@Southernscotty:
The issue that Paul has in the book of Galatians and the book of Romans was "Circumcision Salvationism" (Which was a part of the Old Law or the Old Contract, i.e. the 613 laws given to Israel). The Old Covenant (Old Contract) is no more. So when Paul condemned the Law or works, the context was "Circumcision Salvationism" or in trying to be justified by following the whole of the Old Contract (i.e. the Old Covenant). Paul was not referencing the commands of Jesus Christ.
We see this clearly in Acts at the Jerusalem counsel that "Circumcision Salvationism was condemned:
- Acts of the Apostles 15:1 says, “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 15:5 says, 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 15:24 says, “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:”
We can see hints of this by Paul, too.
- Galatians 2:3 says, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:”
- Galatians 5:2 says, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”
- Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
- Galatians 6:15 (NLT) says, “It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:18-19 says, 18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. (NLT) 19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.” (NASB)
- Romans 2:28-29 says, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
- Romans 3:1 says, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”
- Romans 4:9-12 says, ”9 “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
- Acts of the Apostles 21:21 says, “And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 are dealing with "Initial Salvation" and it was said as a means that one is not saved by "Works Alone Salvationism" (that did not include God's grace by faith). In other words, if you first come to Christ, you cannot put the cart (works) before the horse (God's grace). Otherwise one's foundation is all wrong. Anyways, if you were to keep reading in Ephesians, it says in Ephesians 5 that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:3-6). If you read Titus 3:15, you also have to skip back and read Titus 2:11-12 that says the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and that we should deny ungodliness and that we should live righteously, and godly in this present world. So God's grace does not teach that we can sin and still be saved. That would be contrary to what Titus 2:11-12 says about what God's grace teaches.
Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 have to be read in context to Romans 3:11.
For if one claims that the Christian is currently walking in a present state of sin based on these verses, then, they must also apply Romans 3:11 as talking about the present walk of the believer, as well. Romans 3:11 says that they are without understanding and they do not seek after God. Are Christians without understanding and do they not seek after God?
1 John 1:8 is another popular one folks like to use to justify that we can sin and still be saved by having a belief alone on Jesus. But John is warning the brethren against the gnostic's beliefs (1 John 2:26). The gnostics believed sin did not exist or that it was an illusion. So they thought that they did not have any sin. This is evident by 1 John 1:10. For 1 John 1:10 is a person denying that they have sinned in the past. Obviously we both agree that we have sinned in the past, so John is talking about a gnostic belief in 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10. Christian Scientists today believe sin is an illusion and so 1 John 1:8 would be a warning to them. There are believers who think future sin is paid for. So when they sin, they think on a spiritual level (not on a physical level), sin does not exist for them because Jesus paid for all their sins already. But 1 John 1:8 says you cannot deny sins existence. The proper way to deal with sin is to confess it so as to be forgiven (See 1 John 1:9).
As for Romans 7:14-24:
Paul is speaking from his past experience here as a Pharisee who sought to be justified or saved by Law alone without God's grace in the false Pharisee religion. He tried to obey God's laws this way and it did not work. In Romans 13:14, Paul says put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and fulfill not the lusts of the flesh. So a person needs Jesus to overcome sin and not by law keeping alone.
Paul was not speaking against "Works of Faith" as a part of one's faith (James 2:18). "Works of faith" merely shows that a person has a genuine faith. Without works of faith, a persons' faith is dead (James 2:17). Paul says if any man does not consent (does not agree) to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4). James says God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
