I am Obsessed with Paul’s Gospel — Here’s Why!

Blood Bought 1953 · Jun 7, 2020

Soyeong said:
In Acts 15:1, they were wanting to require all Gentiles to become circumcised in order to become justified, however, that was never the purpose for which God commanded circumcision, so the problem was that circumcision was being used for a man-made purpose that went above and beyond the purpose for which God commanded it. So the Jerusalem Council upheld the Mosaic Law by correctly ruling against that requirement and a ruling against requiring something that God never commanded should not be mistaken as being a ruling against obeying what God has commanded as if Paul or the Jerusalem Council had the authority to countermand God.

In regard to Galatians 5:2-4, all throughout the Bible, God wanted His people to repent and to return to obedience to His law, and even Christ began his ministry with that message, so it would be absurd to interpret these verses as Paul warning us against doing that and saying that we will be cut off from Christ if we follow Christ. Paul's problem in Galatians was not with those who were teaching Gentiles how to obey God's law as if obedience to God were somehow a negative thing, but rather his problem was with those who were wanting to require Gentiles to obey their works of the law in order to become justified. Christ set a sinless example of how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law, he did not hypocritically preach something other than what he practiced, and following what he taught by word and by example is not just for Jews, but for Gentiles too.

Either there were correct and incorrect reasons for someone to become circumcised and Paul was only speaking against the incorrect reasons, or according to Galatians 5:2-4, Paul caused Christ to be of no value to Timothy when he had him circumcised and Christ is of no value to roughly 80% of the men in the US who are circumcised. Rather, the problem was that they were trying to become justified by it. While Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:19 that circumcision has not value and that what counts is obeying God's commandments, he also said in Romans 3:31 that circumcision has much value in every way, so the issue is that circumcision has no inherent value and that it's value is entirely dirived from whether someone obeys the Mosaic Law (Romans 2:25). In Romans 2:26, the way to tell that a Gentile has a circumcision heart is by observing their obedience to the Mosaic Law, which is the same way to tell for a Jew (Deuteronomy 10:12-16, 30:6). In Jeremiah 9:1-26, having an uncircumcised heart is associated with refusing to know God and forsaking the Mosaic Law.

I have never encountered such a complete misunderstanding of Galatians.....I never thought it was possible ....
You have really misquoted Scripture.....Paul said that circumcision was Of no value and if you put any faith in it you were required to keep “ The Whole Law”.
“ what COUNTS is keeping God’s Commandments”..... That is a flat out lie. Quite the contrary —- Paul said what “ counted “ was “FAITH acting through Love”.The entire Book Of Galatians devotes itself to how we are no longer under ANY Law....we are under Grace....Those new to the Faith should read Galatians for themselves and see how the Poster twisted Scripture....

Swan7 · Jun 7, 2020

Blood Bought 1953 said:
Not everything in the Bible is pertinent for Doctrine. Do we go to Leviticus for Doctrine? Or do we go to Romans ? The entire Bible is written “ for” us.....not all is written “ to” us to follow......we are under Grace now....not Law.....

Right, but I think you misunderstood what was said and just straight up didn’t ask what someone meant. This is why we shouldn’t assume we know what the other is talking about.
And yes, I’ve followed along reading the thread.

God had the Bible, all of it, written for us indeed, but that doesn’t mean we can through out books either or disregard them. God preserved them and put them together in such a way for a reason.

I side with God, the law of the Spirit and so should all those who claim Christ. Please do consider what has been told to you and ask God for guidance.

Tone · Jun 7, 2020

Blood Bought 1953 said:
“ what COUNTS is keeping God’s Commandments”

Blood Bought 1953 said:
“FAITH acting through Love”

Where is the conflict?

What does faith acting out of love look like?

d taylor · Jun 7, 2020

Eternal Life (salvation as many like to call it) is only found in The promised Messiah. And not in any of His miracles or accomplishments.

If a person does not trust in The Messiah for the free gift of Gods Eternal Life. Then they are trusting in the wrong object or objects. That is why, it is said, the way is narrow. A person can not pick and choose their path, God gave The Messiah (the only begotten Son of God) as the way.
Again not any of the Messiah's miracles or accomplishments are the way, those should point a person to The Messiah, who is The Way.

Soyeong · Jun 7, 2020

Guojing said:
You are not aware that, under the Law of Moses, Gentiles who wanted to believe in God must become a Jew, hence circumcision was necessary?[/quoqte]

Exodus 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

So those Judaizers in Acts 15:1 were actually correct.

But because the ascended Christ revealed to Paul new revelations, specifically the mystery of the gospel of grace, things now differ. None of the 12 were aware of that change during Acts 15.

Nowhere does the Law of Moses require a Gentile to want to believe in God to become a Jew, nor does the Bible even describe the process by which a Gentile could become a Jew. The Talmud even contains a debate about whether circumcision, immersion, or both was required. In Exodus 12:48, it requires a Gentile to become circumcised if they want to eat of the Passover lamb, but it says nothing about becoming a Jew. Furthermore, no where does the Bible say that the purpose for which God required Jews to become circumcised was order to become justified, so it is that much more true of Gentiles. In Psalms 119:29, David wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Mosaic Law, so that is how God is gracious to us.

If the Judaizers were correct, then that would mean that the Jerusalem Council would have been wrong to rule against obeying what God has commanded.

This is the mystery:

Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Blood Bought 1953 · Jun 7, 2020

Strong in Him said:
Paul received the same Holy Spirit that the disciples received; the one of whom Jesus said, "he will take from what is mine and make it known to you", John 16:15.
Paul was not the only one who received the Spirit, and there is nothing to say that he became Jesus' secretary.

He spoke of the church, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 18:17.
I don't know what the rapture is, but he certainly spoke of end times, Matthew 24, Mark 13 and his own return.

Matthew 26:28, Mark 10:45.

This isn't the Gospel or part of it.

Luke 7:36-50
The Lord's prayer teaches us to ask God for forgiveness, just as we forgive those who sin against us, Matthew 6:12, Luke 11:4

Really?
JESUS said, "I wish those agitators would go and emasculate themselves"? Galatians 5:12.
Jesus told the Galatians that he only preached the Gospel to them because he was sick? Galatians 4:13.
There are a number of places in his epistles where Paul says, "I say this; not the Lord".

Paul was certainly inspired and preached the same Gospel that Jesus preached, though there are some who think otherwise. But the Lord did not dictate his letters to Paul - there are times when Paul was frustrated and angry with his churches.

Jesus saves - Jesus alone. John 1:12, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 14:6, 1 John 5:12, Acts of the Apostles 4:12

Undoubtedly Paul proclaimed Christ and lived and died for Christ - but please don't elevate his words over Christ himself.

Agreed - there is only ONE Gospel.
Paul preached THE Gospel, not HIS Gospel.

John 3:16 has been described as "the Gospel in a nutshell."
If you are saying that there is the Gospel and also Paul's Gospel, you are saying that there are TWO Gospels. Paul's own words contradict that statement.

Jesus often told people that he gave eternal life, John 4:14, John 6:40, John 6:53-54, John 10:10. He told the disciples that he was going to die and be raise again, and that his blood would be poured out for the sins of many, Matthew 26:28. After the resurrection he taught them the Scriptures and how the prophets had spoken of him. Paul told the Corinthians that the Gospel was foretold in the OT Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Jesus told the disciples that he was going to his Father, would send his Spirit, Acts of the Apostles 1:8, and that he would return one day.
This is THE Gospel - the one that Jesus taught, and was taught also by Peter, Paul and the other apostles.
It is not PAUL'S Gospel, it is GOD'S.

If Paul taught the same gospel as those before him, then why did he call it “my gospel” three times?

Paul uses both phrases “the gospel” and “our gospel” in his epistles, but when Paul mentions “my gospel” it shows that he had a unique message.

My Gospel: to Jew and Gentile

Paul’s gospel made no distinction between Jew or Gentile. All are counted in unbelief as sinners, and are judged by God without respect of persons whether given the law or not.

Therefore, Paul says:

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” – Romans 2:16

During time past, Jesus’ earthly ministry, and up to his encounter with the Roman, Cornelius, there was a distinction between Jew and Gentile in Peter’s ministry preaching. The Jews had a special spiritual standing with the Lord. Gentiles did not.

My Gospel to Stablish

Paul says “my gospel” is how God stablishes the Romans.

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began…” – Romans 16:25

To the Corinthians, Paul claims to be the masterbuilder who lays the foundation of the grace of God upon which other men build.

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10

Resurrection According to My Gospel

Resurrection was a part of Jewish prophecy, Jesus foretold his own, and Peter preached the resurrection of Christ before Paul was saved. So how could Paul say this?

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” – 2 Timothy 2:8

The fact of the resurrection was prophesied, and both Paul and the twelve taught it (1 Cor 15:11). However, the resurrection of Christ was preached by Peter as proof of his Messiahship, and assurance of the kingdom come.

Paul preached the resurrection of Christ as the means of salvation and sanctification for all humanity as part of a new creature, the church the Body of Christ.

Unique to Paul

Paul’s gospel message was entirely of Christ, and so Paul stands alone in calling it “the gospel of Christ” and “Christ’s gospel”, but that he also calls it “my gospel” can only be explained by the fact that Christ gave it first to Paul exclusively.

No one else in scripture could claim “my gospel”, nor can we. We learned the gospel from Paul’s writings, and the twelve apostles taught the same gospel as John the Baptist and of which the prophets spoke (Mark 1:4; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19-21).

Paul repeatedly says that the dispensation of the grace of God was given to him (Eph 3:2; Eph 3:7; Col 1:25; Rom 15:15).

The Lord revealed to Paul a mystery kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3). Paul was the chosen vessel of the Lord, appointed to the office of apostle of the Gentiles (Rom 11:13; 2 Tim 1:11).

A “dispensation of the gospel” was committed unto him (1 Cor 9:17). His gospel was not received by man, nor was it of man, but given to him first by the Lord (Gal 1:1; Gal 1:11). Even Peter had to learn that God had given Paul further information about God’s grace (Gal 2:9).

It was truly his gospel from Christ, and it was his responsibility to preach his gospel wherever he went.

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward…to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” –

d taylor · Jun 7, 2020

Do not see any mention of a cross being the resurrection and the life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Guojing · Jun 7, 2020

Soyeong said:
Nowhere does the Law of Moses require a Gentile to want to believe in God to become a Jew, nor does the Bible even describe the process by which a Gentile could become a Jew. The Talmud even contains a debate about whether circumcision, immersion, or both was required. In Exodus 12:48, it requires a Gentile to become circumcised if they want to eat of the Passover lamb, but it says nothing about becoming a Jew. Furthermore, no where does the Bible say that the purpose for which God required Jews to become circumcised was order to become justified, so it is that much more true of Gentiles. In Psalms 119:29, David wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Mosaic Law, so that is how God is gracious to us.

If the Judaizers were correct, then that would mean that the Jerusalem Council would have been wrong to rule against obeying what God has commanded.

This is the mystery:

Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The Judaizers were correct. But James settled on a compromise that pleased everyone. Jews who believed continue to keep the Law of Moses, but Gentiles who believed are exempted. (Acts 15:19)

This was confirmed by their exchange with Paul when he returned to Jerusalem again, the account given in Acts 21:20-25. Jews have to be zealous for the law, but gentiles who believe are exempted.

Yes, you are correct about the mystery. It was revealed to Paul alone, but during Acts 15, it was not yet known by the 12. Ephesians was written after Acts 28, it was one of Paul's prison epistles.

Guojing · Jun 7, 2020

Blood Bought 1953 said:
If Paul taught the same gospel as those before him, then why did he call it “my gospel” three times?

Paul uses both phrases “the gospel” and “our gospel” in his epistles, but when Paul mentions “my gospel” it shows that he had a unique message.

My Gospel: to Jew and Gentile

Paul’s gospel made no distinction between Jew or Gentile. All are counted in unbelief as sinners, and are judged by God without respect of persons whether given the law or not.

Therefore, Paul says:

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” – Romans 2:16

During time past, Jesus’ earthly ministry, and up to his encounter with the Roman, Cornelius, there was a distinction between Jew and Gentile in Peter’s ministry preaching. The Jews had a special spiritual standing with the Lord. Gentiles did not.

My Gospel to Stablish

Paul says “my gospel” is how God stablishes the Romans.

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began…” – Romans 16:25

To the Corinthians, Paul claims to be the masterbuilder who lays the foundation of the grace of God upon which other men build.

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10

Resurrection According to My Gospel

Resurrection was a part of Jewish prophecy, Jesus foretold his own, and Peter preached the resurrection of Christ before Paul was saved. So how could Paul say this?

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” – 2 Timothy 2:8

The fact of the resurrection was prophesied, and both Paul and the twelve taught it (1 Cor 15:11). However, the resurrection of Christ was preached by Peter as proof of his Messiahship, and assurance of the kingdom come.

Paul preached the resurrection of Christ as the means of salvation and sanctification for all humanity as part of a new creature, the church the Body of Christ.

Unique to Paul

Paul’s gospel message was entirely of Christ, and so Paul stands alone in calling it “the gospel of Christ” and “Christ’s gospel”, but that he also calls it “my gospel” can only be explained by the fact that Christ gave it first to Paul exclusively.

No one else in scripture could claim “my gospel”, nor can we. We learned the gospel from Paul’s writings, and the twelve apostles taught the same gospel as John the Baptist and of which the prophets spoke (Mark 1:4; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19-21).

Paul repeatedly says that the dispensation of the grace of God was given to him (Eph 3:2; Eph 3:7; Col 1:25; Rom 15:15).

The Lord revealed to Paul a mystery kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25; Eph 3:3). Paul was the chosen vessel of the Lord, appointed to the office of apostle of the Gentiles (Rom 11:13; 2 Tim 1:11).

A “dispensation of the gospel” was committed unto him (1 Cor 9:17). His gospel was not received by man, nor was it of man, but given to him first by the Lord (Gal 1:1; Gal 1:11). Even Peter had to learn that God had given Paul further information about God’s grace (Gal 2:9).

It was truly his gospel from Christ, and it was his responsibility to preach his gospel wherever he went.

“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward…to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” – Ephesian 3:2-9

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Articl

You are correct, but you must understand people who subscribed to covenant theology. It is extremely difficult for them to accept that Paul received a new gospel that is different during the period when Jesus was preaching in the flesh.

They view every gospel since Adam's fall, from the perspective of the covenant of grace. Thus all are the same gospel.

Tone · Jun 7, 2020

Blood Bought 1953 said:
Paul uses both phrases “the gospel” and “our gospel” in his epistles, but when Paul mentions “my gospel” it shows that he had a unique message.

But, what is the main point that you are making and what are the practical implications?

Tone · Jun 7, 2020

Guojing said:
They view every gospel since Adam's fall, from the perspective of the covenant of grace. Thus all are the same gospel.

So is your guys' main point that I am not saved, because I don't have your understanding of the gospel?

So, is salvation based on having the exact doctrinal formula for salvation?

If so, then are you trusting in Messiah Himself, or are you trusting in your intellectual assent?

d taylor · Jun 7, 2020

Tone said:
So is your guys' main point that I am not saved, because I don't have your understanding of the gospel?

So, is salvation based on having the exact doctrinal formula for salvation?

If so, then are you trusting in Messiah Himself, or are you trusting in your intellectual assent?

Nope they are trusting in a few verses of scripture, and what does The Messiah say about that.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of Me.
But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Soyeong · Jun 7, 2020

d taylor said:
Eternal Life (salvation as many like to call it) is only found in The promised Messiah. And not in any of His miracles or accomplishments.

If a person does not trust in The Messiah for the free gift of Gods Eternal Life. Then they are trusting in the wrong object or objects. That is why, it is said, the way is narrow. A person can not pick and choose their path, God gave The Messiah (the only begotten Son of God) as the way.
Again not any of the Messiah's miracles or accomplishments are the way, those should point a person to The Messiah, who is The Way.

In Matthew 19:17, Jesus said that if we want to enter into eternal life, then obey the commandments, so if trusting Jesus is the only way to enter eternal life, then obedience to the commandments is what trusting him for the free gift of eternal life looks like, which is why he said in Matthew 23:23 that faith is one of the weightier matters of the law.

In Hebrews 1:3, Jesus is the exact expression of God's nature, so He expressed God's nature through his actions and what that looked like was sinless obedience to the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law is the way (Jeremiah 6:16-19), the truth (Psalms 119:142), and the life (Matthew 19:17) and Jesus is the same way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) because he lived in sinless obedience to the Mosaic Law, or in other words, because he is the personification of the law, and no one comes to the father except through him:

John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

The reason why those who know Jesus have know and seen the Father is against because he is the exact expression of God's nature expressed through obedience to the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law is God's instructions for how to know and by known by Him. In Jeremiah 9:3 and 9:6, they did not know God and refused to know Him because in 9:13, they had forsaken the Mosaic Law, and in 9:24, those who know God knows that he delights in practicing steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in all the earth. In 1 John 2:3, those who say that they know Jesus, but down't obey His commandments are liars, and in 1 John 3:4-6, sin is defined as the transgression of God's law and those who continue to practice sin have neither seen or known him. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said that he would tell those who were workers of lawlessness to depart from Him because he never knew them. Our salvation is from sin and sin is the transgression of God's law, so being trained by grace to live in obedience to God's law through faith is what Jesus saving us from living in transgression of God's law looks like and what eternal life looks like. Everything in the Mosaic Law points to Christ because it testifies about who he is, how to walk as he walked, and how to know and be known by him.

Tone · Jun 7, 2020

@Soyeong

Thanks for that!

What came to mind as I read it was the Pharisees who held their own theological formulas as doctrine, held above His Word (Teaching, Torah, Instruction).

Those were some dangerous dudes.

Soyeong · Jun 7, 2020

Blood Bought 1953 said:
I have never encountered such a complete misunderstanding of Galatians.....I never thought it was possible ....
You have really misquoted Scripture.....Paul said that circumcision was Of no value and if you put any faith in it you were required to keep “ The Whole Law”.

Paul's problem in Galatians was not with God's law as if obedience to God were somehow a negative thing, but rather his problem was with those who were wanting to require Gentiles to obey their works of the law in order to become justified. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the law, so God's law is of faith. In Romans 3:27, Paul contrasted a law that was of works with a law that was of faith, so works of the law are of works, while he said in 3:31 that our faith upholds God's law, so again God's law is of faith and Paul contrasted God's law with works of the law. In Galatians 3:10-12, Paul associated a quote from Habakkuk 2:4 with a quote from Leviticus 18:5, so the righteous who are living by faith are the same as those who are living in obedience to the Mosaic Law, while no one is justified before God by works of the law because they are not of faith in God.

God is trustworthy, so His law therefore is also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7, Nehemiah 9:13) and a law that isn't trustworthy can't come from a God who is trustworthy, so to deny that God's law to deny that we can put our faith in God's law is to deny that God is trustworthy. If God can be trusted to guide us in how to rightly live and to give of laws that are for our own good in order to bless us, and He can (Deuteronomy 6:24, 10:12-13), then it would be a good thing to obey the whole of God's law, however, Paul again was speaking about the whole of the works of the law rather than about the whole of God's law.

“ what COUNTS is keeping God’s Commandments”..... That is a flat out lie. Quite the contrary —- Paul said what “ counted “ was “FAITH acting through Love”.The entire Book Of Galatians devotes itself to how we are no longer under ANY Law....we are under Grace....Those new to the Faith should read Galatians for themselves and see how the Poster twisted Scripture....

1 Corinthians 7:19 (ESV) For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Galatians 5:6 (ESV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

So what counts is keeping the commandments of God and what counts is faith working through love precisely because obedience to the commandments is what faith acting through love looks like. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus summarized the Mosaic Law as being about how to love God and our neighbor.

Guojing · Jun 7, 2020

Tone said:
So is your guys' main point that I am not saved, because I don't have your understanding of the gospel?

So, is salvation based on having the exact doctrinal formula for salvation?

If so, then are you trusting in Messiah Himself, or are you trusting in your intellectual assent?

No one is saying anything about you. Do you follow 1 Cor 15:1-4 with regards to the gospel that saves?

If you do, you are saved. The ascended Christ revealed that to Paul for the Body of Christ.

That kind of clarity is not found in any of the 4 gospels, nor Hebrews to Revelations.

Guojing · Jun 7, 2020

Soyeong said:
Paul's problem in Galatians was not with God's law as if obedience to God were somehow a negative thing, but rather his problem was with those who were wanting to require Gentiles to obey their works of the law in order to become justified. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of the law, so God's law is of faith. In Romans 3:27, Paul contrasted a law that was of works with a law that was of faith, so works of the law are of works, while he said in 3:31 that our faith upholds God's law, so again God's law is of faith and Paul contrasted God's law with works of the law. In Galatians 3:10-12, Paul associated a quote from Habakkuk 2:4 with a quote from Leviticus 18:5, so the righteous who are living by faith are the same as those who are living in obedience to the Mosaic Law, while no one is justified before God by works of the law because they are not of faith in God.

God is trustworthy, so His law therefore is also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7, Nehemiah 9:13) and a law that isn't trustworthy can't come from a God who is trustworthy, so to deny that God's law to deny that we can put our faith in God's law is to deny that God is trustworthy. If God can be trusted to guide us in how to rightly live and to give of laws that are for our own good in order to bless us, and He can (Deuteronomy 6:24, 10:12-13), then it would be a good thing to obey the whole of God's law, however, Paul again was speaking about the whole of the works of the law rather than about the whole of God's law.

1 Corinthians 7:19 (ESV) For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Galatians 5:6 (ESV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

So what counts is keeping the commandments of God and what counts is faith working through love precisely because obedience to the commandments is what faith acting through love looks like. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus summarized the Mosaic Law as being about how to love God and our neighbor.

Out of curiousity, if someone wants to be a Christian and ask you how does one get saved, what would you say to him?

Soyeong · Jun 7, 2020

d taylor said:
Nope they are trusting in a few verses of scripture, and what does The Messiah say about that.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of Me.
But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

In Matthew 19:17, Jesus said that if we want to enter into eternal life, then obey the commandments, so eternal life can be found in the Scriptures and the Pharisees were correct to search for it there, but where they fell short was was in failing to recognize that everything in the Scriptures testifies about who he is, how to walk as he walked, and how to know and be known by him. In Philippians 3:8-9, Paul was in the same situation as those Pharisees because he had been keeping the law without having a focus on knowing Christ, so he had been missing the whole goal of the law and counted it all as rubbish.

In Romans 9:30-10:4, the Israelites had a zeal for God, but it was not based on knowledge because they didn't understand that the righteousness of God comes only through faith in Christ. So they failed to attain righteousness because they pursued the law as through righteousness were by works in an effort to establish their own instead of by pursuing the law as though righteousness were by faith in Christ, for Christ is the goal of the law for righteousness for everyone who has faith. So again the whole goal of obeying the law is a relationship with Christ for eternal life.

Tone · Jun 7, 2020

Soyeong said:
obey their works of the law

Sorry, I just felt like that phrase should be emphasized , because I don't think they are getting it.

Tone · Jun 7, 2020

Guojing said:
That kind of clarity is not found in any of the 4 gospels, nor Hebrews to Revelations.

Well, yeah, who said that Scripture is not interdependent? No reason to discount any other part of the Bible, including the root (Torah)...it's all Holy.

I am Obsessed with Paul’s Gospel — Here’s Why!

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