sent His son to die for our sins and He has made us privy to this truth becuase we have at times convinced ourselves of our 'righteousness.'
Here is absolute truth: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
This is interesting. This morning, before I had a chance to read these verses, I was trying to show an elderly lady that we can know for certain that we have eternal life. Maybe, we can't know which of our works are wood, hay and stubble and which will receive a reward, because we do some things out of selfish motives. However, the Bible teaches in many places that we can know we are saved.
That is NOT by the works we do, but faith in Christ alone.
Works by themself don't get us anywhere. We need faith in Christ and allow Him to live through us, leading us to be saved. I think some people think only if they believe it is alright. But we need to live through Christ as we are no longer of this world but Christs.
It is by faith that we are justified. no amount of works will every help us to make into GODS kingdom, If it was for works then alot of us wouldnt be able to make it because we would be out done by others who are better off.