Hi. I am loosely dispensational, being part of the Calvary Chapel movement for over ten years, but I confess that I do not fully understand dispensationalism. I am debating a SDA guy about the Law, and he has brought up an issue I can't resolve on my own right now.
Is there more than one gospel? If so, how do we deal with this passage:
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
(Gal 1:6-9)
Thanks in advance!
What were the Galatians doing?
Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
In other words, they were were off-base.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
At the same time, note the obvious there.
How that at one time the Law had been "for righteousness."
The Law had been a gospel.
Deuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
An example of the Law for righteousness...
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
That right there is a whole study in itself.
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
The result being that to mix both those gospels into one, is to end up at "another; which is not another" at all.
It is neither the former, nor the latter one.
Every treadmill salvationist out there, does exactly that.
Thus, their endless treadmill of works, in their hope their works are more than enough to get them, and or keep them...saved.
Such have either been confused all along, or like the Galatians, had once had it right, but at some point fell from an understanding of Grace.
Fact of the matter?
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
In short, Rom. 5: 6-8 - in each our stead.