GALATIANS 2:17

“But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Far from it!”

Some things are just not going to happen. I will never be a ballerina. Just the thought of that makes me roll with laughter. I will never land on the moon, but if NASA called today, I would suit up. Think of an impossibility in your life as we read today’s verse.

Paul gets forceful. I can just see him saying this to Peter and the crowd. I bet he raised his voice on those last few words. The Greek actually reads, “It cannot be.” These words have been translated as “God forbid,” “May it never be,” “It is not so” and several other ways. I really like how the NIV translates it, “Absolutely not.”

APPLICATION

But what is Paul so worked up about? Well, look back at the previous phrase, “is Christ then a servant of sin?” Whoa, no wonder he gets so forceful. Peter and the Jews, who had pulled away from the Gentiles, were implying by their actions that the Gentiles, who were justified in Christ alone, were sinning by not following Mosaic law. Paul says that is the same as saying Christ is enabling their “sin.”

Is there anything in your spiritual life that you have added to your salvation? Do you think doing certain things makes you more spiritual? We need to live right and do right, of course. But what do you base your salvation on? We’ll get to my favorite verse about this in a few days (Galatians 2:21). You can read ahead in you want. But spoiler alert – it might change your way of thinking.

Are you forcing certain expectations on others? Yes, we need to have a high bar of standards when it comes to living a holy life. But be careful you don’t put “your” standards on them. As Paul was telling Peter and the Jewish believers, all you need, all anyone needs is Jesus.

Instead of a closing prayer today, take a listen to the song by Keith and Kristyn Getty. 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=in+christ+alone