Hello brothers in Christ,
I understand you may disagree with me but let the sharing of our faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. -Philemon 1:6
Thanks for the warm greeting (even though we disagree strongly on Scripture).
You said:
This is your premise :
Galatians 5:4
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
Rest assured most believe as you do. Most today believe they can sin and still be saved by having a belief alone in Jesus. But one should not find comfort in such a message because the Bible actually condemns Belief Alone-ism.
“And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to
our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Matthew 3:9).
“They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” (John 8:39).
As for your quote of Galatians 5:4 that says that if we seek to be justified by the Law we have fallen away from grace:
Well, if you were to look at the context, it says this:
“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” (Galatians 5:2).
Circumcision is a part of the Old Testament Law of Moses, and not the commandments that come from Jesus and His followers. Circumcision is Old Covenant, and not a part of the New Covenant (or New Testament).
At the time, Paul was fighting against the heresy of “Circumcision Salvationism.” This was the false belief that said you had to be first circumcised in order to be saved. This heresy was more clearly addressed at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 (See: Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, Acts of the Apostles 15:24).
In other words, if someone believed in making Circumcision a part of initial salvation, then they would be making the Law the foundation of their salvation and not Jesus Christ. They would then be fallen from grace if they believed that way.
You said:
Let us continue on,
Galatians 5:5
BUT by faith we eagerly AWAIT THROUGH THE SPIRIT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS for which we hope.
Right, and when you read Galatians 5:5, you also have to read Galatians 5:16 that says,
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16).
The lust of the flesh is sin.
You said:
Now, this is also what we have heard from apostle Paul:
Romans 8:1-4
Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS, because through Christ Jesus THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE SET ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. For what the law (of sin and death) was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS of THE LAW ( of the Spirit of life ) MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.
Well, you quoted either a Modern Translation that left out keywords, or you intentionally left out the key words in Romans 8:1. Romans 8:1 says,
“
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1) (KJB).
There is no condemnation to those who walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh.
The flesh is sin. So if one is walking after sin or the flesh, they will die. But if they walk after the Spirit and to put away sin (or the deeds of the body) there is eternal life.
“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:
Let me explain again what apostle Paul tries to say in Galatian 5:4-5
You who are trying to be justified by the law ( of sin and death ) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
BUT by faith we eagerly AWAIT THROUGH THE SPIRIT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS for which we hope.
so, in Galatian 5:5, we are told to await eagerly by faith through the spirit; what do we eagerly await ? : THE RIGHTEOUSNESS for which we hope for THROUGH THE SPIRIT and by faith.
I don't believe in following the Old Testament Law of Moses as a whole or package deal (Which is what Paul was condeming). Paul was not against following the commands of Jesus Christ. For if Paul did condemn the words of Jesus, he would have contradicted himself. For Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:3-4 that if any man does not agree with the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine according to godliness, he is proud and he knows nothing. James 4:6 says that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Maybe you should check out the context in Galatians 5. It says this:
Galatians 5:24 KJB
“And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
You said:
And this righteousness for which we hope for through the Spirit and by faith is mentioned in Roman 8:4
in order that THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS of THE LAW ( of the Spirit of life ) MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.
So by faith we eagerly AWAIT THROUGH THE SPIRIT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS for which we hope, that is, THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS of THE LAW ( of the Spirit of life ) MIGHT BE FULLY MET IN US, who do not live according to the sinful nature but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.
So, REMEMBER: there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS, because THROUGH CHRIST JESUS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE SET ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.
Keep reading. Romans 13:14 says this:
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14) (KJB).