Christ died for nothing?

I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." - Galatians 2v21

I think this is one of the key verses that God used to convince and convict me about problems with works righteousness. At first it seems to make sense that we surely must do something to be saved. The Judaizers in the early church tried to mix the grace of God with keeping the law. Paul draws the line here – to add the law sets aside the grace of God and it means that Christ died for nothing.

Think about it for a second, if I could achieve righteousness through works everything Christ did on the cross was for nothing. Every false charge was endured for nothing. Every taunt was for nothing. Every drop of soldier’s spittle was for nothing. Every cruel blow was for nothing. Every whisker of his beard plucked out was for nothing. Every wound of the thorns in the crown was for nothing. Every blow from the whip was for nothing. Every time the crowd screamed, “Crucify Him,” was for nothing. Every tortured step to the cross was for nothing. Every hammer blow on the sharp nails was for nothing. Every drop of blood was for nothing. Every tortured breath was for nothing. Every cry of “He can’t even save Himself,” was for nothing. “It is finished,” was for nothing – it made Christ a liar.

In the light of the phrase “Christ died for nothing,” surely no teaching is more abominable than works salvation. Even false religions don’t mock the cross by rendering it useless.

Praise God for His grace. Praise God that it the cross was not in vain.