Seems, this is Legalism 2.0 or Judaizers 2.0, ie requiring Christians to do the works of the Holy Spirit of God or works of the Law/commandments/Word of God, in order to be saved from hell = a doctrine of demons(1TOMOTHY.4:1).?
Paul was arguing against "
Law Alone Salvationism" (that did not include God's grace) because people were trying to be circumcised (that was a part of the Law of Moses that is no more) in order to be saved. In other words, Paul was arguing against "
Circumcision Salvationism." Take for example the verse you quote below in Galatians 2. You left out the context in what Paul was referring to. He was referring to this:
3 "But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage" (Galatians 2:3-4).
Again, in Galatians, Paul says this:
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." (Galatians 5:2).
In Romans, Paul says this:
"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?" (Romans 3:1).
At the Jerusalem counsel they address the problem of "
Circumcision Salvationism" and in going back to the Law of Moses to be saved.
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:1).
“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:5).
“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts of the Apostles 15:24).
For when a person says that a person cannot be saved unless they are circumcised, they are making the Law and not grace as a means of their initial and ultimate salvation. They are also going back to a Law within the Old Covenant that is no more, as well.
Paul is not against obedience to the Moral Law as part of our salvation. He says those who do such things like murder, adultery, drunkenness, etc., they will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:3-4 that if any person speaks contrary to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, they are proud, and they know nothing. James 4:6 says God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Most sin and still be saved type believers speak against the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, and Matthew 25:31-46. They say Jesus did not really mean to say that your whole body will be cast into hell fire if you look upon a woman in lust. They say that Jesus did not really mean to say that if you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven by the Father. They will say that Jesus did not really mean to say that if you don't help the poor, you will be cast into everlasting fire. Yet, Paul says any person who speaks contrary to the words of Jesus is proud and they know nothing. Paul also says if a person speaks contrary to the doctrine according to godliness, they are proud and they know nothing. A sin and still be saved type belief is a violation of upholding basic morality or the goodness of God and no godly living or godliness (in one's life) is even possible. How can it be? When you tell others they are saved by God's grace + nothing else (implying that "sin" is in this category of "nothing else"), then you are telling people they can sin while be under God's grace with the thinking they are saved (Whether you want that to happen or not).
As for your mention of 1 Timothy 4:1:
What is the context of these false believers.
3 "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Timothy 4:3-5).
I can think of believers today who fit this mold, and that would not be the non-denominational believers who believe in the Bible's teaching on Conditional Security.
Actually, 2 Timothy 3:1-9 describes to me those kinds of believers who take sin too lightly because they have a "Belief Alone on Jesus + Nothing" for salvation. It says that they have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. They deny the power in overcoming sin. For we are told to put ye on the Lord Jesus and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (See Romans 13:14). They that are Christ's have crucified the affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24). Peter says that the person who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (See 1 Peter 4:1), and the Peter says that we should not live the rest of our time (here on Earth obviously) to the lusts of the flesh, but we should live to the will of God (See 1 Peter 4:2). These are all verses that you have to deny God's power in. For God has power to help us to overcome sin. For we are told in 2 Corinthians 7:1 to cleanse yourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Paul is telling us to do that here and now while we are alive and not while we are dead!!!
You said:
Specifically, which saves you from hell, your faith in Jesus Christ or your works in Jesus Christ(= works in the Word/Law/Spirit of God).?
2 Thessalonians 2:13 says that it is both!
"...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
It says here very plainly that God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through two things.
(a) Sanctification of the Spirit (includes God working in you to live holy),
(b) Belief of the Truth (Which is Jesus because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life - See John 14:6).
BTW ~ The context is talking about works, too.
"That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:12).
16 "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
You said:
It's good for Christians to be doing the works of the Spirit/Christ/God but such works are not a "must" for salvation,
Jesus disagrees with you.
Jesus says, "if you will enter into life, keep the commandments" (See Matthew 19:17). If you were to read the end of Matthew 19, the point was not so that we cannot keep God's laws, but the chapter concludes with the point about how we are to forsake things in our life as a part of eternal life. I mean, why do you think Jesus said to Zacchaeus that salvation has come to his house when he gave away half of his goods? (See Luke 19:1-10).
Even the end of Revelation says this:
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Revelation 22:14-15).
You said:
especially for some Gentile Christians(cf; ACTS.15:24-29),
Read Acts of the Apostles 15:24 again.
It is talking about "Circumcision Salvationism" and going back to the Law of Moses for salvation and it is not talking about obeying the commands of Jesus Christ and His followers that come from the pages of the New Testament.
You said:
eg those who suffer from mental disorders, substance/drug abuse(addiction - LEV.10:9), ancestral sins(EXODUS.20:5), the physically disabled, etc.
I am not really sure what you are trying to say here. Are you saying they are all exempt from obeying God's laws?
You said:
GALATIANS.2 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Paul is saying that we are not justified by the works of the Law of Moses and by Law Alone because he was trying to refute "Circumcision Salvationism" just a few verses up (See again Galatians 2:3-4). Paul is not talking about the commands of Jesus. If he was talking against the commands of Jesus, then he would disqualify himself by his own words later in 1 Timothy 6:3-4.
You said:
17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
You cannot believe that this is talking about the continued walk or life of a Christian here. Again, the context is talking about "Circumcision Salvationism." They believed you had to first be circumcised in order to be saved as the basis or grounds of your faith. Paul is saying you first need to accept Jesus and believe on Him for salvation instead. That is why a person is found as a sinner. They are found as a sinner when they first come to Jesus. They are not found as a sinner after they repent and forsake their evil ways.
Paul does not say he is a continued sinner but he talks about how Christ lives in him and he lives by the faith of the Son of God.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, " (Galatians 2:20).
Paul lives by the faith of the Son of God.
Meaning....Jesus's teachings that are a part of the faith!!!!
You said:
GALATIANS 3
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Again, why is Paul saying this? Context is important. If you were to skip back again to Galatians 2:3-4, you would see that he is saying this in regards to those who thought they had to be circumcised in order to be saved. This is the context of Galatians 3:1-14. The works of the Law is talking about the Law of Moses and trying to be justified by Law Alone by "Circumcision Salvationism" here. Paul does not say if you seek to be justified by obeying the Moral Law after coming to Jesus, Christ will profit you nothing. On the contrary, Paul says in Romans 8:13,
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Romans 8:13).
You said:
1CORINTHIANS 5:4-5 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The "Day of the Lord Jesus" (in 1 Corinthians 5:5) is the.... "Day of Salvation" that is in the here and now.
"For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2).
7 "To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:" (Hebrews 3:7-8).
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13).
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12).
The destruction of the flesh is the destruction of the sinful nature so as to get a believer to stop sinning and to repent or confess their sins to the Lord for forgiveness or salvation. We see a similar thing again in Scripture:
"Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (1 Timothy 1:20).
The idea here is that Humenaeus and Alexander were delivered unto Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme. They were to be corrected so as to destroy this sinful thing within their life. This does not mean that a believer can sin and still be saved. God is not going to chastise those who have a wrong attitude towards sin to begin with. God only chastises those he knows will are able to take the correction.
For example: A master can correct his dog on pooping on the carpet by lightly smacking his nose and yelling at him. This is a form of chastisement so as to get the animal to stop in it's wrong behavior. However, if the master were to do this form of correction with him knowing that his dog cannot help but to poop on his carpet because his dog has an uncontrollable pooping problem (because he is sick), then the master would be in the wrong for doing that and his chastisement would not make any sense.
You want me to believe that believers go through chastisement and yet they are never truly corrected because they will always sin in this life as per the OSAS interpretation on 1 John 1:8.
You said:
John 3:16-18 - 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
It is not a coincidence that you stopped at verse 18. For if you were to keep reading, it refutes the idea that believers can sin and still be saved. In John 3:19-21 is the mention of the "Condemnation."
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
(John 3:19-21).
Here we see in verse 19 that the "Condemnation" is defined as: That the light (Jesus) came into the world and yet men loved their darkness (sin) rather than they loved the light (Jesus). Verse 20 says all who do evil hate the light (Jesus) and do not come to light (Jesus) unless their evil deeds are reproved. Verse 21 says that he that does truth comes to the light and his deeds are wrought in God.