Through Faith in Jesus Christ

Day 258: Galatians 2:1-16

“Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” - Galatians 2:16

Justified is one of Paul's favorite words to use as he wrote to churches and friends. He used it to describe what God does when he saves us by the blood of Jesus. It definitely is not a word he used in reference to what we've earned.

The Greek word is dikaioo and is a legal term that was used in reference to the guilty being acquitted.

This is a beautiful picture of what happens when we come to Jesus in faith. He declares us not guilty and sets us free. There are no conditions or debts we have to repay. God only asks us to trust Him, to really believe that His way is the best way to live. Jesus paid it all with his death on the cross.

Being good enough on our own? We've actually tried that many times.

It doesn't end in freedom; it ends in frustration.

This was so important to Paul that he was even willing to confront Christianity's original spokesman, Peter, to ensure that Christianity didn't devolve into a belief that we can make things right all by ourselves, by our performance.