- Justification by faith: (2:15-16): This is the first appearance of the important word justification in this letter, and probably in Paul’s writings. “Justification by faith” was the watchword of the Reformation, and it is important that we understand this doctrine.
“The just shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4:) is God’s answer and Paul’s statement in (Rom. 1:17). It was this truth that liberated Martin Luther from religious bondage and fear. In the New Testament Romans explains the meaning of “the just”; Galatians (3:11) explains “shall live”; and Hebrews explains “by faith (Heb. 10:38).” Here are some points to ponder to understand justification.
- Justification is the work of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ.
- It is an act not a process. “Having therefore been once-and-for-all justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1). We are not justified by works, then it would become a gradual process.
- It is not the result of man’s character or works. “It is God that who justifies us.”
- It is not by doing the “works of the Law” that the sinner gets a right standing before God, but by putting his faith in Jesus Christ. The Law was given to reveal sin but it cannot redeem us from sins. Christ’s righteousness has been put in us.
- In justification, God declares the believing sinner righteous; He does not make him righteous. (Of course, real justification leads to a changed life, which is told in (Jam.2). The sinner is guilty before the Lord, but when stands before Christ he is declared not guilty.
- Justification is not simply “forgiveness,” because a person could be forgiven and then go out and sin and become guilty. Once you have been “justified by faith” you can never be held guilty before God.
- Justification is different from “pardon,” because a pardoned criminal still has a record. When the sinner is justified by faith, his past sins are remembered no more, and God no longer puts his sins on record ( Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:1-8).
- Unless we admit that we are sinners, God cannot justify us. The reason most sinners are not justified is because they will not admit they are sinners! And sinners are the only kind of people Jesus Christ can save (Matt.9:9-13; Lk.18:9-14).
When Peter separated himself from the Gentiles, he was denying the truth of justification by faith, because he was saying, “We Jews are different from and better than the Gentiles. We must remember that whether we are Jews or Gentiles, rich or poor, hailing from developed or undeveloped literate or illiterate, irrespective of our colour, creed and caste, we are only sinners and needs to be saved through faith in Christ.
- A folly: (2: 17-18): If any Christian goes back to the law, he is confessing that he is still a sinner and needs Christ. In other words, we are saying that our faith in Christ made us a sinner again, and that makes Christ the minister of sin! To turn back to the Law denies the work of Christ on the cross. Paul again says “now you have changed your mind. You preached salvation by faith; now you preach salvation by law. You are building up the very things you once tore down, which makes you a sinner, because you tore down something that God wanted to keep standing.” In other words, Paul showed Peter the inconsistency of his actions and his beliefs.
- Christ’s grace: (2:19-21): The law leads to death. Where the Law kills, the Gospel raises us up. A believer has the living Christ within. By faith, he is united to Christ forever. When Christ died, he died; when Christ rose, he arose with Him. A believer’s life is not a set of rules and regulations. To go back to the Law is to frustrate or to make empty the grace of God! If the Law is God’s way of salvation, then Christ died in vain! The focus of Christianity is not dying, but living. Because we have been crucified with Christ. Legally we have been reconciled with God and are free to grow in Christ.
Today the present Christians are in danger of acting as if Christ died for nothing. We must remember that Cross is the only way for salvation. Peter’s attitude seem to have promoting legalism or putting a burden on the neck of Gentile Christians. When Paul rebuked him, things were set right.
Peter’s response was not recorded in either Galatians or Acts. But we know that Paul’s rebuke accomplished its purpose. In fact, one of the last admonitions Peter wrote was that believers should read Paul’s letters to find God’s truth about this present age (2 Pet.3:16-18).