Sunday November 16, 2025

Sermon Title: Crucified and Made Alive

Series Big Idea: Emphasizing the culmination of God’s promises in Jesus and the Church’s mission  

Sermon Big Idea: Justification by faith alone in Christ makes us alive in Christ

Introduction:

Paul’s confrontation with Peter in Galatians 2 reveals the eternal stakes involved when the gospel’s purity is threatened. This passage asks whether the finished work of Jesus alone is truly enough for every believer.

Galatians 2:11-21

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” 15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter, of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. 

Preserving The Truth of The Gospel (11-19)

Paul risked public conflict with Peter to protect the truth that faith in Christ alone secures our acceptance with God. The gospel’s freedom must never be compromised for anyone’s preferences or traditions.

Crucified and Made Alive In Christ (20-21)

Union with Christ means the old self, with all its striving and failures, has been crucified on the cross. The believer’s new life is empowered by Christ’s presence, built solely on faith and His sacrificial love.

Conclusion

We are called to stand for the true gospel, even when it costs us or challenges our comfort. In Christ, we find real freedom and assurance, our old selves crucified, our new life sustained by His grace alone.

Galatians 2:11-21 Bibliography

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books, 1985.

Rydelnik, Michael A., and Michael Vanlaningham, editors. The Moody Bible Commentary. Moody Publishers, 2014.

Carson, D. A., et al., editors. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed., Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Cabal, Ted, et al. The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, editors. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Spurgeon. The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers, 2007.

Bell, James Stuart, editor. Ancient Faith Study Bible. Holman Bibles, 2019.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. Electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991.

Easley, Kendell H. Holman QuickSource Guide to Understanding the Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2002.

George, Jim. The Basic Bible Pocket Guide: *Book by Book Summaries *Key Verses *Life Applications *Life Applications. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2016.

Mangum, Douglas, editor. Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament. Lexham Press, 2020.

George, Timothy. Galatians. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994.

Burer, Michael H. Galatians. Edited by Tremper Longman III et al., Lexham Academic, 2024.

Spurgeon, Charles. Galatians. Edited by Elliot Ritzema, Lexham Press, 2013.

Vaughan, Curtis. Galatians. Founders Press, 2005.

Runge, Steven E. High Definition Commentary: Galatians. Edited by Brannon Ellis, Logos Bible Software, 2019.

Harmon, Matthew S. Galatians. Edited by T. Desmond Alexander et al., Lexham Academic, 2021.

McKnight, Scot. Galatians. Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.

Anders, Max. Galatians-Colossians. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

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