We, who are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles, 16 [yet] who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? Of course not! 18 But if I am building up again those things that I tore down, then I show myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; 20 yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Paul addresses the Jewish Christians who were born into the Jewish faith and culture and distinguishes them from the Gentile converts who were considered outsiders to the covenant community. The Jews considered themselves superior because they enjoyed a special covenantal relationship with God by birth (Deut. 7:6-8), and through the Mosaic Law, they were given rules of conduct to which the Gentiles, whom they referred to as sinners, were not privy. In the early Church, Jewish Christians sometimes viewed Gentile converts with suspicion, and contempt. Paul explained the roles of justification by faith and the ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law, such as circumcision and dietary regulations, in the Christian life. Justification is when a person is made righteous in God’s eyes through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul stated that adherence to the works of the law cannot bring justification. Jews are justified through faith in Christ, and the Gentiles are also incorporated into the new covenant community through faith in Christ.
If Jews abandon the law and are justified by faith in Christ alone, that does not make Christ a promoter of sin. But if someone reverts to relying on the Law for justification, then he is again relying on works of the Law rather than faith. He is rebuilding what he previously tore down and by doing so he is contradicting the Gospel that he preached. To seek justification through the Law negates the grace of God earned through Christ’s death. Through Christ, believers have died to the law and are no longer bound by its requirements for justification. Instead, they now live for God, identified with Christ in his death and resurrection. If justification could come through the Law, redemption through Christ’s death was unnecessary. Righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone, not through adherence to the Mosaic law.
Almighty God, Paul tells us that justification comes not from our own works but through faith in Christ. Help us to embrace the gift of grace with humility and gratitude, recognizing that it is through Christ's sacrificial love that we find redemption. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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