Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 11, 1913

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This Inquirers' Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer them does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

3954 — Not Justified by Works

Please explain Gal. 2:16. W. A. K.

The scripture reads: "Yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law; because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." This is only stating the most obvious truth. Take it in civil matters, for instance. A man who breaks the law of the land is counted by that law a criminal. The law does not justify him; it condemns him. He can only get release from that law by the pardon of the government, through the grace of the executive. God's law can not justify man because the law points out sin. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20. "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law." Rom. 7:7. Consequently the law could not justify, and Paul knew that a man is not justified, therefore, by the works of the law. If man, whom the law condemns as a sinner, had the power—which he has not—to keep the law from that day on, that would not justify his past deeds. Man can do no works of supererogation. After he has done all that he was told to do, as Jesus said, he can still count himself an unprofitable servant. But there is one who does justify, and that is God—freely through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. See Rom. 3:21, 22, 24. The righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to the sinner, and God counts the sinner just, because he has given up his sin. So the apostle says, "Even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ." His hope, and only hope, was in Him, even as is ours. Therefore, man being a sinner, by the works of the law no flesh can be justified before God. But Jesus justifies from sin, and He not only does this, but writes the law of God in the heart, so that by the grace of Christ it is a real delight to observe it.