Galatians 2:16 You Are Justified by Faith, So Exclude No One but Love One Another in Christ

Galatians 2:16 “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.

Continuing his indictment of Peter’s actions, Paul reminds Peter of how both the Jews and the Gentiles were justified: in Christ. The Jews, being under sin (cf. Romans 3:9), were under the condemnation of God and could not be justified by the works of the Law. In fact, “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” Peter had made the mistake of favoring the Jews over the Gentiles, probably due to their piety in regard to the Law. Because of this mistake Paul was forced to correct Peter and to remind him that both he and Paul were justified by believing in Christ, not by their keeping of the Law.

Since all are justified “by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law,” nobody has any room to boast; whether Jew or Gentile. We are now one building in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:21-22). We must therefore seek to edify one another and the whole Church, for that is to our benefit. We are equal as heirs in Christ, standing on the same foundation of faith in Christ. This is what makes us Christians: faith, not works. If any were justified by works then they would have room for boasting. However, since none are justified by works, no one has the right to boast or to exclude another believer from fellowship.

Let this confidence be in you today, brothers and sisters: that you have been justified by your faith in Christ, not by keeping the Law. You are not able to be justified by keeping the Law for “cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them” (Galatians 3:10). Remind yourself of this daily, so that you do not become pompous before God and feel that you have any room for boasting before Him. You have been saved by an act of His free grace through the faith that He has given you; and both of these are His gift to you in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10). Now that is a Christmas gift!

Let this also guard and rule your relationships with others. Since you have been justified and forgiven before God, your Creator who owes you nothing out of His love for you, so be merciful and forgiving toward others. This especially goes for husbands and wives. When you live with someone, you do not have to look very far to find faults in them. However, as God has overlooked your faults and has actually justified you in Christ, so forgive your spouse and love him/her as God has shown love to you. Do not boast before them of your strengths to emphasize their weaknesses; for remember, you have no room to boast before the ultimate judge. If Christ’s sacrifice was enough to justify you before God, it should be enough in your mind/heart to justify your loved ones.