In Galatians 2:15-21, Paul’s basic argument was a response to a group of opponents going against what Paul has been preaching. (Ehrman does point out however, that in Galatians we are only getting the side of the Gentile opponents through Paul’s viewpoint, so essentially it is a one sided story.) These opponents main point is that you can’t fully be right with God unless you obey the entirety of the Jewish Law, and telling the male population that they need to be circumcised to fulfill Jewish law. In Chapter 2:15-21 Paul is outraged by this theory, he states that “we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.” He then goes on to state in verse 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” So, Paul’s basic argument in this passage is that the people who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ don’t have to be justified with the law to be justified with God, if that was the case, then Jesus would have died for nothing, he died knowing that the people couldn’t be perfect on their own and that they needed Jesus to be justified with the Lord.
The distinction between “spirit” and “flesh” in 3:1-3, 5:16-26, and 6:7-10 corresponds with the distinction between “faith” and “works of the law” in 2:15-21 pretty hand in hand. Paul talks specifically in 3:1-3 about if the people who received the grace of God received it through the gospel, or through the laws of man. All of the portions of this book are talking about the same thing. Live your life the way God has taught you, not what man is trying to tell you, for man isn’t the reason you are saved, God is. Paul then goes to talk in more detail in 5:16-26 about the works of the flesh saying “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.” He then states that those of you who take part in these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. He also claims what the fruit of the spirit is, saying “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” and in 6:8 “if you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.”
In conclusion, this letter to the Churches is basically a warning letter against the opposing group of people. Saying that obeying the “work of the law” that is given by man is not what gets you into heaven and it isn’t what makes a person holy. Following and obeying what the Law of God is will get you into the kingdom of heaven and allow you to reap the benefits of a spiritual life.
Ryan Adams