Galatians 2:21. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
If Galatians 2:20 took us up into the theological clouds, then 2:21 brings us back down to earth. Bottom line: grace and law are two different categories altogether. And if righteousness were by the law, then the grace of God would be nullified (made of no purpose or value).
The sad reality is that most of the world nullifies grace. Not only do they fail to recognize it all around us, but they fail to see their need for it altogether—especially through the exclusivity of the death of Christ. From Hinduism to Humanism, every other faith nullifies the grace of God and replaces it with works-righteousness. Every other faith upholds law-keeping for righteousness’ sake. Grace does not get you into Jewish Heaven, Muslim Heaven, or Buddhist Nirvana. Works of the law do. So why did Jesus have to die?
The sad reality for Christians is that so many combine grace and law into one system of self-righteousness. One way that we do this is by thinking that God’s grace is what allows us to keep the law. Paul will address this argument more completely in the next section, but for now, let’s just say that when we believe that grace is a “law-enabler,” we are nullifying grace and the death of Christ just like any other “religion.”
Grace and law are two completely different systems. Yes, they are both from God, but they were never meant to work together for righteousness—imputed righteousness through justification or participatory righteousness through sanctification. Both are only possible by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ and our union with his death and resurrection (Gal. 2:20).
You see, Christian, either Jesus’ death on the cross does everything or it does nothing. There is no middle ground. We simply cannot combine merit and grace. Not for our justification or our sanctification. If we could save or sanctify ourselves in any way, then Jesus died for no reason. Only when we realize that all is grace will our union with the death of Christ empower faith in the life of Christ.
You: Where can you see yourself nullifying grace by combining it with some form of works-righteousness?
You in Christ: How does counting on our own merit nullify both grace and the cross of Christ?
Christ in you: Union with Christ produces faith, not works. Where can you see your good works flowing from faith rather than law?
Pray: Father, the last thing I ever want to do is to nullify grace. And I never want to nullify the cross of Jesus. Let my union with his cross be the object of my faith, a faith that produces loving service to you. Amen.
