• The Math TEST of Galatians: Jesus + Nothing = Pass | Jesus + Anything = Fail.
• The Standard of the Law: Galatians 3:10, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” God demands 100% perfection. 80% isn’t good enough!
• The Role of the Law: The Law acts as a mirror to expose our sin and need for a Savior, but it lacks the power to cleanse or save us.
• Definition of Justification: A legal declaration by God where the guilty are declared “not guilty” and completely righteous solely through faith alone in Jesus Christ, whose perfect obedience and death are credited to us as an irrevocable reality.
• Feelings about God’s feelings: Feelings do not determine God’s love for you at any moment. How you feel God feels about you changes constantly. Your security has been determined by the irrevocable reality of the cross!
• Grace vs. Grit: Trying to earn God’s favor (whether you are a Christian or not) through legalism and personal performance (“grit”) invalidates the cross. Life as a Christian is sustained by continually running to God’s unmerited favor (“grace”). This means the things I do are not to earn the Father’s favor but are meant to establish my faith in the Son whom the Father favors.

Discussion & Questions for Application 

1. What general application, encouragement, or conviction did you receive from Galatians 2:15–21, and how can you rely on Christ living through you this week?
2. The LAW: A Mirror or Cleanser? How does the Law act as a “mirror” that exposes sin rather than a means to earn God’s favor? Where in your life are you tempted to use the Law or rules as a ladder to God instead of a mirror?
3. Justification: An irrevocable Reality! How does knowing that your justification is an “irrevocable declaration” by God shift your sense of security and assurance in Christ?
4. Spiritual Suicide: In what  ways do you find yourself “killing yourself” to earn God’s approval by relying on your own effort and righteousness instead of resting in Christ’s finished work?
5. Running Harder or Running to Grace: When convicted of sin or experiencing spiritual failure, is your immediate reaction to try harder in your own strength (“grit”) or to run to “grace”? What does “grit” look like in daily life versus running to “grace”?

• John Stott: “It is the good news that sinful men and women can be brought into acceptance with God not because of their works but through a simple act of trust in Jesus Christ.”
• Wayne Grudem: “A true view of justification is the dividing line between the biblical gospel of salvation by faith alone and all false gospels of salvation based on good works.” 
• C. H. Spurgeon: “The Law of God is intended to show a man how much he needs cleansing, but the Law cannot cleanse him.”

• J. I. Packer: “God reckons righteousness to them, not because he accounts them to have kept his law personally (which would be a false judgment), but because he accounts them to be united to one who kept it representatively (and that is a true judgment).”