Community & Discipleship

Life Begins at the Cross (Galatians 2:11-21)

2011.10.02Rev. Eddie Byun

Life begins at the cross. We are made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by our works, so we must live the gospel with conviction rather than fear of people.

Peter's fear undid his courage, and Paul confronted him in public (11-14)

Peter had learned from God's vision in Acts 10 that all food was clean and that Gentiles belonged to God's family, so he ate freely with Gentile believers. When Jewish men came from James, however, fear made him withdraw and separate himself. Other Jewish believers and even Barnabas followed his hypocrisy. Paul opposed Peter to his face because Peter's sin was public and influenced everyone. Our lives always influence others, so we will influence them either through compromise or through conviction.

Our works cannot make us right with God (15-16)

Paul reminds us that we are not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. To be justified means to be declared right in God's courtroom, and no amount of church attendance, giving, or service can earn that verdict. The old way demands perfection in every law, and one sin breaks the path. Our works are like filthy rags before a holy God, so we must leave them behind and rest on Christ's finished work.

Christ is our parachute, greater than the pull of gravity (17-19)

If we try to rebuild the old path of works, we nullify what Christ has done and dishonor his sacrifice. Paul says that through the law he died to the law, so that he might live to God. The old law said do this or die, but Christ has made a greater law: trust Christ and be saved. Like gravity, the old law kills anyone who depends on himself, however hard he flaps his arms. Christ is our parachute, and the law can no longer crush us.

Life begins at the cross as Christ lives in us (20-21)

Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. His death was my death, so the old law no longer condemns me. Grace would be nullified if righteousness came through the law, for then Christ died for nothing. Those who bow to Jesus as Lord receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, and our lives are headed to everlasting life.

Live the gospel with courage and conviction today

The cross calls us to courage in a generation that fears the opinions of others. Jesus is the only way to be saved, and there is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved. Our souls and the souls around us depend on how we witness. Come empty and humbly to Jesus, and we will finally live because life begins at the cross.

Apply to Life

  • Let us leave our works behind and rest on Jesus alone for our right standing with God.
  • Let us examine whether our fear of people is making us withdraw from fellowship we ought to keep.
  • Let us speak the gospel with courage and conviction to the people around us.
  • Let us come to Jesus empty and humble, and live because life begins at the cross.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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