Law Versus Grace

MEMORY VERSE: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, … that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” —Galatians 2:16

ACTS 15:1-6

WHEN Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their first missionary journey and reported that Gentiles were accepting the Gospel and becoming followers of Jesus, it led to a controversy with brethren who “came down from Judea … and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

Paul and Barnabas “had no small … disputation” with these brethren, and it was arranged that they should “go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.” This was a logical thing to do, and as they traveled to Jerusalem from Antioch they met with other brethren in various places, and reported their experiences in connection with the Gentiles, and this “caused great joy unto all the brethren.”

Arriving in Jerusalem, they found that certain Pharisees who had accepted Christ agreed with those in Antioch who insisted that believing Gentiles should be circumcised, so a general conference was arranged to discuss the matter. Peter was at this conference, and told of his experience in connection with the conversion of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert; and Paul and Barnabas also gave their report of “what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.”—Acts 15:7-12

Then James took the floor and, referring specially to Peter’s testimony, said, “Simeon bath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” Yes, God DID visit the Gentiles. This was Peter’s testimony, and now the question was what, if any, restrictions were to be put upon them from the standpoint of the Mosaic Law?

The conclusions of the conference on this question are set forth in Acts 15:28-31. They are in the form of a communication sent to Gentile Christians: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Circumcision is not mentioned in these simple requirements.

GALATIANS 2:15-21

In this section of the lesson Paul presents the theological aspects of the controversy which was so lively in Antioch, and which brought about the first apostolic conference at Jerusalem. “Man is not justified by the works of the law,” Paul wrote in our memory verse, “hut by the faith of Jesus Christ.” Paul stresses this point again in Romans 5:1, which reads, “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In the 7th chapter of Romans, Paul, against the background of his own personal experience, explains the impossibility of attaining the favor of God through one’s own righteousness.

Upon the basis of faith demonstrated by a full consecration to do the Father’s will, the blood of Christ is imputed, and serves as a “robe of righteousness” to cover our unwilling imperfections. Thus the consecrated believer is looked upon by God, not according to his fallen flesh, but upon the basis of the imputed righteousness of Christ. As Paul points out, no flesh will ever be justified by the works of the Law. The great service of the Law was to point up the necessity of the blood of Christ.

Upon the basis of justifying faith the Christian is counted by God as having life, and he is invited to lay down this life in sacrifice. Paul was doing this. He wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Because we do have the life of Christ—the blood—imputed to us, we are able, as Paul wrote, to present our bodies a living sacrifice. And we can do this with the assurance that our sacrifice is holy and acceptable to God, and our reasonable service.

QUESTIONS

What controversy arose in Antioch in connection with the conversion of Gentiles?

To what did this controversy later lead in Jerusalem?

Explain the basis of the Christian’s justification by faith.

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