💭The apostle Paul disproved the modern theory of "dispensational salvation," which teaches that Jews were "saved" by faith and works prior to the incarnation of the Word (Jesus), as well as during the time of great tribulation after the rapture of the church. 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣🟤⚪️⚫️
Paul reminded the apostle Peter of the doctrine of justification by faith during a meeting at the church in Antioch (Galatians 2:11-15). Read the following passage carefully:
📜Galatians 2:16-21 (KJB) – "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
💭Brother Paul reminded brother Peter that both Jews and Gentiles are justified by the grace of God through faith alone—in this context, through faith in Jesus Christ. However, prior to the incarnation of the Word (Jesus), Paul emphasized that Jews could not be justified by their works under the laws of Moses, because those laws never provided justification or the gift of everlasting life. In the following chapter, Paul expounded on this concept even more thoroughly:
📜Galatians 3:10-14 (KJB) – "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
💭Paul reminds the Christians throughout Galatia that the laws of Moses were never meant to save or justify but to condemn and curse. The purpose of those laws was to awaken the sinner’s conscience to their sins and redirect their attention to the mercy and grace of God for pardon—not to offer forgiveness or the gift of everlasting life. For any Jew (or Gentile proselyte to Judaism) to be granted righteousness through the law as their source, the law would require that sinner to obey it perfectly from birth to death, in thought and deed, 100% of the time. The moment a practitioner failed to keep the law in its entirety, it would immediately pronounce a curse upon them, leaving the sinner with no option but to plead for the mercy and grace of God for pardon.
The Holy Spirit continued to aid Paul’s exposition on this matter throughout the rest of this epistle, contrasting the "promise" given to Abraham as the pattern for God’s future means of justifying sinners through faith (Galatians 3:6-9, 14-18) with the "law" that was added to expose sinners’ errors, offering no means to justify or save souls (Galatians 3:19-29). That is why the only person to have ever lived by the law and obtained its declaration of righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself (Galatians 3:12-13). He alone fulfilled the law by obeying it 100% throughout His life from birth to death and willingly offered Himself as the substitute sacrifice, taking upon His body the curse placed upon all of mankind. Through His perfect faith and justification, God credits sinners with Christ’s righteousness, thereby fulfilling the law’s demands for obedience (Romans 8:1-4).
Read further:
📜Galatians 3:21-22 (KJB) – "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
💭The Holy Spirit clarified this further in this passage, reminding the Christians that no law given through Moses could grant life or provide the righteousness of God as credit to sinners for the pardon of their sins—salvation comes only by grace through faith. In verse 22, "the scripture" includes the writings of Moses (the law) and the prophets, declaring that the law has concluded all (not some) under sin, including those listed in Hebrews 11. This ensures that the promised pattern of salvation established with Abraham—by grace through faith, not works—would be the basis for God’s justification of both Jews and Gentiles.
Unlike some Christians who hold to this theory, I do not personally accuse them of being hindered in discerning all other Christian doctrines by applying this commentary filter, which may lead to supposed contradictions. It’s simply a commentary from men—not divinely inspired—like all human commentary.
With love,
Brother Carlos 😊🙏
