Galatians' Justification

B Griffin said:

Let us just see if we can discuss this one thing. That would be an improvement. This is Scripture in question:

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.” (Galatians 3:10–12 NKJV)​

Verse 10 says those who are of the works of the law are under the curse because the law itself says you are under the curse if you do not "continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them". You seem to agree with this since that appears to be the point you made when you said, "the only way to avoid being cursed is by continuing to obey the law".

Verse 11 starts with the word, "But", which means it points back to verse 10 to make a counterpoint. And the counterpoint is that those who are of the works of the law need to be aware that God will compare no one's deeds to the law and make a judgement that they did what the law requires. Verse 11 quotes the law as proof of this statement where it says that those who have life will have obtained it by faith.

Verse 12 is emphatic that if a person were to gain life through obedience to the law that it would not be by faith because the law says obtaining life through the law is performance based.

The essence of what I am saying above should not be in dispute.

Can you embelish on 1) who are those who "are of the works of the law", 2) can some of them be Christians in whom Christ lives, and 3) explain why Paul is giving this exhortation to the Galatian Christians who are already saved. This is a test to see if you understand legalism and why it is danger that Christians should be vigilant to fight.

Other people are also invited to participate in the challenge.

Click to expand...

Can you embelish on 1) who are those who "are of the works of the law", 2) can some of them be Christians in whom Christ lives, and 3) explain why Paul is giving this exhortation to the Galatian Christians who are already saved.

These questions remain unanswered, so I will answer them.

Here is the background:


Answers:
1) These are the ones who are of the works of the law (not an exhaustive list):

• Those who turn to a different gospel: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Ga 1:6–7)
• Those who seek to please men: "For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Ga 1:10)
• False Brethren: "And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage)" (Ga 2:4)
• Those who observe days, and months, and seasons, and years: "You observe days and months and seasons and years." (Ga 4:10)
• Those who desire to be under the law: "Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?" (Ga 4:21)
• Those who are under the first covenant: "For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children" (Ga 4:24–25)

2) Yes, some of them can be Christians in whom Christ lives. However, their legalism calls into question their salvation:

• The Galatian Christians: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel" (Ga 1:6)
• Peter and Barnabas: "11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." (Ga 2:11–13)
• Salvation questioned: "Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?" (Ga 3:4)
• Galatian Christians again: "But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (Ga 4:8–9)
• Salvation questioned again: "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you." (Ga 4:19–20)
• Salvation affirmed: "I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is." (Ga 5:10)

3) Paul is giving this exhortation to the Galatian Christians because it is possible for true Christians to be deceived by this error to their own detriment and to the detriment of the gospel:

• "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Ga 1:6–7)
• "to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Ga 2:5)
• "11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." (Ga 2:11–13)
• "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?" (Ga 3:1)
• "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." (Ga 3:10)
• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (Ga 5:1)
• "Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Ga 5:2–4)
• "This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump." (Ga 5:8–9)

B Griffin said:

Can you embelish on 1) who are those who "are of the works of the law", 2) can some of them be Christians in whom Christ lives, and 3) explain why Paul is giving this exhortation to the Galatian Christians who are already saved.

These questions remain unanswered, so I will answer them.

Here is the background:

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.” (Galatians 3:10–12 NKJV)​

Answers:
1) These are the ones who are of the works of the law (not an exhaustive list):

• Those who turn to a different gospel: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Ga 1:6–7)
• Those who seek to please men: "For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Ga 1:10)
• False Brethren: "And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage)" (Ga 2:4)
• Those who observe days, and months, and seasons, and years: "You observe days and months and seasons and years." (Ga 4:10)
• Those who desire to be under the law: "Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?" (Ga 4:21)
• Those who are under the first covenant: "For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children" (Ga 4:24–25)

2) Yes, some of them can be Christians in whom Christ lives. However, their legalism calls into question their salvation:

• The Galatian Christians: "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel" (Ga 1:6)
• Peter and Barnabas: "11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." (Ga 2:11–13)
• Salvation questioned: "Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?" (Ga 3:4)
• Galatian Christians again: "But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (Ga 4:8–9)
• Salvation questioned again: "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you." (Ga 4:19–20)
• Salvation affirmed: "I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is." (Ga 5:10)

3) Paul is giving this exhortation to the Galatian Christians because it is possible for true Christians to be deceived by this error to their own detriment and to the detriment of the gospel:

• "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Ga 1:6–7)
• "to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you" (Ga 2:5)
• "11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy." (Ga 2:11–13)
• "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?" (Ga 3:1)
• "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." (Ga 3:10)
• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (Ga 5:1)
• "Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Ga 5:2–4)
• "This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump." (Ga 5:8–9)

Click to expand...

This has been gone over so many times it's getting old. I notice3 you didn't extend your quotes to Galations 5: 22. 23. The fruit of the Spirit, notice the singular tense as they all come as a package, violate no law, which by definition includes the 10 commandments.

Gary K said:

This has been gone over so many times it's getting old. I notice3 you didn't extend your

Click to expand...

extend your... ?

I replied because the questions remained unanswered. So we can end it here I suppose.

B Griffin said:

extend your... ?

I replied because the questions remained unanswered. So we can end it here I suppose.

Click to expand...

Why did you stop quoting me?

I see the rest of your quote now. It wasn't showing up before.

B Griffin said:

It's easy to cast dispersions, but much harder to explain the alternative. If you don't like OSAS, then please pick one (or tell me what your ditty would be):

Once saved, then lost, doomed to hell forever (OSTLDTHF)
Once saved, then lost, may be saved again, but that's the last chance (OSTLMBSABTTLC)
In and out of salvation repeatedly, must die while saved (IAOOSRMDWS)
Never saved, but lived a good life, so saved in the end (NSBLAGLSSITE)
Never Lost, Never Saved (NLNS)
Tried your best, hope for the best (TYBHFTB)

We need a pithy explanation for the alternative to OSAS.

Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware of the cleverness and success of the religious marketing strategy "OSAS". This philosophy has made a lot of religious businesses a lot of wealth and power. It was actually the very first recorded deception in my view, "thou shall surely not die".

But anyone who studies what the Holy scriptures actually say, will find it is not promoted by Scriptures at all, unless a man cherry picks them, and omits volumes of them. I'll post a few scriptures to make the point, but I already know that "Many" who come in Christ's Name will not be persuaded otherwise no matter what the Christ of the Bible, or the Scriptures HE Inspires teaches. The Jesus of the Bible tells me that.

Luke 16: 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

The Christ, the Rock of Israel before becoming a man, taught me the following.

Ez. 18: 26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. 27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Paul understood this and taught this to the Body of Christ, both Jew and Gentile, years after Jesus Ascended.

Rom. 6: 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Why would it matter if we "Shall surely not die" regardless? Well, according to Paul, that isn't the case.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

So Paul, and the Holy One of Israel that I also quoted, are teaching the same thing. If a person "Yields themselves" servants to "obey" the religious doctrines and traditions of men which cause them to Transgress God's commandments, it brings them death. Paul is teaching this to the Saints, the Body of Christ in Rome. You can read it from your own Bible.

Paul also tries to impress this on God's People in other places because, in my understanding, God knew there would be "many" who come in Christ's Name, teaching OSAS. He went out of his way to warn us.

1 Cor. 10: 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

These men partook of the Holy Passover, were baptized by God's Chosen, and learned from the Christ Himself. If OSAS ever existed, this is where it would have begun. God's very presence, pillar of Fire by night, cloud by day, water from the Rock was with these people for months. But what does Paul say?

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our (The Body of Christ) examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Paul continues.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our (The Body of Christ, years after Jesus ascended) admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth (OSAS) take heed lest he fall.

Read that again; "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Was this not written specifically for those who have adopted this world's popular religious philosophy "OSAS"?

I could go on and on. HIM has studied the Scriptures, and he understands from doing so, as I have also come to understand, that there are many religious philosophies of men we should beware of. OSAS is one of the more popular religious philosophies of this world.

It's not that I don't like "OSAS". It would be great if it were true. No more "Striving against sin". No more "Putting on the Armor of God". No more repentance. No more "Denying self". No more battle against the powers of the air. I can certainly see how seductive this religious philosophy is and can surely understand why so "many" would adopt it.

But the Christ "of the bible" doesn't teach it, and HE is the one I have placed my Faith in.

I hope you might consider all that is written, and re-consider adopting this worldly religious philosophy.

Gary K said:

This has been gone over so many times it's getting old. I notice3 you didn't extend your quotes to Galations 5: 22. 23. The fruit of the Spirit, notice the singular tense as they all come as a package, violate no law, which by definition includes the 10 commandments.

Click to expand...

This was not a post about the solutions offered in Galatians, only a test to see if you law people understood the issues raised with legalism in Galatians.

Concerning the fruit of the Spirit, I have not been able to discern exactly where you are coming from. For one, I have not seen any acknowledgment of the flesh's existence, its depravity, it's desires being in opposition to the Spirit's desires, or the obvious fruits that come from walking in the flesh. Nor have I seen any discussion about the need to choose between walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit. Nor have I seen any discussion about walking in lock step with the Spirit in order to avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh. All I seem to see is that having the Spirit means you obey His laws without fail. So, all that leads me to believe your understanding of the fruit of the Spirit is faulty. Maybe we can discuss this more on a different thread.

B Griffin said:

This was not a post about the solutions offered in Galatians, only a test to see if you law people understood the issues raised with legalism in Galatians.

Concerning the fruit of the Spirit, I have not been able to discern exactly where you are coming from. For one, I have not seen any acknowledgment of the flesh's existence, its depravity, it's desires being in opposition to the Spirit's desires, or the obvious fruits that come from walking in the flesh. Nor have I seen any discussion about the need to choose between walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit. Nor have I seen any discussion about walking in lock step with the Spirit in order to avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh. All I seem to see is that having the Spirit means you obey His laws without fail. So, all that leads me to believe your understanding of the fruit of the Spirit is faulty. Maybe we can discuss this more on a different thread.

Click to expand...

Just what is it you think? The message is implied that we choose to walk in the Spirit. We don't say we have no choice in whether to sin or not. We always have the choice as we are all free moral agents. That ought to be obvious to you as every human being is a free moral agent. That I have to explain these things to you just astounds me The lack of thought on the part of those who beleive like you do is incredible.

Gary K said:

The message is implied that we choose to walk in the Spirit.

Click to expand...

So, when you say, "we are capable of violating no law", you only mean "when we are walking in the Spirit, we are capable of violating no law"?

If you agree with that, then do you also agree it's posible to walk in the Spirit for a little while, then later choose to gratify the lusts of the flesh. Then later go back to walking in the Spirit again, then later walk in the flesh again?

I'm not trying to be dense, I'm just trying to understand where you're coming from.

The follow-up questions to the above should be obvious:

If you agree with the above, then is your rightness with God (i.e., your justification/righteousness) interrupted when you gratify the lusts of the flesh, or does your rightness with God remain? If it is interrupted by sin, how can you argue that righteousness comes to you by faith apart from obedience to the law?

Gary K said:

Just what is it you think? The message is implied that we choose to walk in the Spirit. We don't say we have no choice in whether to sin or not. We always have the choice as we are all free moral agents. That ought to be obvious to you as every human being is a free moral agent. That I have to explain these things to you just astounds me The lack of thought on the part of those who beleive like you do is incredible.

Click to expand...

We are slaves of Sin i.e. a slave cannot choose, he/she is subject to His master either Sin or Righteousness. God chose us Not us choosing Him.

B Griffin said:

So, when you say, "we are capable of violating no law", you only mean "when we are walking in the Spirit, we are capable of violating no law"?

If you agree with that, then do you also agree it's posible to walk in the Spirit for a little while, then later choose to gratify the lusts of the flesh. Then later go back to walking in the Spirit again, then later walk in the flesh again?

I'm not trying to be dense, I'm just trying to understand where you're coming from.

Click to expand...

Yes. That is what John meant by whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not. As long as we are abiding in Jesus we are not sinning. It's the human tendency to not stay in that relation ship at all times, That'sehy Peter failed and stopped earing with the Gentiles when the ultra conservastive Jew came from Jerusalem.

B Griffin said:

The follow-up questions to the above should be obvious:

If you agree with the above, then is your rightness with God (i.e., your justification/righteousness) interrupted when you gratify the lusts of the flesh, or does your rightness with God remain? If it is interrupted by sin, how can you argue that righteousness comes to you by faith apart from obedience to the law?

Click to expand...

Of course it remains, as long as we do not choose to remain apart from Him permanently.

pasifika said:

We are slaves of Sin i.e. a slave cannot choose, he/she is subject to His master either Sin or Righteousness. God chose us Not us choosing Him.

Click to expand...

Who has said anything that conflicts with that?

Jn_3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Click to expand...

1Jn_5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Click to expand...

That doesn't sound to me that we must be slaves to sin.

Gary K said:

Of course it remains, as long as we do not choose to remain apart from Him permanently.

Click to expand...

Sounds like we see this pretty much alike, except I don’t think anyone who has ever known the Lord would choose to leave Him permanently.

HIM said:

Galatians' justified, being made righteous or deemed righteous in chapter 2 verse 17 is being spoken in the subjunctive mood. The mood of possibilities not the indicative, as a done deal, a fact. This is shown by the use of the word "might" in verse 16, in the clause "might be justified (made righteous)" as in not yet but can happen in the KJV. Couple that with verse 17 where it says, 'while we seek to be justified'. This is being spoken in the Infinitive mood. This is brought out by the use of the words "to be" as in not yet but to be. This shows us here in Galatians that justified, being made righteous or deemed righteous in Galatians is not a done deal it is a process. This justification (being made righteous) is not of ourselves but out of the faith of Christ and can only be done through us believing INTO Christ as verse 2:16 states. For we who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ as verse 3:27 states and Romans 6. And we are not children of God or Justified by OUR faith but by the faith of Christ which we partake of in Christ having put Him on. Because we have His spirit as verse 3:2 states. And this is stated in relation to verse 2:20 where it says we are dead but live. Yet NOT US but Christ Jesus. And the LIFE WE now LIVE is BY THE FAITH OF the Son of God who gave himself. If we are living by the faith of Christ we are living by His spirit. For being In Him and He in us we are seeking to be justified, made righteous.

Living through Christ and His faith; the way He believed we are made righteous, But if we are found sinners while we are seeking to be made righteous, justified is Christ the minister of sin since we now have Him in us and we in Him? God forbid! How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein. If I build, sin again after it has been destroyed,Vs. 2:17 the old man being crucified with Him, that the body of sin be destroyed I make myself a transgressor.

We now live in the flesh through the Faith OF the Son of God, 2:20 For it is written, the Just shall live by His Faith not through the flesh and it's works. So let not the things of the flesh be once named among you. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. So we can not do the things that we would. Amen
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by (OUT) the works of the law, but by (THROUGH) the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in (INTO) Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by (OUT OF) the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Gal 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Gal 2:20 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, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by (THROUGH) the faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Click to expand...

There are some very significant errors in this post.

Gal. 2:16 εἰδότες δὲ ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων νόμου οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ.

Gal. 2:16. yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.

In this verse, the verb δικαιοῦται (justified) is NOT in the subjunctive mood, but in the indicative mood because an affirmation, albeit negative, is being made. Also in this verse, the verb δικαιωθῶμεν (we might be justified) is in the subjunctive mood because it is used in a purpose clause with ἵνα. Also in this verse, the verb δικαιωθήσεται is in the indicative mood and future tense because an affirmation about a result in the future is being made. And, of course, since Greek verbs are conjugated to express voice, mood, tense, person, and number, the inflectional forms used in Galatians confirm what I have stated above.

Therefore, your statement, “This shows us here in Galatians that justified, being made righteous or deemed righteous in Galatians is not a done deal it is a process” is absolutely and incontrovertibly wrong. Moreover, the verb δικαιωθῶμεν (we might be justified) is in the aorist tense, the Greek tense that always expresses action at a point in time rather than continuous action.

B Griffin said:

Sounds like we see this pretty much alike, except I don’t think anyone who has ever known the Lord would choose to leave Him permanently.

Click to expand...

You mean other than Judas? He walked daily with Jesus for some period of time during His ministry.

Odd how you can bring that up in contradiction of scripture.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Click to expand...

Edit:

Here is one more bit of scripture.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Click to expand...

B Griffin said:

Let us just see if we can discuss this one thing. That would be an improvement. This is Scripture in question:

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.” (Galatians 3:10–12 NKJV)​

Verse 10 says those who are of the works of the law are under the curse because the law itself says you are under the curse if you do not "continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them". You seem to agree with this since that appears to be the point you made when you said, "the only way to avoid being cursed is by continuing to obey the law".

Verse 11 starts with the word, "But", which means it points back to verse 10 to make a counterpoint. And the counterpoint is that those who are of the works of the law need to be aware that God will compare no one's deeds to the law and make a judgement that they did what the law requires. Verse 11 quotes the law as proof of this statement where it says that those who have life will have obtained it by faith.

Verse 12 is emphatic that if a person were to gain life through obedience to the law that it would not be by faith because the law says obtaining life through the law is performance based.

The essence of what I am saying above should not be in dispute.

Click to expand...

In Galatian 3:10-12, Paul connected a quote 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 God's law. In Habakkuk 2, it contrasts the righteous who live by faith with those who live unrighteously, so the righteous who are living by faith are straightforwardly living righteously, and God's law is His instructions for how to live righteously, which is also why Isaiah 51:7 says that the righteous are those on whose heart is God's law. In regard to Leviticus 18:3-5, it is referring to those who attain life by continuing to live in obedience to God's law and we would not attain life by it if it were not of faith, which is also in accordance with Deuteronomy 30:11-16, which Romans 10:5-8 references as the word of faith that we proclaim.

According to Deuteronomy 27-30, continuing to obey God's law is the way to be blessed while not continuing to obey it is the way to be cursed, so Galatians 3:10-12 is speaking about all those who continue to live in obedience to God's law, who are blessed, who are the righteous who live by faith, and who attain life by obeying God's law, and is contrasting them with all those who are not continuing to do everything in the Book of the Law by relying on works of the law instead, who are cursed, and who will not be justified before God because works of the law are not of faith, unlike the Book of the Law.

If you want to disagree with how I have interpreted these verses, then please explain why Paul associated a quote from Habakkuk 2:4 and Leviticus 18:5. If you think that it is referring to God's law not being of faith, then please explain how that is not contradicting the many verses that connect our faith in God with our obedience to God's commandments, such as Revelation 14:12, where those who kept faith in Jesus are the same as those who kept God's commandments, and Matthew 23:23, where Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of God's law. Furthermore, please explain why it is not contradictory to think that we should have faith in God while also thinking that we should not have faith in what He has instructed in spite of Psalms 19:7 saying that God's law is trustworthy. If you think that Paul was saying in Galatians 3:10 that obedience to God's law is the way to be cursed while disobedience to it is the way to be blessed, then please explain why Paul was quoting from Deuteronomy 27-30 in order to support a p point that is arguing against that passage.

B Griffin said:

Can you embelish on 1) who are those who "are of the works of the law", 2) can some of them be Christians in whom Christ lives, and 3) explain why Paul is giving this exhortation to the Galatian Christians who are already saved. This is a test to see if you understand legalism and why it is danger that Christians should be vigilant to fight.

Click to expand...

In the 1st century, there existed a large body of oral laws, traditions, rulings, and fences, that were being taught that people needed to obey in order to become saved, which would later be codified in the Talmud. For example, in Numbers 15:38, it instructs the Israelites to put tassels on the corners of their garments with a thread of blue in each corner, however, it doesn't say anything about how long these tassels should be, how they should be attached to the corners of our garments, how many knots should be tied in them, what shade of blue to use, what other colors should be used, how to make the pigment, what to do if our garments don't have corners, and so forth, so these things God left up to tradition, and there is nothing wrong with following this tradition. Jesus was never criticized for not following this tradition.

In Deuteronomy 17:8-13, God's word gave authority to priests and judges to make rulings in regard to how to obey God's law, and in Matthew 23:23, Jesus said recognized that the Pharisees had this authority by saying that they sit in the seat of Moses and by instructing his followers to do whatever they said. Christ spent his ministry teaching his followers to obey God's law by word and by example, and Paul was a servant of Christ, so his problem in Galatians was not with those who were teaching Gentiles how to follow Christ or even with those who were teaching Gentiles to follow their traditions, but with those who were wanting to require Gentiles to obey their works of the law as a means of resulting in their salvation rather than being saved through faith. The phrase "works of the law" is also used in a similar manner in Qumran Text 4QQMMT.

(1) Those who are under these works of the law would have been those who had joined communities where those who sat in the Seat of Moses made rulings for the community, (2) which would have included Christians that Christ instructed to follow them, (3) Paul opposed works of the law as a means of salvation instead of by faith. If God is legalistic for commanding His people to obey His law and Jesus is legalistic for setting a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to it, then we should all be legalists, but I don't think that is what legalism refers to.