Paul says that he has authority given by Jesus. He was not ordained by anyone. Thus, when he says that salvation comes from Jesus, and Jesus only; he is claiming that he has authority to say so. He also says that no one can be saved by keeping the law and the Jews know it very well because they are unable to keep all the law. Besides, when someone says that although Jesus saves, it is still necessary to keep the law for salvation, he is not seeing the beauty of the cross, he is not seeing the beauty of the Jesus' sacrifice.
By the cross, Jews and gentiles can live together, in harmony.
By the cross, we are free to be ourselves before the Lord; we don't need masks because we are accepted by Jesus and not by what we do.
Paul rebuked Peter when he disguised that he behaved more like a Jew in front of the Jews and gentiles. For Paul, Peter was in fact distorting the gospel, he was an hypocrite because he knew that Jews and gentiles could live in harmony by the cross. Peter's behavior would send a message that circumcision is important and causes division.
Paul says:
19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
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