(16) “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but be 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.  Our verses today concern the foundational truth of the gospel: that salvation for man is by faith in Christ Jesus who became sin and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to redeem man.  Paul preached justification by faith in Christ Jesus without deeds mandated by the Law.  This totally new ” good news” was fiercely opposed by some Jews who held that salvation was of faith BUT also through the observation of Jewish law, ceremonies and traditions.

Earlier in chapter two of Galatians Paul writes that the apostle Peter came to Antioch where Paul was preaching. This visit was after Peter and the apostles had agreed that Paul was indeed an apostle by the will of God, and that the gospel is for all, Gentiles and Jew – and that salvation is  faith alone in Christ Jesus. That the Jewish law doesn’t make us righteous but Christ alone does – there is no self merit and man lives through the merit of Christ Jesus.

This chief article of Christianity allowed the converted Gentiles to eat meats forbidden by the Law. and Peter, a Jew, ate with them knowing this.  With the arrival of Judaizers who claimed the law and circumcision were necessary – in addition to faith –  Peter separated  from the Gentiles.  This was a very big deal – the very foundational truth of the gospel – that faith in Christ alone – was by example of Peter being questioned.  Paul stood alone in his disagreement with the Judaizers – even his beloved companion on his missionary trips, Barnabus, disagreed with him.  Paul publicly rebuked Peter for disguising his ( Peter’s) attitude to the Law. He accused Peter of hypocrisy.  Paul claimed that Peter erred and denied Christ by giving the impression that he was endorsing the Law.

So the words of Paul were addressed to Peter but in our verses today Paul writes a summary statement to the Galatians.  Paul tells them that if we are justified in Christ, then we are not justified by the Law.  We cannot have it both ways.  And to be dead to the Law means to be free of it. The Law (works) can never justify a man so to live for the law is to die to God.  Sin, evil and death are crucified in Christ.  If we look at ourselves we have sin. If we look at Christ we have no sin. If we believe we are justified by the Law we reject the grace of God and reject the death of Christ.