Galatians 2: In Christ Alone

Read Galatians 2:1-21

Outline
2:1-10  Defense of the gospel in the church
2:11-14 Defense of the gospel among co-laborers for the gospel
2:15-21  The heart of the gospel: justification by faith in Christ alone

The heart of the gospel is we are justified by faith in Christ alone.  Other than faith in Christ alone, we have no ground for our justification, meaning God declares us the righteous.  This was a reason why Paul went to Jerusalem to see other apostles at Jerusalem church, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved. And also, he rebuked one of the apostles, Peter for his hypocrisy, requiring Gentile Christians to observe Jewish table regulations if they wanted to eat with him, after some Jewish Christians came to Peter.

Paul was a strong advocate of the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially justification by faith in Christ alone, and endeavored for its preservation and propagation, even risking his life.  Such radical faith and lifestyle was possible for Paul because of this perspective on his life - “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (v. 20)

Has your former ’self’ - self-centered, self-absorbed, self-indulging - been crucified with Christ? Is your life now being directed and empowered by trusting Christ alone moment by moment? What are some obstacles for you to trust Christ alone in your daily life?

If you identify your former ’self’ features again - sinful behaviors, prideful and judgmental tendency, being prone to indulgence, and etc, immediately repent and ask the Holy Spirit to begin His wrought work in you. 

In Christ Alone by Newsboys

Verse 1:
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Verse 2: 
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift if love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on the cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ in I live

Verse 3: 
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then, bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He us mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

Verse 4:
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand 

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.