Marsha's Musings: How Can We Be Justified Before God?

Galatians 2:16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.


There were those in Paul's day that were requiring the Christians to adhere to the Jewish Mosaic ceremonial laws.  Paul is making a point here that it is only by faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified before God and therefore it was not necessary for these Christians to brought into bondage under the rules and regulations of the Mosaic ceremonial laws.

This does not nullify the ten commandments (moral law of God), however.  A Christian is still to live by those.  We are not saved by keeping the commandments.  The commandments are a way of life, not the way to Life.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life and salvation.

How many churches are there today, that have certain rites, ceremonies, commandments etc. that they teach you must keep and do in order to reach heaven?  Their whole focus is on making themselves worthy.  It is all man-centered when the focus should be on Jesus Christ.  Worthy is the Lamb!  He alone is worthy to receive honor and glory and power.  It is only through the worthiness of Christ that we are deemed worthy to stand in God's presence. If our faith is in our own good works, obedience to the commandments and ordinances of a church, it is all for naught.  No man can be justified by these. Our focus should not be on making ourselves worthy before God or church leaders for that is to put our faith in works. Our faith should be in Christ alone and His worthiness on our behalf.