salvation

What is the Galatian error?

Learn about the Galatian Error in Christianity, which refers to a mixture of law and grace that emphasizes obedience to the law rather than trusting in Christ’s righteousness and justification by faith. The book of Galatians serves as both a warning against legalism and a defense of justification by faith. Characteristics of “Galatianized” Christianity include an emphasis on following rules and a de-emphasis on trusting in Christ’s righteousness. Examples of “Galatianized” Christianity include tithing and being a disciple in the sense of the synoptic Gospels. It is important to understand the dangers of legalism and the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for true freedom in Christ.

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What is the righteousness of the law?

Learn about the righteousness of the law and its purpose in exposing sin and leading humans to faith in Christ. While the law is holy and good, it cannot correct the problem of sin, only point us to the reality of righteousness found in Christ. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 is actually the law of Moses, focused on the 9th commandment, “thou shalt not covet.” Christ is the righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees and Saducees, and through His redemptive work, we are justified and made heirs of the kingdom. The Law serves as a magnifying glass for sin, but ultimately, God’s desire is for us to turn to faith in Christ.

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What is true discipleship?

True discipleship involves abiding in the Gospel and allowing it to work in and through us. It is not about following a legalistic set of rules, but rather about understanding and trusting in Christ as our righteousness, sanctification, and reward. Loving one another and recognizing our fellow believers as sons and daughters of God is also a crucial aspect of true discipleship. The Gospel is the source and foundation of true discipleship, and through it, we bear fruit and become fully assured in our relationship with Christ. By abiding in Him, we allow Him to settle down and make His home in our hearts, and we become part of Him, “bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.” (John 4:14, John 7:37-38, John 8:32, 1 Corinthians 12:27)

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Who are the thieves and the robbers?

Learn about the thieves and robbers who oppose the Gospel of grace. These individuals have not entered through the door, which is Jesus, and speak against the simplicity of the Gospel. They aim to steal, kill, and destroy by deceiving believers and speaking against the message of faith. Jesus describes them as thieves and robbers who come to steal precious treasures, which is the Gospel of grace. Beware of hirelings who do not care for the sheep and enable the wolves to run around freely. Look for the porters who know the shepherd’s voice and speak the truth without compromise. Keep your focus on Jesus Christ, the true and only way to salvation. Keywords: Gospel, Jesus Christ, Thieves and Robbers, Deception, Simplicity of the Gospel, Faith, Grace.

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Why is the gospel offensive to the legalist?

The gospel is a message of freedom, assurance, and inheritance, but it can be offensive to legalists. Legalists see righteousness as a matter of law-keeping and are offended by the notion that Christ’s righteousness secures salvation and gives confidence in our relationship with Him. The gospel emphasizes inheritance as the positive focus, as we see in the Epistles. According to 1 Peter 1:3-4, we have been born again to a “living hope” and an “inheritance incorruptible” that is reserved for us. The gospel is Good News that God has made peace with man and has good will toward man, but legalists tend to focus on God’s wrath towards sin and find it difficult to accept that God has made peace with man. Our growth in the Christian life comes as we learn to stand fast in the liberty that we have in Christ, relying on the Spirit and enjoying the graciousness and goodness of God.

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Why was the timing of Abraham’s circumcision so important?

Learn about the importance of justification by faith alone in the Old Testament, specifically through the timing of Abraham’s circumcision. While circumcision was seen as a sign of righteousness and faith, it was not the cause of Abraham’s justification. Rather, it was a seal of the righteousness he already had through faith. This emphasizes the importance of justification by faith alone, as opposed to works or law-keeping. Christ is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and Old Testament saints were also justified by faith apart from works. Our faith in Christ is what justifies us, and our works are simply a reflection of that faith.

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Many people think of Christ’s command to “take up the cross” as a burden and a demand. How is this different from the reality that’s now been established in Christ: “I was crucified with Christ”?

This informative SEO excerpt discusses the reality of “taking up the cross” in Christ and how it is often misunderstood as a burden and demand on Christians. The excerpt emphasizes that the reality established in Christ is that “I was crucified with Christ,” and it is through this understanding that we can find freedom and assurance in our relationship with Him. It also warns against those who try to make the Gospel about us and bring us into bondage. The ultimate freedom is to be “dead with Christ,” where we are no longer about ourselves but about Christ living through us. By recognizing our old self being crucified with Christ, we can live in the freedom of His resurrection power. The keywords for this excerpt are assurance of salvation, Christ, Christian freedom, Freedom in Christ, gospel, and grace.

Many people think of Christ’s command to “take up the cross” as a burden and a demand. How is this different from the reality that’s now been established in Christ: “I was crucified with Christ”? Read More »

What did Jesus mean when he said “He who loves me will keep my commandments”?

Learn about the meaning behind Jesus’ statement “He who loves me will keep my commandments” and the new commandment in 1 John. The new commandment is not an outward demand, but something installed in us through Christ Himself as the Eternal life. Loving the brethren is the same as believing the Gospel, and our practical love towards the body of Christ is evidence of Christ in us. Keeping Jesus’ commandments involves believing in Him, loving one another in a practical way, holding fast to the doctrine of Christ, and not being moved away from it. Explore this topic further on the Christ Our Righteousness hub.

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What does it mean that Christ is a righteousness higher than the law?

Learn about the concept of Christ’s righteousness being higher than the law in this informative article. The law points to Christ’s righteousness, which is the reality of the righteousness God wants us to have. Christ’s love and reconciliation go beyond what the law requires, and he is the personification of righteousness. We receive Christ’s righteousness as a free gift, given to those who believe in him. This gift is beyond what we could attain through our own efforts and is given apart from any works we could do. Explore this topic further by visiting the Christ Our Righteousness hub. Keywords: Christ, righteousness, law, grace, salvation, gift.

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What does it mean that for “me to live is Christ”?

Learn about living as a Christian through faith in Christ with this informative article. Discover the importance of drawing on the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, and how to live more and more dependent upon Him to satisfy us. Explore the deep understanding and appreciation for the Gospel message, and how Christ is the source of righteousness and power for sanctification. Understand the new life in the Spirit through Him, and the importance of understanding and believing in our new identity in Christ. This article emphasizes that the Gospel is about Jesus Christ, not the individual, and that Christ is the center of the Gospel message. Keywords include Christ, Christian life, gospel, grace, law versus grace, and sanctification.

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