Gal 2:19-20 | TNotes | STEP | 2:19 when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me: Attempting to gain acceptance with God through keeping the law inevitably leads to sin (5:2-4 ; see Rom 7:5 , 8-11 ), whereas living by the Spirit leads away from sin (Gal 5:16 , 22-24 ). • I died to the law: The NLT adds an explanation that this means I stopped trying to meet all its requirements . Those who trust in Christ participate in his death (2:20 ); they are no longer under the law’s judgment (see Rom 6:2 , 10-11 ; 7:2-6 ), and they stop seeing the law as a means of their salvation. Instead, Christians live for God in a new relationship with God through Christ (Gal 3:23–4:11 ; see Rom 6:10-11 ; 14:7-8 ; 2 Cor 5:15 ).

2:19 ^a when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me: Attempting to gain acceptance with God through keeping the law inevitably leads to sin (5:2-4 ^b; see Rom 7:5 ^c, 8-11 ^d), whereas living by the Spirit leads away from sin (Gal 5:16 ^e, 22-24 ^f).

• I died to the law: The NLT adds an explanation that this means I stopped trying to meet all its requirements. Those who trust in Christ participate in his death (2:20 ^g); they are no longer under the law’s judgment (see Rom 6:2 ^h, 10-11 ⁱ; 7:2-6 ^j), and they stop seeing the law as a means of their salvation. Instead, Christians live for God in a new relationship with God through Christ (Gal 3:23–4:11 ^k; see Rom 6:10-11 ^l; 14:7-8 ^m; 2 Cor 5:15 ⁿ).
2:20 ^o A law-free Good News does not lead to lawlessness, as Paul’s opponents argued (2:17 ^p), because lawlessness is a response of the unredeemed. The redeemed Christian has been crucified with Christ. See also Col 2:11-14 ^q, 20-23 ^r. A Christian has laid aside the old self, which strove to achieve merit by keeping the law (cp. Rom 7:4-6 ^s).

• It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me: Christians, having experienced Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom 6:1-14 ^t), have new hearts (see Jer 31:31-34 ^u; 32:38-41 ^v; Ezek 11:19-20 ^w; 36:24-31 ^x) by the indwelling power of the Spirit (see Rom 8:9-11 ^y; Eph 3:16-19 ^z; Col 1:27 ^aa; 3:1-17 ^ab).

• I live in this earthly body: Christianity does not teach that the body is evil or that we have to escape from this world to have fellowship with God. Instead, by trusting in the Son of God, we fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.

• who loved me and gave himself for me: Christ’s self-giving love makes new life possible (Gal 1:4 ^ac; Rom 8:32-39 ^ad; 2 Thes 2:16-17 ^ae).