Is the Gospel worth fighting for?Galatians 2:11-21

This is the great ground of joy in the This is the great ground of joy in the word of the cross: justification is by word of the cross: justification is by grace alone (not mixed with our merit), grace alone (not mixed with our merit), through faith alone (not mixed with our through faith alone (not mixed with our works), on the basis of Christ alone (not works), on the basis of Christ alone (not mingling His righteousness with ours), mingling His righteousness with ours), to the glory of God alone (not ours).to the glory of God alone (not ours). John Piper, John Piper, When I Don’t Desire GodWhen I Don’t Desire God

““These are just some of the These are just some of the conditions that the New conditions that the New Testament says we must meet in Testament says we must meet in order to inherit final salvation. order to inherit final salvation. We must We must believebelieve on Jesus and on Jesus and receivereceive him and him and turnturn from our sin from our sin and and obeyobey him and him and humblehumble ourselves like little children and ourselves like little children and lovelove him more than we love our him more than we love our family, our possessions or our family, our possessions or our own life. This is what it means to own life. This is what it means to be converted to Christ. This alone be converted to Christ. This alone is the way of everlasting life.” is the way of everlasting life.” John Piper,John Piper, Desiring God Desiring God

... in the courtroom of God, my guilt for ... in the courtroom of God, my guilt for sin is removed by Christ’s blood… and sin is removed by Christ’s blood… and my title to heaven is provided by my title to heaven is provided by Christ’s obedience….Christ’s obedience….John Piper,John Piper, When I Don’t Desire God When I Don’t Desire God

““The salvation of the elect depends on The salvation of the elect depends on their not denying Christ and on their their not denying Christ and on their enduring in faith and obedience… For enduring in faith and obedience… For only by feeding on the Word can you only by feeding on the Word can you grow, and only by growing can you grow, and only by growing can you persevere and attain final salvation.”persevere and attain final salvation.”John Piper, John Piper, Brothers, We Are Not Brothers, We Are Not ProfessionalsProfessionals

The future grace of inheriting the The future grace of inheriting the kingdom is contingent on not practicing kingdom is contingent on not practicing the works of the flesh… we cannot the works of the flesh… we cannot count on the future grace of eternal life count on the future grace of eternal life if we do not love. if we do not love. John Piper, John Piper, Future GraceFuture Grace

“…“…moral transformation (especially the moral transformation (especially the fruit of love) [is] fruit of love) [is] necessarynecessary for final for final salvation. salvation. John Piper, John Piper, The Future of JustificationThe Future of Justification

Worth fighting for?Worth fighting for? 2:11-212:11-21•Setting - One CommunitySetting - One Community•Paul’s ArgumentPaul’s Argument–2:15 Law-keepers v. Law-2:15 Law-keepers v. Law-breakersbreakers–2:16a Justified by faith not 2:16a Justified by faith not worksworks–2:16b Faithful work of Christ2:16b Faithful work of Christ–2:16c Enter Christ’s work by 2:16c Enter Christ’s work by faithfaith

Worth fighting for?Worth fighting for? 2:11-212:11-21•Setting - One CommunitySetting - One Community•Paul’s ArgumentPaul’s Argument•Objection/AccusationObjection/Accusation•ResponseResponse–2:18 Law proves sin2:18 Law proves sin–2:19 Law is a dead end2:19 Law is a dead end–2:20 Life with Christ2:20 Life with Christ–2:21 Necessary and sufficient2:21 Necessary and sufficient

ApplicationApplication•Read James 1-3, Read James 1-3, Romans 3-4Romans 3-4

•Give thanks for finished Give thanks for finished work of Christwork of Christ