And yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. Galatians 2:16 (CSB)

Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to clarify problems created by the agitators. These zealots attacked Paul personally and preached a different form of Christianity that required circumcision for salvation. Paul wrote to persuade the Galatians that no Gentile needs to be circumcised to belong in God’s kingdom. Entrance into God’s kingdom comes by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The New City Catechism asks, Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else? Sure enough, every generation has its own way of desiring to add to Christ’s finished work, like it lacked something. The zealots wanted to add circumcision to Christ’s work. Today, we try to add our own good works to Christ’s sacrifice to be justified before God. We forget that all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind (Isa. 64:6). Our works added to Christ’s finished work diminish its glory. So no, those who have faith in Christ should not seek their salvation through their own works or anywhere else—everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ.

Our works, as a means of love toward our neighbor, must follow faith as a sort of thankfulness. But they do not justify us. For even Abraham followed the law by offering his son Isaac for sacrifice. Yet he was not justified by this action but by faith. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Rom. 4:3).

Luther goes on to say that if we seek to be justified by Christ and are still found to be sinners and need the law (or our works) to justify us, then Christ died in vain. The whole scripture is then false when it tells us that Christ is the justifier and savior of the world (Luther, 1998). Truly there is no other way to be justified before God outside of Christ’s righteousness imputed upon us through faith.

So, we pray as the Puritans –

Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy;

Strip me of every pleasing pretense of righteousness by my own doings.

O unite me to thyself with inseparable bonds,

That nothing may ever draw me back from thee, my Lord, my Savior (Bennett, 1975).

Works Cited

Bennett, A. (1975). The Valley Of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. East Peoria: The Banner of Truth Trust.

Luther, M. (1998). Galatians. Wheaton: Crossway.