As surely as a dead person does not do works, a faith, a religion that does not include works, is dead. Thus, a person in whom there is a living and saving faith will produce works. Now, when we look at the story Jesus tells in Luke 18, we see exactly what He teaches. The Pharisee was not justified, although he did the works of God`s law, but the tax collector was justified, although he did not do the same works. In Galatians 2, Paul refers to Peter`s behavior toward the Gentile brethren when other Jews came from Jerusalem. Peter and Paul were both Jews, but knew that the law of Moses, since it was nailed to the cross, could not be justified by the law of Moses or the works commanded in the law. Galatians 2:16 does not say exactly what it says in Greek, and it illuminates our understanding of the relationship between faith and works if we understand it as it is written in Greek. The phrase we are talking about here is, “A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.” In Greek, it says, “A man is justified by the works of the law: [he is justified] only by faith in Jesus Christ.” Misconceptions about sanctity usually lie in misconceptions about human corruption. The Christian`s responsibility to seek God`s holiness provides the reason why God requires works. 1. Peter 1:15-16 accuses us, “But as holy is he who has called you, so ye are holy in all your conduct, for it is written, `Be holy, for I am holy.` Ephesians 2:8-10 makes this reality even stronger.
Although we are saved by grace by faith, the real reason we were created are the good works that God Himself has prepared for us in advance. The gospel of the kingdom of God provides the reasons why works are necessary: the most important is to prepare ourselves to live in the kingdom of God. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, impurity, lewdness, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, conflicts, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, discord, heresies, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, celebrations and others; of which I tell you in advance, as I have told you in the past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV) Do we understand a serious consequence of this statement? It has never been possible for animal blood to eliminate sins! If this was not possible in Paul`s day, it was not possible in Old Testament times. No one, including the heroes of the Old Testament, has ever been forgiven by animal sacrifices, nor saved by the works of the law. Forgiveness and salvation by grace were not new in the New Testament. 3. Moreover, not only does Paul not emphasize the non-necessity of love, but also places great emphasis on the importance of love and obedience. For example, when Paul says that “we await the hope of [justification]” (Galatians 5:5), he is saying that “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is useful [for this hope], but faith that acts by love” (or “faith that works by love,” RSV margin; Galatians 5:6).
1. One piece of evidence we have already mentioned comes from outside the Bible. Recent archaeological and linguistic studies have shown that in first-century Judaism, the term “works of the Torah” was a technical term for actions that served as Jewish identity characteristics (i.e., “works of the Torah”). ceremonial works) that indicated their affiliation with the Jewish alliance, as opposed to those that were not.5 The choice of the correct definition of the term “works of the law” is not a choice between Wright and the Reformation, but ultimately between Wright and the apostle Paul—indeed, between Wright and Scripture itself. Paul goes to great lengths to refute the sinful trust of the Judaizers in their own obedience (their works of the law) because it was their salvation, not just communion at the table. Paul`s detailed argument in Galatians can be summarized in a statement in his letter to the Ephesians: “For it is by grace that you have been saved by faith. And it`s not your fault; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, of which no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). In a word, it is the works of Christ that are the legal basis for our declaration of justification, not our own good works.
The correct definition of works of law means the difference between justification and condemnation, heaven and hell. The image begins to form that works can actually play a role in justifying a person. In other words, does repentance play a role in God`s forgiveness of our sins and thus in justification? Repentance does not only mean feeling sorrow and crying out to God, as shown in 2 Corinthians 7:1 (where we are commanded to purify ourselves). Repentance also involves a change of heart and mind, and at least the beginning of recourse to God in obedience. Repentance is not real if one is only sorry; You need to start changing your ways to show how deep the grief is. Too often, we are sorry for being caught or facing the consequences instead of truly repenting of having sinned (failed to the glory of God). True repentance will be a deep conviction that what we have done is wrong, and it will be deep enough to motivate us to deviate from our past behavior—and this change is considered “works.” As it has been said, “God saves us from our sins, not our sins.” There is a difference, and it gives an indication that there may indeed be a certain amount of work in Galatians 2:16, no matter how small. In chapter 4, we have the first concrete example of what Paul means by “works of the Torah,” and the example confirms the thesis just advanced (that if Paul has anything in mind, it is the ceremonial rather than the moral components of the Torah). The example is circumcision (4:9-12). Paul emphasizes the non-necessity of circumcision for justification. In fact, the whole purpose of his discussion of Abraham as the father of believers (chapter 4) is to demonstrate the non-necessity of circumcision.
It was not my intention (as the author of the article) to intentionally omit James 2:18. It is simply that James` statement on this subject was not directly related to the subject that was generally misunderstood in Paul`s statement on the “works of the law” in his letter to the Galatians (and also to the Romans). Thank you again for your interest in your comment. 27 Where is the boasting? It is excluded. According to what law? Work? No, but according to the law of faith. Circumcision was only one of the interests of the Judaizers. Another is not to recognize the divinity of Yahshua (Jesus), the Messiah, whom they betrayed with hatred and envy of Pilate and thus killed at the hands of Roman soldiers. They did not acknowledge His sacrifice and final death for their sins and for all mankind. In a diligent effort to continue to atone for their own sins, they insisted on continuing the rituals of “animal sacrifices,” which include truly heavy “WORKS,” among many other human requirements.