Justification by Faith Alone
Galatians 2:15–21
[We] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Galatians 2:16 (NIV throughout)

Justify is a forensic term borrowed from the law courts. It means “to declare righteous or innocent.” The opposite of “to justify” is “to condemn” or “to pronounce guilty.” Such a term involves an objective standard, and since righteousness is understood to be the unique characteristic of God, that standard must be the divine standard. In themselves, all persons fall short of this standard—“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). But in Christ, God declares all righteous who believe, imputing divine righteousness to them. In this sense, justification expresses the judicial action of God apart from human merit according to which the guilty are pardoned, acquitted, and then reinstated as God’s children and as fellow heirs with Jesus Christ.

This experience does not happen automatically to all men. God justifies only as he unites a man or woman to Christ, a union that takes place only through the channel of human faith. Faith is the means, not the source, of justification. Faith is trust. It begins with knowledge, so it is not blind. It builds on facts, so it is not speculation. It stakes its life on the outcome, so it is not impractical. Faith is trusting Christ and proving his promises.

It is also implied in this commitment that a person will turn his back on the only other apparent possibility—the attempt to be justified by works done in obedience to formal statutes from whatever source. The article “the,” included in the NIV translation, is not present in the phrases “observing law” or “works of law.” This means that Paul’s emphasis is not on the Jewish law, the law of Moses, at all, though it includes it, but rather on any system of attempting to please God by good deeds. “Works of law” are “deeds of men.”

Paul’s threefold repetition of the doctrine of justification by faith in this one verse is important, because it shows the importance the apostle gives to the doctrine. Besides, the three phrases increase in emphasis. The first is general. Paul says, “A man is not justified by observing . . . law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” A man is any man, anyone. The second phrase is particular and personal. “We, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law.” This statement involves Paul himself, as well as all who stand with him in the faith. The final statement is universal: “By observing the law no one will be justified.” The words are literally “all flesh,” i.e., mankind without exception.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.