Sunhills Community Church > Sermons > How Can I Live to God?

Review Galatians 2:16-21. In verse 16 Paul explains that a right standing before God (justification) does not come from ‘observing the law’ but ‘by faith in Jesus Christ’. (It is a ‘righteousness from God’, Phil 3; ‘the free gift of righteousness’, Rom 5.) Some object to this idea, suggesting that it will promote sin (v17; cf Rom 6:1). How does Paul answer this objection in v17-21?
Why is the law not an effective basis for us to try to ‘live for God’ (v18, 19, 21)? What rules are you inclined to put up as a measure of how you are doing in living for God?
Reflect again on verse 20. (Have you memorized it yet?) Whose life is it? Can you sincerely say ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me’? What does that mean for you?
As we continue in verse 20, what does it mean for you to live life by faith? Talk about each aspect of the focus of this faith: the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. What is different in your life when you are focused on Jesus, his love and his giving himself for you? What happens when you are not focused on this?
The last three weeks have focused on 2:14 (living in line with the truth of the gospel); 2:16 (our acceptance before God/ justification by faith) and 2:20 (living, with Christ in me, by faith). How do these three connect and tie together? Where is that showing up (or lacking) in your life?

For next week read Galatians 3:1-14.