David warned me the Book of Galatians would have its challenging passages. I had underlined a lot of what we read today at some point in my life, and verses 20-21 even got a little star by it. This must be important stuff. But then again, all of the Bible is “important stuff” that we should be consuming and using as our “life’s instruction manual.”
What’s up with Peter? And why did Paul put this little vignette in his story right before one of the most impactful of verses? I feel like Peter was really concerned for appearances. It was fine to share a meal with the Gentiles (of all people) when nobody was looking. But then as soon as some Jews show up, he steps away and back into being just Jewish. Didn’t there used to be a delightful British comedy called, “Keeping Up Appearances” following the life of Hyacinth?
I suppose this story does set up nicely the idea of justification. Paul starts by warming up Peter just a bit and showing camaraderie behind the fact that they were both born Jews and grew up Jewish. As such, there would have been almost an inbred dislike for Gentiles. They didn’t know or follow the law, after all. What does Paul say here? “Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.” Paul says, “we,” meaning Peter knows this, too. It’s Paul’s way of affirming what he believes hoping Peter is on the same page.
So, what is Justification? It’s that church word you’ve heard your whole life. Similar to righteousness, it is simply, “to be made right with God.” We see above that Paul tells us “how” a person is made right with God. By faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the law. Not just “faith” in myself or faith in general, but “faith in Jesus Christ.”
We can put our faith into a lot of the wrong things in this life. They are not going to save us or make us right with God or “justify” us in God’s eyes. Neither is being a good person who only obeys the law. Paul says, “For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” Jesus will never lead us astray. He will only lead us to the Father.
What are we supposed to do then? How are we supposed to live our lives? This is what Paul suggests. “So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Trusting in Jesus is what it’s all about. When we submit to this and accept God’s grace, we can find freedom. We can stop beating ourselves up for our sinfulness.
The faith in Christ we are talking about wraps us in a warm blanket. Jesus has already paid the price for us. Jesus has lived as a human so he knows exactly what we’re going through. How we respond to situations might be best handled if we did what Jesus would have done.
Take some time today to just focus on what God’s gift of grace means to you and how you want to respond to that. Do you want to be made right with God?
Let’s pray …Lord, I thank you for how you are speaking to my heart in these passages. You really challenge me to take a closer look at my devotion to you and how I respond to your grace. There are so many distractions that can keep my focus on other things, help me never be too busy for you ever again. I want to be right with you and put my faith in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
