Who we are “In Christ”: “Co-Crucified” – Galatians 2:15-21 Forest Hills Bible Chapel 25 November 2007.

Who we are “In Christ”:Who we are “In Christ”:“Co-Crucified” –“Co-Crucified” –Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21

Forest Hills Bible ChapelForest Hills Bible Chapel

25 November 200725 November 2007

Some Background to GalatiansSome Background to Galatianso Between Paul’s founding of the churches of Between Paul’s founding of the churches of

Galatia, and the writing of Galatians, the Galatia, and the writing of Galatians, the church as been infiltrated by “Judaizers.”church as been infiltrated by “Judaizers.”

o Judaizers – folks who preached faith in Judaizers – folks who preached faith in Christ Christ plus…plus…

o For the Judaizers, it was faith in Christ, For the Judaizers, it was faith in Christ, plusplus observance of the Law of Moses – observance of the Law of Moses – circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, observing of circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, observing of the Levitical dietary laws, etc.the Levitical dietary laws, etc.

Some Background to GalatiansSome Background to Galatianso While Paul was in Galatia, Peter came for a While Paul was in Galatia, Peter came for a

visit as well – Galatians 2:11ff.visit as well – Galatians 2:11ff.o Initially, Peter had table fellowship with the Initially, Peter had table fellowship with the

Gentile Christians in Galatia.Gentile Christians in Galatia.o But after a party of Jewish Christians from But after a party of Jewish Christians from

James arrived (2:12), Peter withdrew and James arrived (2:12), Peter withdrew and ate only “kosher” food with the Jewish ate only “kosher” food with the Jewish Christians in Galatia.Christians in Galatia.

o Paul then confronted Peter openly in front Paul then confronted Peter openly in front of everyone – 2:14ff.of everyone – 2:14ff.

Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21

15 “We who are Jews by birth and not 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16 know that a man is ‘Gentile sinners’ 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be by observing the law no one will be justified. justified.

Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21

17 “If, while we seek to be justified in 17 “If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.that I might live for God.

Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21

20 I have been crucified with Christ and 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”the law, Christ died for nothing!”

““Co-Crucified”Co-Crucified”

• There is absolutely nothing we can do There is absolutely nothing we can do to save ourselves – not even keeping to save ourselves – not even keeping the Law of Moses! 2:15-16the Law of Moses! 2:15-16

• This raises the question – Why did God This raises the question – Why did God give the Law of Moses to the people of give the Law of Moses to the people of Israel? (See Galatians 3:19)Israel? (See Galatians 3:19)

A Little Biblical HistoryA Little Biblical History The Exodus – Exodus 12:31-14:31The Exodus – Exodus 12:31-14:31

A Little Biblical HistoryA Little Biblical History The Giving of the Law at Sinai – Ex. 19ff.The Giving of the Law at Sinai – Ex. 19ff.

A Little Biblical HistoryA Little Biblical History The Law of Moses was not given to Israel as a The Law of Moses was not given to Israel as a

means by which they could means by which they could becomebecome God’s people. God’s people.

The Law of Moses was given to Israel because they The Law of Moses was given to Israel because they already already werewere God’s people – at least those who had God’s people – at least those who had placed their faith in God’s redemptive work.placed their faith in God’s redemptive work.

2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. – Hebrews 4:2combine it with faith. – Hebrews 4:2

A Little TheologyA Little Theology

A Little TheologyA Little Theology I have been crucified with Christ and I no I have been crucified with Christ and I no

longer live, but Christ lives in me. – longer live, but Christ lives in me. – Galatians 2:20Galatians 2:20

In the 1930’s, there was a sharp division In the 1930’s, there was a sharp division between the between the FundamentalistsFundamentalists and the and the Modernists.Modernists.

The The Modernists Modernists wanted to bring a “modern” wanted to bring a “modern” understanding to the old statements of understanding to the old statements of Scripture.Scripture.

The The Fundamentalists Fundamentalists wanted to hold onto wanted to hold onto the “fundamentals” of the faith.the “fundamentals” of the faith.

A Little TheologyA Little Theology Sometimes, the term “Fundamentalist” is a Sometimes, the term “Fundamentalist” is a

good thing – it asserts that there are certain good thing – it asserts that there are certain “fundamentals” or foundational truths, “fundamentals” or foundational truths, without which we do not have biblical without which we do not have biblical Christianity.Christianity.

These included the inspiration of the Bible, These included the inspiration of the Bible, the Deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, the Deity of Christ, the bodily resurrection, and the and the Substitutionary Atonement.Substitutionary Atonement.

That is, the death of Jesus was a That is, the death of Jesus was a substitutesubstitute for my death – Jesus died for me, or for us.for my death – Jesus died for me, or for us.

A Little TheologyA Little Theology But Paul gives us a little different take on But Paul gives us a little different take on

the atonement.the atonement. Paul teaches not a substitutionary Paul teaches not a substitutionary

atonement, but a atonement, but a participatory atonementparticipatory atonement.. ““I have been crucified with Christ…”I have been crucified with Christ…” I don’t ever have to worry about whether or I don’t ever have to worry about whether or

not the Lord will expect me to pay for my not the Lord will expect me to pay for my sins, because in Christ, I already have!sins, because in Christ, I already have!

Insert “Amen” here! Insert “Amen” here!

A Little GreekA Little Greek New Testament Greek is somewhat New Testament Greek is somewhat

different from English in many ways.different from English in many ways. There are 3 different ways that Greek There are 3 different ways that Greek

communicates the “past tense.”communicates the “past tense.” The imperfect tense – which describes The imperfect tense – which describes

action in the past that is depicted as action in the past that is depicted as “continuous action” – “Jesus was “continuous action” – “Jesus was preaching.”preaching.”

The aorist tense – which describes The aorist tense – which describes completed action usually occurring in the completed action usually occurring in the past – “Jesus preached.”past – “Jesus preached.”

A Little GreekA Little Greek The perfect tense – this tense describes The perfect tense – this tense describes

action that occurred in the past, but which action that occurred in the past, but which has abiding results into the present and has abiding results into the present and beyond.beyond.

Examples:Examples: Aorist tense: “I ate lunch.”Aorist tense: “I ate lunch.” Perfect tense: “I got married.”Perfect tense: “I got married.” Marriage: past tense action (April 29, 1978) Marriage: past tense action (April 29, 1978)

with abiding results! with abiding results!

A Little GreekA Little Greek Paul is saying, “I have been crucified with Paul is saying, “I have been crucified with

Christ” – meaning that God reckons me as Christ” – meaning that God reckons me as having been crucified with Christ, and that having been crucified with Christ, and that “co-crucifixion” continues into the present “co-crucifixion” continues into the present and beyond.and beyond.

I died to my old, sinful self.I died to my old, sinful self. I now live a new life, in Christ – that is, I now live a new life, in Christ – that is,

Christ lives in me.Christ lives in me. From God’s perspective, my life and the life From God’s perspective, my life and the life

of Christ are intertwined, and of Christ are intertwined, and indistinguishable.indistinguishable.

A Little ChorusA Little Chorus

I am crucified with Christ.I am crucified with Christ.

Therefore I no longer live.Therefore I no longer live.

Jesus Christ now lives in me.Jesus Christ now lives in me.

I am crucified with Christ.I am crucified with Christ.

Therefore I no longer live.Therefore I no longer live.

Jesus Christ now lives in me.Jesus Christ now lives in me.