RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-03-02	What Does Paul Mean By 'Live By Faith'? (Ga.2:20)
		Gal 2:20 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. As is true of many of Paul's epistles, Galatians was a corrective letter. The Christians there in Galatia were being convinced that the law of Moses must be followed. These legalistic demands are contrary to the gospel of Jesus (Ga.2:21; 3:1-5). The people of Galatia were turning away from Christ alone to "a different gospel" (Ga.1:6). This different gospel taught that while Christ may have declared the believer righteous at the point of belief, one was still required to live under the burden of the Mosaic Law. Paul teaches them what it means to 'live by faith' (Ga.2;20). • PAST: When someone believes the gospel of Christ that person is identified with Christ in the past (Ro.6:2-5), and declared righteousness (Ro.3:25). The believer is then declared righteous. • PRESENT: When someone believes the gospel of Christ there is a present righteousness that grows more into the image of Christ. • FUTURE: When someone believes the gospel of Christ there is a future righteousness where we will become perfectly righteous. In Galatians 2:20 Paul refers to the past and present aspects of righteousness. In verse 19 Paul contrasts living by faith with dying to the law. Gal 2:19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. Paul further expounds this idea of living by faith and dying to the law in Galatians 3:3. Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? The idea that we live by faith focuses on the present aspect of the believer's identity with Christ. Paul refers to the "life which I now live in the flesh" (aka, the body) as pointing to the physical life of the believer as lived "now." Living by faith is an act that takes place while we are alive on the earth. So Paul connects the idea of "Christ lives in me" with our living by faith now. What is the object of our faith? It is "the Son of God" who loves me. To live by faith is to live trusting Jesus who died in our place. The Galatians were being told to live by works. Ultimately this means they trusted in their own selves or power. The believer is justified by faith in JESUS (Ga.3:10-14; Ro.4:3). The believer is progressively made holy by faith in JESUS (Ga.2:20; Ti.2:11-15). The believer is glorified because of faith in JESUS (Ro.8:1, 28-30). So all praise and glory is given to JESUS our Savior for our justified standing and our faith oriented life (1Jn.2:1-2). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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