The Unique Gospel

After almost two chapters of condemning those that preach "another gospel" (Gal 1:8-9), Paul now spells out the essence of the good news that he proclaimed. Being righteous comes through faith in Jesus Christ, and through faith in Christ only (Gal 2:15-16). Nothing can be added to what Christ has done for us. We cannot become righteous by keeping the requirements of the Law, nor by performing any ritual. Both of these are relevant for us today. We can think that , because a person leads a good life, or even an exemplary life, it would be unfair of God to reject that person. Paul would say that such an idea undermines what Christ has done for us through his death on the cross. God's offer of righteousness is based on God's grace and not on our goodness. Furthermore, there are those who would rely on baptism, or the saying of a prayer, or coming forward at a meeting, as the means whereby a person is made righteous. Again, none of these can do what God offers through faith in Jesus Christ. No performance of a ritual, whether Catholic or Evangelical, can make us right with God. We accept God's righteous through faith in Christ only. Max