Galatians 2:19 You Have Died to the Law, So Live in Christ for God

Galatians 2:19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.

Since the Mosaic covenant under the written Law was imperfect, why would a perfect God give this Law? The Law “was added because of transgressions,” until the fullness of the time when Christ was to come (3:19). The Law was the tutor for those predestined of God for salvation (3:24). It was given to reveal mankind’s sinfulness and to lead them to repentance and ultimately to Christ, the only mediator between sinful man and God (1 Timothy 2:5). The Law itself “is perfect, restoring the soul” unto God (Psalm 19:7). It is mankind that is imperfect. God’s covenant through the Law is not to blame, but mankind in their sinfulness who are unable to keep the Law and so be justified before God by keeping the Law.

As Paul says in Romans chapter seven, sinful passions are aroused by the Law (Romans 7:5). The Law brought to light our covetous hearts and caused them to covet and to sin all the more (Romans 7:7-2). The Law showed sin for what it really is; it showed sin at its ugliest (Romans 7:13). That is why the Law was given. The Law was given so that we might see and comprehend our sinfulness and turn from it.

However, the Law also shows us that we cannot keep the Law, and so need a mediator. The Law itself shows us that sin rules in us and that that sin keeps us from obeying the just demands of the Law. Since we cannot keep the Law, we realize that we must not attempt to be justified by the Law. Thus, through the Law we die to the Law. If we were to attempt to live under the Law we could not be alive to God; for we would not be accepted His mediator, Christ Jesus the Lord. God gave us the Law so that we might see our true condition and see that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and that we need to be justified by the righteousness of another: Christ Jesus.

Yet in Romans chapter seven, Paul says “you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” (4). Does this not contradict what Paul says in Galatians, that the “through the Law I died to the Law?” Absolutely not. The Law showed me my sinfulness, it is Christ who opened my eyes. It is through Christ that I died to the Law. Only by Christ’s death was I able to actually die to the Law; otherwise I would still be alive to sin and under the condemnation of the Law. The Law showed me I needed to die; Christ plunged me through His death into my death to the Law and into my life in Him. In Christ I bear fruit and live a life of praise before God; the great end toward which both the Law and Christ strived to affect in me (“so that I might live to God,” and “in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Galatians 2:19b and Romans 7:4b respectively).

So to those of you who are still alive to the condemnation of the Law; who have not yet trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and who do not live for God because you are not in Christ, compare yourself to the Law. Be honest with yourself. You have surely dishonored your parents, coveted, lied, hated others, stolen something, done work on the Sabbath day of rest, and actually broken every single Law. Thus you will stand condemned before the holy Judge of the universe. Repent from seeking to be acquitted by the Law and turn to Christ alone for your justification.

For those of you who are trusting in Christ, remember that you are not under the Law any longer, but are being conformed to the image of Christ. Do not live in sin any longer and prove yourself to be an enemy of Christ. Rather, seek to uphold the Law, as it is written upon your heart. You are not under the condemnation of the Law and its rituals. Live a life of freedom in Christ and pursue righteousness in all you do.