What does Galatians 2:21 say would be true if righteousness came by the law?

• A. Christ is dead in vain
• B. The law justifies righteousness
• C. Grace would be unnecessary
• D. Faith would be unnecessary

Answer: (A)

Righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not by keeping the law. Galatians 2:21 uses a strong hypothetical: if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ’s death would be for nothing. The line “Christ is dead in vain” expresses that outcome directly—the whole purpose of Jesus’ death is to provide the righteousness God requires, which the law cannot supply on its own. If the law could justify, there would be no need for grace or Christ’s atonement, and his crucifixion would be rendered pointless.

So the statement captures the logic Paul is driving at: the gospel centers on faith in Christ because relying on the law for righteousness would undermine the necessity of Jesus’ work. The other ideas—whether the law justifies righteousness, or that grace or faith would be unnecessary—are related consequences, but the verse presents the explicit result as Christ dying in vain if righteousness came by the law.