"By the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"

Galatians 2:17-3:9 (NASB)

¹⁷ But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! ¹⁸ For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. ¹⁹ For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Faith Brings Righteousness

3 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? ² This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

⁶ Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. ⁷ Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Faith or works, for the believer it really is not an either or, it’s a question of which comes first, which one is the foundation and motivation of the other. In the secular culture we are measured in many ways by our works. Our accomplishments and achievements along with the way we treat others play a significant role in how we are viewed by our culture. It is easy to allow that type of thinking to make it’s way into our lives as believers. Our works and our relationships with others are critical parts of our faith. They are however the result of our faith, our response to our salvation rather than being that which saves us, makes us righteous or worthy of eternity.

Paul writes:  Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Whoever believes in Him, it is not enough to believe about Him, it is actually believing in Christ that brings about salvation.  There are and have been many good people throughout history, both people from within the Christian faith and others of different beliefs, but as Ecclesiastes 7:20 says:  Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Even the very best of people have flaws and cannot measure up to the righteousness of God on their own. In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes:  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

It is not only that we do not boast in or take pride in our works, as today’s text says:  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” When we esteem our works or our doctrines as the key to our foundation we nullify the cross of Christ. If we want evidence of the fact that salvation comes only through believing in Christ as Lord and Savior, with no dependence on what we do, we need to look no farther than when Jesus was on the cross.

 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” ⁴³ And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

That thief never changed his way of living. He never did good works to justify himself. He believed in Christ and it was credited to him as righteousness. He believed in Christ and he was saved.

What then do our works our actions have to do with our faith?  James provides some insight to us. James 2:14-26 says:       What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.   ¹⁸ But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” ¹⁹ You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. ²⁰ But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone…²⁶ For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Our works do not justify us. They are our response to the grace and love of God. We love, because He first loved us.(1 John 4:19)  We are not saved by our works, but the completion of the Ephesians 2:8-9 verses is: ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.   

 Jesus says:  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  If we love Him, if we believe in Him, then our response must be to keep His commandments. Jesus says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 22:37-40) Until we have kept that first and foremost commandment we cannot keep the second. The whole law depends on these two commandments. All of our doctrines, all of our works are without meaning if we do not first keep His commandment to us.

Jesus did also encourage and teach us to repent and live without sin, but those are not the works He charged us with. Our sin is handled in the cross and by His blood. He says:  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.(Matthew 5:16) He says: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷ These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit thank You that I am saved not by my works, but through the finished work of the cross, I am prepared for Your good works.  Amen.