#9 - Sola Fide - Justification by Faith Alone (Galatians 2:16)

In this special Reformation Month episode of Navigate The Way ✝️, we dive deep into Galatians 2:16, a passage that stood at the heart of the Protestant Reformation. Join co-hosts Gabe Langston and Dave Brooks as they explore the powerful doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide) and its profound implications for the gospel. We’ll unpack the historical, theological, and pastoral dimensions of this pivotal verse, examining how it shaped Martin Luther’s journey and became a foundational truth for the Reformation.

What does it mean to be justified by faith apart from works of the law? How does this truth continue to reform and revive the church today? This episode offers an in-depth discussion sure to deepen your understanding of the gospel and its timeless relevance.

Don’t miss out on this thought-provoking conversation!

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Transcript

### Gabe Langston:
G'day, listeners! Welcome to Navigate The Way, your go-to podcast for diving into the rich, deep waters of Scripture and uncovering timeless truths that shape our faith and guide our lives. I’m your co-host, Gabe Langston. As always, don’t forget to like and subscribe so you won’t miss future episodes, and share this podcast with friends and family who are seeking to know Christ more deeply.

Today, we're starting a special series to celebrate Reformation Month. October is a month of reflection for many in the Christian faith, culminating on October 31st with Reformation Day. This day marks the anniversary of Martin Luther’s bold step in posting his 95 Theses in 1517, which set off the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation was a pivotal movement in church history that sought to return the church to the foundational truths of Scripture, especially the authority of God’s Word, justification by faith alone, and the glory of God in salvation. It’s a great time to remind ourselves of those truths, so for the rest of October, we’ll dive into key passages that inspired and shaped the Reformers.

To kick things off, we’ll look at Galatians chapter 2, verse 16, a passage that profoundly influenced the Reformation. I’ll read the text for us:

"Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

This text raises critical issues around justification and how one is made right before God. Now, Dave, I want to start by asking you: What stands out most to you about this verse, and how did it play such a significant role in the Reformation?

### Dave Brooks:
Thanks for asking, Gabe. I'm Dave Brooks, and it’s always a joy to be part of this journey into God’s Word with you and our listeners. Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 is one of those cornerstone passages. What leaps out at me right away is the clarity with which Paul dismantles the idea that anyone can be justified by their works—by following the law. The contrast Paul sets up here between faith in Christ and the works of the law cuts right to the heart of the gospel. It was exactly this contrast that fueled the Reformation.

The Reformation was sparked largely by a rediscovery of the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone - sola fide. The medieval church had drifted into teaching that faith, while important, had to be supplemented with works—sacraments, penance, indulgences, and so on—to achieve salvation. Luther and the other Reformers saw passages like this one and realized that Scripture teaches the exact opposite: we are justified by faith in Christ, apart from the works of the law. The righteousness that saves us is not our own but Christ’s, which we receive through faith. 

What strikes me about this passage, Gabe, is how definitive it is. Paul doesn’t mince words here. He repeats himself: “by works of the law no one will be justified.” The Reformers understood that this wasn't just a minor point—it was the heart of the gospel. What do you see in the broader context of Galatians, Gabe, that helps bring this verse into sharper focus?

### Gabe Langston:
That’s a key observation, Dave. The broader context of Galatians sheds a lot of light on why Paul is being so emphatic here. The Galatian churches were being influenced by Judaizers, who were teaching that Gentile believers had to adopt Jewish customs—especially circumcision—to be fully accepted by God. In essence, they were adding works to faith as a requirement for justification. Paul’s entire letter to the Galatians is a rebuttal of this false gospel. If we back up just a few verses, we see that Paul had to confront even Peter over this very issue. In Galatians chapter 2 verses 11 through 14, Paul recounts how Peter had begun to withdraw from Gentile believers out of fear of the circumcision party. In Galatians chapter 2 verse 14, Paul calls this behavior “not in step with the truth of the gospel”.

It’s in this context that verse 16 comes in. Paul is reminding both Peter and the Galatians that justification is through faith in Christ alone, not by the works of the law. It’s crucial to see that Paul isn't just defending a theological point; he’s defending the very integrity of the gospel. A few verses later, in Galatians chapter 2 verse 21, Paul explains that adding anything to faith as a requirement for salvation is to nullify grace. 

Paul is dismantling the idea that human effort—whether through following the law or any other system of works—can contribute to our justification. This was the very issue Luther wrestled with. He tried for years to earn God’s favor through asceticism, confession, and penance, but it only led him to despair. It wasn’t until he encountered passages like this that he realized salvation is entirely by God’s grace through faith.

But Dave, how do you see the original Greek in this verse adding depth to our understanding of Paul's argument?

### Dave Brooks:
I’m glad you brought that up, Gabe. The Greek text of Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 is fascinating and adds significant weight to Paul’s argument. The key phrase here is “justified by faith in Jesus Christ", in Greek: ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. The term justified, δικαιόω in Greek, is a legal term that means to be declared righteous or to be acquitted. It’s important to notice that Paul uses this term in the passive voice, indicating that justification is something done to us, not something we accomplish. We are passive recipients of God's declaration of righteousness.

Paul contrasts this with the works of the law, in Greek: ἔργων νόμου. This phrase refers to obedience to the Mosaic Law, but in the broader sense, it represents any human effort to achieve righteousness before God. Paul isn’t just talking about the ceremonial aspects of the law—he’s including everything from the moral law to human traditions that we might lean on for justification.

One critical aspect here is the repeated emphasis on faith in Christ as the only means of justification. Paul says it twice in this verse, just to drive the point home: “we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ.” The word believed, πιστεύω in Greek, means more than just intellectual assent; it implies trust, reliance, and commitment to Christ alone for salvation. 

So, Paul’s argument in the Greek is airtight: justification is an external declaration from God, received through faith, and it stands in direct opposition to any attempt to earn favor through works. The Reformers saw this, and it’s why they clung to sola fide so fiercely. How do you see this verse fitting into the broader framework of redemptive history, Gabe?

### Gabe Langston:
That’s a great point about the Greek, Dave, and it definitely ties into the broader redemptive-historical framework. If we zoom out and consider how this passage fits into the grand narrative of Scripture, we see that the concept of justification by faith alone is not a New Testament invention. It’s the fulfillment of a promise that began all the way back in Genesis.

Take Abraham, for example. In Genesis chapter 15 verse 6, we read, “And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.” Abraham was justified by faith long before the law was given. Paul actually references this in Galatians chapter 3, verses 6 through 9, to show that God’s plan has always been to justify people by faith. The law, which came later, was never meant to be a means of salvation. In Galatians chapter 3, verses 19 through 24 Paul teaches us that the law was given to show us our need for a Savior by revealing our sin.

So, in terms of redemptive history, the law served its purpose, but Paul says in Galatians chapter 3 verse 25 that, now that Christ has come, we are no longer under the law’s guardianship. Justification by faith in Christ is the culmination of God’s plan to redeem His people, Jew and Gentile alike. This is the gospel that the Reformers rediscovered, and it’s why passages like Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 were so central to the Reformation.

Dave, how did this verse, in particular, shape the theological convictions of the Reformers?

### Dave Brooks:
It shaped them profoundly, Gabe. The Reformers, especially Martin Luther, saw Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 as a lifeline in a sea of theological confusion. Luther, in particular, had been taught that salvation was something you earned through penance, indulgences, and good works. The entire sacramental system of the medieval church was built on the assumption that grace needed to be mediated through the church, and that believers had to supplement their faith with works to stay in God’s favor.

But when Luther studied Galatians and Romans, he realized that this wasn’t what Scripture taught at all. Salvation wasn’t a cooperative effort between God and man—it was a gift of grace, received through faith alone. Galatians 2:16 was a key text for Luther because it so clearly refutes the idea that human works play any role in justification. For Luther, this wasn’t just a theological debate; it was personal. He had spent years trying to earn his salvation through works and found no peace. But when he encountered the truth of justification by faith, it was like the shackles fell off.

This is why the Reformers rallied around the five solas. They realized that if you added anything to faith—whether it was works, indulgences, or sacramental merit—you compromised the gospel itself. Galatians 2:16 stands at the heart of the Reformation because it declares so boldly that justification is entirely the work of God, received by faith alone in Christ alone.

Gabe, how do you see this verse applying to the life of the church today?

### Gabe Langston:
That’s a vital question, Dave. Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 is as relevant today as it was during the Reformation, and even in Paul’s day. The idea that we can earn favor with God through works is deeply embedded in human nature. Whether it’s through religious rituals, moral striving, or social activism, there’s always a temptation to add something to faith as a way of securing our standing before God.

For the church today, this verse serves as a reminder that the gospel is about what Christ has done, not what we do. It frees us from the tyranny of performance-based religion. Instead of trying to earn God’s favor, we are called to rest in the finished work of Christ. This doesn’t mean that works don’t matter—James chapter 2 verse 26 makes it clear that faith without works is dead—but our works flow out of our justification, not into it. We are justified by faith alone, and the good works that follow are evidence of a transformed life, not the cause of our justification.

In terms of pastoral care, this truth offers profound comfort to those who are struggling with guilt or doubt. Many believers wrestle with whether they’ve done enough to be accepted by God. Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 assures us that our standing before God is not based on what we do but on what Christ has done. This is the heart of the gospel, and it’s the message the church must continue to proclaim.

### Dave Brooks:
Well said, Gabe. As we conclude this episode, I encourage our listeners to meditate on Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 this week. Ask yourself: Where am I tempted to add something to my faith? Am I relying on my works, my performance, or something else for my standing before God? Let the truth of this verse sink in—justification is by faith in Christ alone, apart from works of the law.

And with that, don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast so you won’t miss any future episodes. This show is named after Navigate The Way ✝️, a Christian AI assistant for navigating the depths of Scripture and theology with clarity and conviction. The personas for both Gabe and I, as well as the content of this episode, were all AI-generated using Navigate The Way ✝️. A special thanks to ElevenLabs for our AI-generated voices.

Thanks for joining us today, and until next time, keep walking by faith.