galatians two (part two)

Forgiven by Greg Olson

If you're just joining us, drop down and begin with the "galatians one" post...it will all make more sense...

First a few key words from Galatians: justification and faith. In the six verses between 2:15 and 2:21 these words come up four times each.

Justification: is a legal metaphor meaning literally to be absolved of a crime/sin; to free from guilt or blame or the legal consequences of that crime; to grant a pardon. But the best word (in my opinion) that comes us is a synonym for "absolve"..."exonerate," which means to consider a person clear of blame or consequence--even for an act that is admitted, confessed. In the context of Galatians, justification is also closely connected to the idea of gaining God's approval.

Faith: here's two definitions. The first from Scot McKnight who wrote The NIV Application Commentary and the second from a classic commentary written by William Barclay:

• Faith is "the initial and continual response of trust in, and obedience to, Christ by a person for the purpose of acceptance with God."
• Faith is "complete trust and complete surrender to Jesus Christ; total acceptance of all that He said, all that he offered, and all that He is."

These definitions are helpful in understanding what Paul means when he writes in Galatians 2:15-16...

"We know that a person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified."

This make sense to me now...how can a person be justified (absolved or exonerated as described above) of their sin by the Law if the whole intent of the law is to bring about judgement and guilt so that we will know when we have sinned?! They can't!

Instead, Paul says, and my experience rings true: we gain God's approval and find freedom from the shame and eternal consequences of our sin when we continually respond with "trust in and obedience to Christ." Our "complete trust and surrender" to what God has promised in Jesus exonerates us. That is, though we admit and confess that we have sinned and are "guilty as charged" we are freed from the shame and the eternal consequences of that sin. Through Jesus' sin-less life, his undeserved death, and his victorious resurrection God promises a mysterious and life-altering path towards salvation and freedom. Our faith is our acceptance of that path, expressed by our trust/surrender to Jesus and our obedience to his teachings and leadership through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus said that whoever has been forgiven much, loves much...and the only way to be forgiven much is to have come to the full recognition that you have sinned much:) Which leaves no room for mystery as to why this discovery of faith in Jesus has been such absolutely-wonderously GOOD and life-altering news for me.