Grace or Nothing (Galatians 2:19-21).
Main Idea of Galatians:
To defend the gospel of grace as the sole basis for justification and Christian living, to assert the believer’s freedom from legalism through faith in Christ, and to call believers back to the truth of the gospel.
Questions to Consider:
What does Paul mean by “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God”?
What is the meaning of being “crucified with Christ”?
How does Paul describe the life he now lives?
What does Paul mean by “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing”?
The Text:
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
– Galatians 2:19-21 (CSB)
Observations:
Verse 19: Paul states that “through the law I died to the law” to live for God.
Verse 20: He describes his union with Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” He explains that he lives by faith in the Son of God who loved him and gave himself for him.
Verse 21: He concludes by asserting that he does not “set aside the grace of God” because if righteousness could come through the law, Christ’s death would have been pointless.
Interpretation:
Dying to the Law (v. 19): Paul’s statement “For through the law I died to the law” is paradoxical. He means that the law itself, by revealing his inability to perfectly keep it, led him to see his need for Christ and thus freed him from its condemnation. As Moo (BECNT) explains, the law, in a sense, “killed” his reliance on it for salvation. The purpose of this “death” was to “live for God,” to experience a new life centered on God’s grace.
Crucified with Christ (v. 20): This is a powerful metaphor for our union with Christ. To be “crucified with Christ” means that our old self, the self enslaved to sin and the law, was put to death with Him. As Schreiner (ZECNT) puts it, it’s a “participation in Christ’s death.” This is not a literal death but a spiritual reality.
Christ Lives in Me (v. 20): The crucifixion is not the end. It leads to resurrection. Paul says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” This emphasizes the indwelling Christ, the reality that Christ’s resurrection life empowers the believer. As Carson (NIVBTSB) notes, this is a “Christ-centered life.”
Life by Faith (v. 20): The new life is lived “by faith in the Son of God.” This highlights our ongoing dependence on Christ. It’s not just the initial act of believing but a continual reliance on His love and faithfulness. Paul personalizes this by saying, “who loved me and gave himself for me,” emphasizing the personal nature of Christ’s sacrifice.
The Sufficiency of Grace (v. 21): Paul concludes with a powerful assertion: “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” This is the crux of the issue. If we could earn righteousness through our own efforts, Christ’s death would be unnecessary, even meaningless. As White (GTI) points out, this highlights the “all-sufficiency of grace.”
Application:
Freedom from Legalism: We are freed from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor through our own works. Our focus should be on Christ, not on keeping a set of rules.
Union with Christ: We are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Our old self is gone, and we live a new life in Him.
Christ-Centered Life: Our daily lives should be lived in dependence on Christ, trusting in His love and guidance.
Grace is Sufficient: We must fully embrace the truth that God’s grace, received through faith in Christ, is all we need for salvation and a relationship with Him.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage is the climax of Paul’s argument in the first part of Galatians. It powerfully reinforces the main idea that justification is by faith alone, and that any attempt to add works to the gospel undermines the very purpose of Christ’s death.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
Christ is the one with whom we are united in death and resurrection.
He is the source of the new life we live.
His love is the reason for His sacrifice.
His death is the foundation of God’s grace, which is our only hope for salvation.
Summary:
Galatians 2:19-21 powerfully expresses the believer’s union with Christ, the sufficiency of grace, and the futility of legalism. Paul emphasizes that salvation and the Christian life are rooted in faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, and that any attempt to earn righteousness through the law nullifies the purpose of Christ’s death.
Be Intentional:
Reflect on what it means for you to be “crucified with Christ” and how that reality shapes your identity and purpose.
Cultivate a deeper awareness of Christ’s love for you and your dependence on Him in your daily life.
Embrace the sufficiency of God’s grace and reject any lingering tendencies toward legalism.
Ask Yourself:
Do I truly believe that my old self is dead and that I am now living a new life in Christ?
How can I live more intentionally in dependence on Christ’s love and guidance?
Am I fully trusting in God’s grace, or am I still trying to earn His approval through my actions?
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. (General Editor). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Merida, Tony & Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in Galatians (CCE) (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary).
Moo, Douglas J. Galatians (BECNT) (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians (ZECNT) (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians.
White, A. Blake. Galatians: A Theological Interpretation (GTI).
