A Study in Galatians

Lesson #3 Frustrating the Grace of God (Galatians 2:15-21)

In this lesson we are going to be looking more into how the church at Galatia was having problems with trying to mix the law into the grace that is found in the Church Age through Jesus Christ. This lesson will focus on the phrase “I do not frustrate the grace of God:” In this lesson we will look at what this phrase means as well as how we are to live in view of the fact that we are not under the Law.

What does it mean to frustrate the grace of God?

In verse 21 Paul says that he does not frustrate the grace of God. From the context of the other verses for this study we see that what Paul is saying is that if you say you have to perform the law to be justified then that would be frustrating the grace of God. Note verse 16, it plainly states that no flesh is justified by the works of the Law. It also shows us that our justification (being declared righteous by God is by faith).

How to know for sure that we are not justified by the Law?

In the last half of verse 21 Paul says, “for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” So what he is saying is that if there is a way for us to work our way to heaven then, why did Jesus have to die?

How to live considering we are not justified by the Law?

 Some people think that since we are not justified by works in the Church Age then we can just do whatever we want with worry. They even call it a license to sin. Now we know this is not the case but how are we to live. There are a couple of things found in the passage that are helpful to us in this regards.

1)  We must consider ourselves dead to sin and the lust of the flesh (Verses 19-20)

• This is not an easy task but we must try and think of ourselves as dead. This is not true physically but spiritually we have been crucified with Jesus.
• We must first know this, then count on it, and last of all not yield to sin (Romans 6:11-13).

2)  Live by the faith of Jesus Christ (verse 20)

• Our faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17), therefore the more time we spend in the word the easier it will be to live by faith.

A Study in Galatians

Lesson #3 Frustrating the Grace of God (Galatians 2:15-21) : Handout

1)  What is meant by the phrase “I do not frustrate the grace of God”?

2)  How do we know that justification is by faith and not by the Law?

3)  How do we live seeing that we are justified by faith and not the Law?