Download Is Salvation supported by Jesus Grace or Own Deeds and more Essays (university) Religion in PDF only on Docsity! Is Salvation supported by Jesus Grace or Own Deeds Subject: Religious Studies Some within the church in Galatia were peddling a doctrine of salvation by works. Paul asks and answers three bombshell questions of these Galatians who were trying to peddle this doctrine. These three questions and their answers stopped their salvation by works message in its tracks. You remember, of course, that Paul believed that Jesus' blood took care of the sin problem for the humanity. Now here are his three dynamite questions and their obvious answers. Question #1: “Did the Galatians receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?” Galatians 3:2. In other words, are you able to work to receive the Spirit or is that a product of believing on Jesus and receiving Him (by faith) as your personal saviour? Actually, receiving the Spirit comes by faith upon receiving Jesus as saviour. Works don't have anything to undertake to with it. Paul's logic, then, forces the conclusion that works of the law don't have anything to undertake to with the removal of our guilt and feelings of unworthiness for our sins. This is often solely through Jesus' blood which is God's Supreme act of grace. The blood of Jesus is appropriated by faith and not by works within the smallest amount Question #2: “Since they began by the Spirit, what makes them think they go to modify from the Spirit to the flesh to continue their Christian experience? What makes them think they go to modify from the Spirit to the fleshly works of the Law to end out their Christian experience?” Galatians 3:3. They can’t. Therefore, Jesus’ blood, applied to us by the Spirit through faith, will look out of our guilt and Unworthiness problem. Consequently, Christians who rest and trust in Jesus' blood refuse to be brought under bondage for unworthiness caused by the guilt of their sins. Consequently, they are going to not let these feelings of guilt and unworthiness interfere with God’s blessings of healing, prosperity, family wellbeing and salvation contained within the Abrahamic covenant for them. Question #3: “Did the one who ministers the Spirit to them and works miracles among them do this stuff by the hearing of religion or by the works of the law?” Galatians 3:5. Of course, he did this stuff by faith and not by the works of the law. Paul's logic, here, forces the conclusion that (1) since these Galatians received the Spirit by faith and not by works of the Law, (2) since they will not switch from the Spirit to works of the Law to need care of their Christian life and (3) since those ministering the Spirit and works miracles among them still do them by faith and not by works of the Law, then neither can the Galatians arbitrarily switch from salvation by faith in Jesus to salvation by works of the Law. Neither can they plan to follow any mixture of religion and works. From the preceding, obviously Paul believed that Jesus’ blood took care of everything. His blood was the grace of God in action. His blood took care of the guilt and feelings of
