(16)  knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

(19) ” For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.  (20)  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  (21)  I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

The letter to the Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul.  Paul had founded Christian churches in southern Galatia and after he moved on, he was alerted that certain “legalizers” from Jerusalem had approached these churches and corrupted the gospel that Paul had preached.   They claimed that Gentile Christians must adhere to the Mosaic Law and be circumcised.   They also questioned Paul’s authority as an apostle.

In Chapter 2 of his letter to the Galatians, Paul stresses his authority as an apostle and as one who received his knowledge of the gospel directly from God.  He writes that the other Apostles recognized his authority as proof of his equal commission.

The verses we study today concern the doctrine of justification through faith in Jesus Christ.  The death of Christ was the death of the Law.  The gospel Paul preached is that justification – where the guilty are pardoned and reinstated as God’s children and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ – is only by faith in Christ.  The gospel is the instrument of our justification and not the law.  Faith is the means, not the source, of justification.  In verse 16 we see that the Apostle Paul repeats this great doctrine of justification three times.   Then Paul ends verse 16 by stating that there is no possibility to be justified  by works done in obedience to any statutes.

Paul continues in this letter by becoming personal and particular.  He declares that he is dead to the law – that he has abandoned all hope of justification and salvation by obeying the law as Christ’s death superseded the law.  It was treated as an end in itself and no one can perform perfect obedience to the law.  Paul had renounced all hopes of justification under the law – there was no further need for sacrifice, purification.  Paul claims life unto God through Jesus Christ – a new life of faith in the free grace given by God to those who become “right” with God through faith in Christ.

Paul closes this chapter by saying that if justification comes under the law – to be the result of works – it is not of grace from faith.  He argues that if salvation is from works, it must follow that Christ died in vain.  Wow.