Justified by Faith, Not by Works

We continued our discussion on the theme of justification by faith rather than by the works of the law. As Paul writes in Galatians 2:16, “a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” He reaffirmed his apostleship and his divine calling to minister to the Gentiles, emphasizing that no one can be justified by observing the Mosaic Law, since no one has ever been able to fully keep it (Galatians 3:10–11). Instead, salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

We also reflected on what it looks like in the 21st century to rely on works for salvation, and how this mindset can still appear in our daily lives through performance, striving, or self-reliance. Our session concluded with a powerful reflection on Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

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