Salvation is By Works - Just Not Our Works - Galatians 1-3

 Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

A person is NOT justified by works!!    Those words have changed the lives of men, of people groups and of nations.   The entire basis of Christianity is based upon those marvelous words.    Our salivation is wholly in Christ’s finished WORKS for us.  We do not WORK to earn His salvation, He worked for us.   What should we know about WORKS or how should we think of WORKS? 

#1.  In the above passage we are simply told we are reminded that by keeping the Law we are not justified.  There is no law that can justify us.   But, the Law must still be kept.  

#2.  But, justification can’t be by the Law, because you have to keep the entire Law or you will be cursed:

Galatians 3:10 (ESV)

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

#3.  Jesus took the curse we are under for failing to keep the Law, by dying on a cross for us:

Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

#4. Those who place themselves under the law and rely on circumcision for salvation cut themselves off from Christ:

Galatians 5:2-6 (ESV)

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

We can’t be justified by performing works that keep the Law since we can’t keep the entire Law.  But, Jesus came and kept the entire Law.  Despite that He did, He still took our place on the cross as the ONE who did the WORKS and KEPT THE LAW.   Salvation has always been by WORKS ... just not OUR WORKS ... but the CHRIST’S WORKS.   He preformed for us, so that when we received His WORKS done on our behalf by faith, we, too, can be justified.