Sermon Guide: Galatians 2:11-19 "Misusing the Law"

Key Passage(s)

Galatians 2:11–19 ESV

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 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.

But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

Sermon Overview

Paul confronts Peter for acting in a way that misrepresents the gospel, reminding us that justification is by faith in Christ alone—not by works or law-keeping. When we misuse God’s law as a means of righteousness, we not only mislead others but also obscure the good news of grace. The law functions like a mirror, showing our need for Christ, while only Christ can make us righteous. Justification is a gift received, not earned or maintained through human effort.

Sermon Structure

Main point: Misusing the law misleads others and misses the good news of Jesus.

#1 Misusing the Law

• The law reveals sin

#2 Misleading Others

• The Troublemakers’ heresy

• Peter’s hypocrisy

#3 Missing the Good News

• Covenant terms

• Failing to meet the standards

• Christ’s imputed righteousness

Definitions

Justification: “An act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 33)

It is a legal declaration whereby our sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us — to be received by faith alone.

Imputation: A reckoning or crediting of something to another’s account; a transfer. Our sin, with its guilt and punishment, is imputed to Christ; his righteousness, with its blessing and reward, is imputed to us. This is often called “The Great Exchange.”

Covenant: A binding relationship with terms — more binding than a friendship, and more loving than a contract. Covenants are one of the chief ways by which God relates to man (the Noahic covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, the Mosaic covenant, the Davidic covenant, and the New Covenant in Christ).

Some covenants are bilateral, meaning both parties bring something to the table. In a bilateral covenant, there are consequences or blessings for either party for breaking or keeping the covenant terms.

Some covenants are unilateral, meaning one party takes the terms of the covenant on himself, with both its blessings and its curses.

The Mosaic Covenant (the law of Moses) is a bilateral covenant; if we fail to uphold the terms, we suffer the consequences.

The New Covenant in Christ — also called the Covenant of Grace — is a unilateral covenant; if we fail to uphold the terms, Christ takes the consequences on himself.

Questions for Discussion & Reflection

1. We all want to be in right-relationship & right-standing before God (justified). The Bible tells us that we can be justified only in Christ, by faith. A “Jesus + nothing” gospel. What kinds of things are we tempted to add to Jesus’ finished work to be right with God?

   
   

2. How can people-pleasing or fear of man lead us out of step with the gospel?