Galatians 2:15-21

Expanded Bible

¹⁵ We were not born as Gentile “sinners,” but as Jews. ¹⁶ Yet we know that a person is ·made right with God [justified; declared righteous] not by ·following [^Lthe works of] the law, but by ·trusting in [faith in; or the faithfulness of] Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus, that we might be ·made right with God [justified; declared righteous] ·because we trusted in [through faith in; or because of the faithfulness of] Christ. It is not ·because we followed [^Lby the works of] the law, because no ·one [human being; ^Lflesh] can be ·made right with God [justified; declared righteous] by ·following [^Lthe works of] the law.

¹⁷ ·We Jews came to Christ, trying to be made right with God, and it became clear that we are sinners, too [or But if we ourselves, also, by seeking to be justified in Christ, were found to be sinners…]. Does this mean that Christ ·encourages [^Lis a servant/minister of] sin? ·No [Absolutely not; May it never be]! ¹⁸ But I would ·really be wrong [or prove myself to be a lawbreaker/sinner] ·to begin teaching again those things that I gave up [^Lif I rebuild those things I tore down; ^Cdependance on the law for salvation]. ¹⁹ ·It was the law that put me to death [or Trying to keep the law condemned me to death; ^LFor through the law I died to the law], and I died to the law so that I can now live for God [^Cno longer depending on the law for salvation, Paul now depends on God’s grace]. ²⁰ I ·was put to death on the cross [^Lhave been crucified] with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my ·body [flesh], but I live ·by faith in [or because of the faithfulness of] the Son of God who loved me and gave himself ·to save me [^Lfor me; on my behalf]. ²¹ By saying these things I ·am not going against [^Ldo not set aside/nullify] God’s grace. ·Just the opposite [^LFor…], if the law could make us right with God, then Christ’s death would be ·useless [in vain; for nothing].