Galatians 2:11-21, Galatians 3:1-9 NIRV

Galatians 2:11-21

Paul Opposes Peter

When Peter came to Antioch, I told him to his face that I was against what he was doing. He was clearly wrong. He used to eat with the Gentiles. But certain men came from a group sent by James. When they arrived, Peter began to draw back. He separated himself from the Gentiles. That’s because he was afraid of the circumcision group sent by James. Peter’s actions were not honest, and other Jews in Antioch joined him. Even Barnabas was led astray.

I saw what they were doing. It was not in line with the truth of the good news. So I spoke to Peter in front of them all. “You are a Jew,” I said. “But you live like one who is not. So why do you force Gentiles to follow Jewish ways?”

We are Jews by birth. We are not sinful Gentiles. Here is what we know. No one is made right with God by obeying the law. It is by believing in Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus. This is so we can be made right with God by believing in Christ. We are not made right by obeying the law. That’s because no one can be made right with God by obeying the law.

We are seeking to be made right with God through Christ. As we do, what if we find that we who are Jews are also sinners? Does that mean that Christ causes us to sin? Certainly not! Suppose I build again what I had destroyed. Then I would really be breaking the law.

By the law, I died as far as the law is concerned. I died so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. I don’t live any longer, but Christ lives in me. Now I live my life in my body by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself for me. I do not get rid of the grace of God. What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!

Read More of Galatians 2

Galatians 3:1-9

Faith or Obeying the Law

You foolish people of Galatia! Who has put you under an evil spell? When I preached, I clearly showed you that Jesus Christ had been nailed to the cross. I would like to learn just one thing from you. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law? Or did you receive the Spirit by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? You began by the Holy Spirit. Are you now trying to finish God’s work in you by your own strength? Have you experienced so much for nothing? And was it really for nothing? So I ask you again, how does God give you his Spirit? How does he work miracles among you? Is it by doing what the law says? Or is it by believing what you have heard? In the same way, Abraham “believed God. God was pleased with Abraham because he believed. So his faith made him right with God.” (Genesis 15:6)

So you see, those who have faith are children of Abraham. Long ago, Scripture knew that God would make the Gentiles right with himself. He would do this by their faith in him. He announced the good news ahead of time to Abraham. God said, “All nations will be blessed because of you.” (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18) So those who depend on faith are blessed along with Abraham. He was the man of faith.

Read More of Galatians 3