Galatians 2:17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!” --NKJV In the name of the One Who justifies us, amen.
We are not disputing whether good works ought to be done. Nor are we inquiring whether the Law is good, holy, and righteous, or whether it ought to be observed; for that is another topic. But our argument and question concerns justification and whether the Law justifies.
Therefore [in this verse] is a powerful argument, which I have often used to, console myself: “If while we seek…, etc.” It is as though Paul saying: “If we who are justified in Christ are still regarded as not justified but as sinners who still need to be justified by the Law, then we cannot look for justification in Christ; then we look for it in the Law. But if justification happens through the Law, then it does not happen through grace. This is proved by sufficient division. Now if justification does not happen through grace but happens through the Law, what did Christ accomplish with His suffering, His preaching, His victory over sin and death, and the sending of the Holy Spirit? Either we are justified through Christ, or we are made sinful and guilty through Him.
Holy Scripture, especially the New Testament, always inculcates faith in Christ and magnificently proclaims Him. It says that “whoever believes in Him is saved, does not perish, is not judged, is not put to shame, and has eternal life” (John 3:16). Amen.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, You bring us to faith in Jesus so that we might be justified in Him apart from works. Grant us a strong faith that trusts in Him alone, amen.
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