Was the apostle Paul exaggerating when he wrote, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.", Galatians 2:21? There are many who profess to believe the doctrines of grace, and cry "Grace, Grace," yet, they try to make keeping the Law their standard for righteousness. My purpose here is not to stir up debate, but to challenge each of us to examine whether our faith stands on the true righteousness of God in Christ.

As we read the Scripture, we need to remember that each verse has a particular context. Consider the preceding verses to find out why Paul makes such a forceful statement as, "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." There is no lee-way here for any middle ground. He is saying this:

1. "If God acquits or rewards sinners because of any obedience of the law on their part, then Christ died groundlessly and to no purpose at all. His death was then wholly superfluous."
2. The death of the Lord Christ fully satisfied God by his death, or he died in vain.

Judaisers were trying to force the people back to some performance of the law as a means of a right standing with God. In chapter 2, it becomes clear that the real conflict was with certain Jews who went from church to church insisting on circumcision as a means of justification before God. They denied the full, final, and complete atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ has so fully accomplished the law that believers are no longer under its terms and bondage, or else they must still keep the whole law in every jot and tittle. Paul clearly reiterated the truth of the Gospel in Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,...that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

The apostle Paul said, "I do not frustrate the grace of God. The word literally means to "set it aside," or "make it void." "I do not try to make it something other than what God declares it to be; a gift according to His free and unmerited favor." Any time someone adds to the work of Christ, he declares it null and void. This includes those who look to any work of their own, or an experience, or something, no matter how good it seems. They take a position that can only bring God's condemnation and wrath.

Let's consider some ways in which people despise the grace of God today and thereby do despite to the work of Christ. Some supersede the work of Christ by making baptism necessary to salvation. Many reformers were guilty of this. They set out to reform the Catholic church of its evils, but then brought out with them, many evils of their own. Not only did they not renounce "sprinkling of infants" as unscriptural, but they continued to make it the key element in supposedly bringing sinners into the kingdom of God. I am quoting here from one of the catechism's written by John Owen, whereby he states this in answer to the question, "What is baptism?"-

"A holy action appointed by Christ, whereby, being sprinkled with water, in the name of the whole Trinity, by a lawful minister of the church, we are admitted into the family of God, and have the benefits of the blood of Christ confirmed unto us." (John Owen, The Greater Catechism Vol. 5; p. 34)

There are several errors in this definition of baptism. First, baptism in the Bible means immersion, not sprinkling. It is representative of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. To bury someone you do not just sprinkle dirt on their head. Those who truly profess Christ in baptism, identify with Him in His death, burial and resurrection, Romans 6:4. In baptism I confess that Christ died as my Substitute. When they buried Christ, God buried all my sins with Him, never to remember them any more. When He rose again, it was proof that God accepted His sacrifice with full satisfaction.

Second, it is not by baptism that God admits anyone into His family, nor does He confirm the benefits of Christ's blood through it. Only the new birth brings one into the family of God, John 3:3. Water immersion, is a public testimony of faith by those to whom the Lord Christ reveals Himself as Savior, Redeemer, Substitute and Lord. In answer to the Ethiopian Eunuch's question, "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Philip answered, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Believing precedes baptism in Scripture and faith is the gift of Christ through His Spirit. The only true candidates for baptism are those in whom the Spirit of God has already revealed Christ and they now desire to confess Him publicly before men.

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:19, "For I through the law (Christ's obedience to the law and fulfillment of it), am dead to the law (because Christ accomplished it for me), that I might live unto God." As my Substitute, he bore my sin.

Let's not be guilty of making faith a work either. Faith comes when the Lord Jesus Christ opens the heart of a sinner and causes him to believe (John 1:11,12). It is the fruit of the new birth and not it's cause. All "free-will" teaching is anti-scripture and anti-Christ. One could also read, "if righteousness come by "free-will," then Christ died in vain. If someone can make the first step on their own, why would Christ have to die for them? They would simply need to continue to take the other steps necessary. Why even talk about Christ dying for them, if sinners of their own "free-will" can repent and believe first? The truth is that our coming into the family of God in Christ is wholly by the Spirit of God applying the blood of Christ to our dead hearts and causing us to receive Christ in saving repentance and faith (Colossians 1:12,13).

If people can obtain righteousness by any other means than the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, then, Christ is dead in vain. If He died to bring in a righteousness that could have been obtained anyway, without his death, then, his sufferings and death were totally unnecessary. That is to cast contempt on the wisdom of God, making Him to do something that was not necessary.

If we hope to enjoy God's forgiveness and blessing, it is only through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are His, God will whittle away anything to which we look or trust in order that Christ alone be our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (I Cor. 1:30,31).

Do not look to your own will as the decisive factor in God saving you! Our will is nothing but corrupt and dead in sin. If we will to know God and follow Christ, it is because God first must change our will and bring us willingly to His Son. In Psalm 110:3 the Psalmist said, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power." Paul writing to the Philippians said, "It is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

Do not look to any religious ceremony or profession as the basis of your acceptance with God! God did not ordain baptism as a means of salvation. It is rather a public testimony of faith in Christ, and His work accomplished already for the believer. It no more saves than a marriage certificate saves a marriage. Many couples make vows to have and to hold till death does them part and have it legalized in court, but that does not make a marriage. Without love, there is no marriage. Without true spiritual and physical union, there is no marriage. The marriage certificate is only a declaration of the union. So is baptism! It is only as good as the faith and love that stands behind it. If there is not first of all that work of God in the heart, producing love for Christ and consequent obedience to Him, it is nothing.