" JUSTIFIED by FAITH in CHRIST "

     " Then after fourteen years I(Paul)went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.  And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.  Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek was compelled to be circumcised.  But this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in CHRIST JESUS, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the Gospel might continue with you.  But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; GOD shows personal favoritism to no man--for those who seemed to be something, added nothing to me.

But on the contrary, when they saw that the Gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the Gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for HE WHO worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me(Paul) , they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.  They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

But when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles, but when they came he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision, and the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter before them all, ' If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews ?' 

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the Law, but by faith in JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed in CHRIST JESUS that we might be justified by faith in CHRIST and NOT by the works of the Law;  for by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified.  But if while we seek to be justified by CHRIST, we ourselves also are found sinners, is CHRIST therefore a minister of sin ? Certainly not !  For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.  For I through the Law died to the Law that I might live to GOD.  I have been crucified with CHRIST;  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 for me.  I do not set aside the grace of GOD;  for if righteousness comes through the Law then CHRIST died in vain(for nothing)."

  HOLY  SPIRIT is Given by FAITH,  NOT by WORKS

     " O FOOLISH Galatians !  Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST was clearly portrayed among you as crucified ?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the SPIRIT by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith ? Are you so foolish ?  Having begun in the SPIRIT, are you now being made perfect by the flesh ?  Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain ?  Therefore HE WHO supplies the SPIRIT to you and works miracles among you, does HE do it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith ?--just as Abraham believed GOD, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.  And the Scripture, foreseeing that GOD would justify the nations by faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ' In you all nations shall be blessed.'  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, ' Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them.' But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD is evident, for, ' The just shall live by faith.'  Yet the Law is not of faith, but  ' The man who does them shall live by them.' CHRIST has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us(for it is written, ' Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree '), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in CHRIST JESUS, that we might receive the promise of the SPIRIT through faith.

Brethren, I speak in the manner of men:  Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.  Now to Abraham and his SEED were the promises made.  He does not say, ' And to SEEDS,' as of many, but as of one, ' And to your SEED, ' WHO is CHRIST.  And this I say, that the Law, which was 430 years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by GOD in CHRIST, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the Law, it is no longer of promise; but GOD gave it to Abraham by promise.

What purpose then does the Law serve ? It was added because of transgressions, till the SEED should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but GOD is one.  Is the Law then against the promises of GOD ?  Certainly not ! For if there had been a Law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the Law.  But Scripture has confirmed ALL under sin that the promise by faith in JESUS CHRIST might be given to those who believe.

But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  Therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to CHRIST, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor(the Law).  For you are all sons of GOD through faith in CHRIST JESUS.  For as many of you as were baptized(by the SPIRIT at conversion)into CHRIST have put on CHRIST.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in CHRIST JESUS. And if you are CHRIST's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."  Galatians 2 - 3

     " Tell me, you who desire to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law ?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage which is Hagar--for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.  For it is written: ' Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear ! Break forth and shout, you who do not travail ! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.'  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the SPIRIT, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say ?  ' Cast out the bondwoman and her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.'  So then brethren we are not children of the bondwoman(the Law) but of the free(promise).

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which CHRIST has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.  Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, CHRIST will profit you nothing, and I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  You have become estranged from CHRIST, you who attempt to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the SPIRIT eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  For in CHRIST JESUS neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth ?  This persuasion does not come from HIM WHO calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.  I have confidence in you, in the LORD, that you will have no other mind;  but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is . And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision(the Law), why do I still suffer persecution ? Then the offense of the cross would have ceased.  I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off !!!     Galatians 4:21 - 5:12

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in CHRIST alone.
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie