People who try to deny the Doctrine of Eternal Security (OSAS) sometimes point to Galatians 5:13-26 to support their position. And if you just considered those verses you might be tempted to agree. But if you look at the entire chapter you get a completely different perspective. So that’s what we’ll do.
Before we begin, it’s important to remind ourselves that the Bible, being the word of God, cannot contradict itself. If Galatians 5 denies OSAS it’s in direct contradiction to statements the Holy Spirit led Paul to make in Ephes. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 1:21-22. Ephes. 1:13-14 tells us that our salvation is assured from the moment of belief with the Holy Spirit sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything, either good or bad, before we were baptized, before we had even fully responded to the altar call, we were saved forever. These other things are important, but our belief in the Lord’s completed work on our behalf came first and it’s the one essential ingredient to our salvation which alone brings us eternal life (John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:28-29, 6:40).
2 Cor. 1:21-22 says, It is God Who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. There are no passages in Scripture that speak of revoking or even modifying this guarantee. It would be impossible for the Holy Spirit to have led Paul or any of the Bible’s other writers to make any statements that contradict these clear promises.
So what was Paul saying? Let’s start at the beginning of the chapter.
Freedom In Christ
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law 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. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:1-6)
The context of Galatians 5 is the debate that was raging between two groups there. One consisted of believers in the Doctrine of Grace Paul had taught them. The other was made up of those who were being swayed by the teaching of the “Judaizers”, Jews who claimed that Gentile believers had to come under the Law and be circumcised to be saved.
Paul warned them that while neither circumcision nor uncircumcision was relevant in and of itself, it was being proposed to them as a sign of their acceptance of the Old Covenant. Therefore agreeing to it would obligate them to the whole Law. Attempting to keep the Law alienates us from the Lord because it denies what He’s done for us. It makes His death of no value leaving us responsible for saving ourselves.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! (Galatians 5:7-12)
Law Or Grace?
You can’t have a little bit of Law mixed with Grace. Just as a little bit of yeast will permeate the whole batch of dough to change its composition, a little bit of Law will work its way through the doctrine of Grace, changing it into something it was not intended to be. When Paul said in that case the offense of the cross has been abolished, he meant the Law cancels Grace.
(The Judaizers were hinting that Paul preached the Law among Jews but switched to a watered down version of the Gospel when speaking to Gentiles. His response was, “If I’m preaching the Law to the Jews then why are they persecuting me?” His frustration with them is evident.)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:13-15)
Paul’s comments here concern the Galatians’ arguments over Law vs. Grace and was a warning to stop it. He called their arguing “indulging the sinful nature”and said while in Christ they were free from the Law they shouldn’t use their freedom to behave that way. Instead, they should serve one another humbly in love.
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
This is a clear demonstration of the difference between the desires of the sin nature and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our sin nature will always prompt us to do things that are contrary to the Spirit. As He did in Romans 7:18-19 Paul said our sin nature will sometimes cause us to do things we know we shouldn’t do. Here he said if we’re led by the Spirit we’re not under the Law, meaning these things are not counted against us.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:22-26)
The differences between the acts of the sin nature and the fruit of the Spirit can be seen in the comparison of these two passages. In reading the first one we can all admit to periodically doing one or more of these things as believers. In Romans 7:20 Paul said from God’s perspective it’s not us but the sin nature that dwells within us that’s to blame when this happens.
His final words on the subject confirm that the whole chapter had been about about their arguing. He said since the Galatian believers belonged to Christ they should live by the Spirit and not become conceited, a common failing among Law keepers. He said they should stop provoking and envying each other, a reference to the contention among them. These are acts prompted by the sin nature and are not appropriate for believers.
What’s The Meaning Of This?
If you’re going to deny God’s Grace by going under the Law you’ll disqualify yourself from receiving two things that are essential to your salvation. First, you won’t have the Holy Spirit to guide you, so you’ll be left with only your sin nature which will always take you in a direction that’s opposed to God’s Spirit.
But far more importantly you won’t have the guarantee of the Lord’s death on your behalf to save you. You’ll be responsible for your own salvation. Without these two things you can not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Remember, the Law was only given to point out our sins and no one can be saved by keeping it (Romans 3:20). But through faith we can achieve a righteousness apart from the Law and be saved (Romans 3:21-24). So there are only two ways to live one’s life, by Law or by Grace through faith. We can’t have it both ways. If we’re under the Law we can not benefit from God’s grace.
In summary, if we depend solely by faith on our belief that the Lord saved us forever then we’re saved forever. If we think we have to apply our own effort to complete the work Jesus only began, then it’s doubtful we were ever saved. Paul wasn’t contradicting himself. Galatians 5 is not about losing our salvation once we receive it, it’s about whether we ever had it to begin with. Selah 07-30-11
What does? it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does? it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.??But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
phes. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 1:21-22. Ephes. 1:13-14 tells us that our salvation is assured from the moment of belief with the Holy Spirit sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything, either good or bad, before we were baptized, before we had even fully responded to the altar call, we were saved forever. These other things are important, but our belief in the Lord’s completed work on our behalf came first and it’s the one essential ingredient to our salvation which alone brings us eternal life (John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:28-29, 6:40).
2 Cor. 1:21-22 says, It is God Who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. There are no passages in Scripture that speak of revoking or even modifying this guarantee. It would be impossible for the Holy Spirit to have led Paul or any of the Bible’s other writers to make any statements that contradict these clear promises.
Ephes. 1:13-14 and 2 Cor. 1:21-22. Ephes. 1:13-14 tells us that our salvation is assured from the moment of belief with the Holy Spirit sealed within us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. Before we had done anything, either good or bad, before we were baptized, before we had even fully responded to the altar call, we were saved forever. These other things are important, but our belief in the Lord’s completed work on our behalf came first and it’s the one essential ingredient to our salvation which alone brings us eternal life (John 1:12-13, 3:16, 6:28-29, 6:40).
2 Cor. 1:21-22 says, It is God Who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. There are no passages in Scripture that speak of revoking or even modifying this guarantee. It would be impossible for the Holy Spirit to have led Paul or any of the Bible’s other writers to make any statements that contradict these clear promises.
These are the religions that add to what Jesus did. They legislate behavior just like the Pharisees did, with rules and regulations you must obey or risk losing everything. In effect they’re trying to convince you that Jesus only began the salvation process at the cross. It’s up to you to complete it by behaving in ways that meet with their approval. Some of them say that Jesus paid for all your sins up to the moment you were saved, but after that everything’s on your head. It’s like you got a free gift but have to work to keep it. Your subsequent behavior will either keep you saved or cause Him to revoke your salvation, and once it’s revoked you can never get it back. Others would have you believe that His grace will only come into play after you’ve done everything possible to save yourself.
The Gospel Plus religions would have you believe that He loved you enough to die for you while you hated Him, but once you gave Him your heart He started adding conditions to make you toe the mark. Any slip on your part can lock you out forever. So no matter which way you look at it, the Gospel Plus means your salvation is really all up to you.
The Gospel Minus
Then there are the folks who don’t believe you have to claim the Lord’s death for yourself at all. Rejecting the notion of a personal Savior, they contend that He died for everyone, so we’re all going to heaven. Some say that those who aren’t saved can sit down with the Lord after they die and work things out. Others even say that Christianity is only one of the many roads to Heaven so it doesn’t matter who or what you worship as long as you’re sincere.
Both these views mount a serious attack on the clear and straightforward truth of the Gospel, making complex that which the Lord gave His life to keep simple. Paul said it’s our job to resist these attacks, to not let either view cause us to waver from the truth that we’re saved because of what we believe, not because of how we behave.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Over and over the Pharisees and teachers of the Law had told the people how God expected them to live, and a lot of it was down right impossible. So one day they asked Jesus point blank, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (John 6:28). It was a perfect opportunity for the Lord to specify every detail of God’s “do list” for humanity, His non-negotiable standards for admittance into His Kingdom. Would He tell them to get out pen and paper and be ready to write while He repeated the 10 commandments, or the 613 laws of the Torah? How about the Sermon on the Mount? How would He answer humanity’s central question concerning our responsibility to our Creator?
“The work of God is this,” He replied, “To believe In the One He has sent.” (John 6:29) That’s it! That’s all He said. Believe in the One He has sent. Entrust your eternal destiny to the completed work done on your behalf by God’s Son.
Throughout the New Testament this unmistakably clear answer would be repeated.Here are a few examples;
For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast. (Ephe. 2:8-9)
If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as gold or silver that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. Through Him you believe in God, Who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, so your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:18-19, 21)
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
How much clearer can it be? Our faith has saved us, and even that was a gift from God. He gave us the faith to be saved without cost or condition. Maintaining that faith is the only thing we have to do. Indeed it’s the only thing we can do, because holding on to our faith is the only effort we can exert that isn’t counted as work (Romans 4:4-5). Anything else we do in a misguided effort to improve or perfect our position before Him is religious work and devalues the incredible price He paid so that we could have it for free. It shows Him that we don’t think He finished the job.
So it’s not what you do that matters, so much as what you believe. The work that God requires is that you will hold on to the faith you’ve been given, to nurture it and to protect it from the hollow and deceptive philosophy that depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col. 2:8) These deceptive philosophies fall into two categories I call Gospel Plus and Gospel Minus. Remember, they all claim to be Christian.
The Gospel Plus
These are the religions that add to what Jesus did. They legislate behavior just like the Pharisees did, with rules and regulations you must obey or risk losing everything. In effect they’re trying to convince you that Jesus only began the salvation process at the cross. It’s up to you to complete it by behaving in ways that meet with their approval. Some of them say that Jesus paid for all your sins up to the moment you were saved, but after that everything’s on your head. It’s like you got a free gift but have to work to keep it. Your subsequent behavior will either keep you saved or cause Him to revoke your salvation, and once it’s revoked you can never get it back. Others would have you believe that His grace will only come into play after you’ve done everything possible to save yourself.
The Gospel Plus religions would have you believe that He loved you enough to die for you while you hated Him, but once you gave Him your heart He started adding conditions to make you toe the mark. Any slip on your part can lock you out forever. So no matter which way you look at it, the Gospel Plus means your salvation is really all up to you.
The Gospel Minus
Then there are the folks who don’t believe you have to claim the Lord’s death for yourself at all. Rejecting the notion of a personal Savior, they contend that He died for everyone, so we’re all going to heaven. Some say that those who aren’t saved can sit down with the Lord after they die and work things out. Others even say that Christianity is only one of the many roads to Heaven so it doesn’t matter who or what you worship as long as you’re sincere.
Both these views mount a serious attack on the clear and straightforward truth of the Gospel, making complex that which the Lord gave His life to keep simple. Paul said it’s our job to resist these attacks, to not let either view cause us to waver from the truth that we’re saved because of what we believe, not because of how we behave.
The Shepherd And The Sheep
Throughout His ministry, the Lord characterized Himself as the good shepherd. Everyone who’s worked with sheep knows how they’re prone to wander, and that it’s the shepherd’s job to bring them back. There’s no behavior on the part of a sheep that would convince the shepherd to abandon it. And so it is between the Lord and us.
“This is the will of Him Who sent me,” He said, “That I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the son and believes in Him shall have eternal life and I shall raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40)
He made our salvation possible and then did everything necessary to provide it without cost. All that remains for us is to receive it and believe it. If there was any way that we could save ourselves, surrender or lose our salvation, or get to heaven without receiving it in the first place, then at best the Lord was overstating His role in our lives and at worst He was saying something that simply isn’t true.
Sola Grazie, Sola Fides, Sola Scriptura
Only by grace, only through faith, only from Scripture. This was Martin Luther’s great epiphany, and it became the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation. But God’s enemies are not so easily defeated and sadly both the Gospel Plus and Gospel Minus philosophies eventually crept into the Protestant Denominations, and you’ll find elements of both scattered through out Christianity today.
So no matter where you attend worship each week, or even if you don’t, the best way to make sure you’re saved is to cling mightily to the simple truth of the gospel. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:3-4) If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9) That’s all there is. He gave you the faith to believe it, and if you believe it, you have it. Selah 09-04-05
