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I CORINTHIANS, II CORINTHIANS, GALATIANS
(Brief Study on the New Testament Books)
(MBC - Wednesday PM, June 19, 26, July 3, 2024
I – PROBLEMS FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH We can see in our study that there were problems from within the church. The church of Corinthians shows us that there are problems in any church and in every church. Whenever someone in the church saw all kinds of problem in his local church, that someone decided to leave the church and look for a perfect church. Before that someone left his local church, there was someone who gave him a good advice “Whenever you find the perfect church you are looking for, be sure that you do not join it, or else you will ruin it.”
Every local church is composed of people, and people have problems. But, on the other hand, there is the true and living faithful God who has all the answers to all problems that each people in the church encounter. You can never find a perfect church. No church is perfect.
God is perfect
Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”
God’s Word is perfect.
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
Therefore, the church who were made of imperfect people has a perfect God and perfect Word of God.
There was a church which had a multitude of problems, and this was located in the city of sin which was the city of Corinth. By learning about this city of Corinth, we can find out about the problems of this church.
A. Sinful City of Corinth
Greece southern part looks very like a large island except for a very narrow strip of land. The city of Corinth was located very near to that narrow strip of land which is called an “isthmus” which connects the southernmost part with the mainland. This narrow strip of land connects two larger land areas.
Those traveller and trader considered Corinth a very important city. Stormy weather is frequent to southernmost part of Greece, that is why it was very dangerous for the travellers. So, much of the traveller take a shortcut which is better. Those who travelled and traded could get off their ship near Corinth, as they carry their cargo across the narrow strip of land which is about 4 miles across and then these traveller and trader load their cargo into another ship. In addition to dangerous travel are those smaller ships that could be moved across a wooden slipway which was laid down from one sea to the other. Not only the other way is more dangerous but it was a much longer trip of about 200 mile journey. Indeed, it was worth all the effort to cross this land. That is why going the Corinth way not only saved lives, but it also saved time.
In order for the travellers made easy for ships to cross this isthmus or narrow strip land, a canal was dug in 1881-1893. This engineering feat is measured with a length of four miles and spanned by a bridge of 170 foot high.
Visitors and travellers flow constantly at Corinth due to its location. Corinth was a centre of commerce and trade industry. In the city of Corinth, you can find a great marketplace and many taverns because people often would drink and get drunk. Since city of Corinth has all the trade and all businesses, people got rich and often spend and enjoy their money in sinful and wicked ways. People enjoy watching entertainment for there was a great theater provided for them. The City of Corinth was famous for sports activities. Actually, in the city of Corinth, every two years, the popular Isthmian games were held. Apart from the Olympic games, the Isthmian games were the most famous athletic events in the Roman Empire.
The city of Corinth was known for its sin and wickedness. The goddess Aphrodite, known as Venus, who was the goddess of love was honoured by the people in the city of Corinth. The worship of Aphrodite is described by the word lust. The temple of Aphrodite (Venus) was filled with 1,000 women who were wicked, lustful who visited this temple and would pay large amount of money in order to worship the Aphrodite goddess of lust. Those wicked practices worshipping the goddess of lust is described by the word “fornication,” in the letter of Paul.
I Corinthians 5:1 “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.”
I Corinthians 5:9-10 “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.”
I Corinthians 6:9 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,”
I Corinthians 6:15-20 “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
I Corinthians 7:2 “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
I Corinthians 10:8 “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.”
II Corinthians 12:21 “And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”
Throughout the Roman Empire people knew that City of Corinth was the city of sin. The Corinth City had a horrible reputation. The People of Corinth is described as pagan in Romans 1:21-32.
Romans 1:21-32 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Paul was in Corinth City when he penned his letter to the Romans.
Luke described the first visit of Paul as a missionary to the city of Corinth.
Acts 18:1-11 “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
How long Paul as a missionary stayed in City of Corinth? (v.11) __________________
During the beginning of Paul’s missionary visit, Paul’s heart was encouraged when God. Fill up the missing words to know what God said to encourage Paul.
Acts 18:10 “I have _________ ____________in this city.”
According to this verse God was doing a great work, in spite that the city of Corinth was polluted by sin. God was going to save many people in the so-called city of sin. Not only God was going to save sinners but also transforms their lives completely in Christ.
Some of the people in city of Corinth was mentioned in I Corinthians 6:9-11
I Corinthians 6:9-11 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Before God’s grace reached the souls of these unsaved lost sinners, give the description of these wicked people in I Corinthians 6:9-10.
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I Corinthians 6:9-10 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
After God saves the souls of these wicked people, please describe them now (I Corinthians 6:11)
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I Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Do you know other cities of sin in the world today like the Corinth City?
Can you say that the cities of today centers on purity, and virtue and love?
Can the God who work in city of Corinth, can still work in the cities of our nation today?
God delights and desires to pull out people from filthy mire of sin and set their feet upon the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Psalm 40:2 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”
B. Solution of God to the Problems of man
It was about 55 A.D. when Paul wrote the first letter to the Corinthians. First epistle to the Corinthians was one of earlier letters of Paul. The many problems that the Corinthians church faced were revealed in the book of I Corinthians. Noticeably, we learned that every chapter of the book of I Corinthians there is a problem. In order for the believers living in the city of Corinth may receive the God’s answers to these many problems, the Apostle Paul wrote the first book of I Corinthians.
Here are the Church problems mentioned in I Corinthians:
1. There is church problem of Disunity of brethren causing Divisions – I Corinthians 1:10-13
2. There is church problem of Diverting of worldly wisdom – I Corinthian 17- I Corinthians 2:16
3. There is church problem of Distracting spiritual lives through Carnality – I Corinthians 3:1-4
4. There is church problem of Displeasing God through Immorality – I Corinthians 5:1-13
5. There is church problem of Deciding believers to sue fellow believers to Court – I Corinthians 6:1-8
6. There is church problem of Dangers of fornication – I Corinthians 6:15-20
7. There is church problem of Destroying Marriage with Divorce – I Corinthians 7:1-40
8. There is church problem of Deceiving brethren by Meats offered to Idols – I Corinthians 8:1-13
9. There is church problem of Differing Men and Women role in church – I Corinthians 11:1-17
10. There is church problem of Disrespecting the Lord’s supper being abused – I Corinthians 11:20-34
11. There is church problem of Devaluating of God’s Spiritual Gifts – I Corinthians 12:1-31
12. There is church problem of Displaying a Lack of Love – I Corinthians 13:1-13
13. There is church problem of Deviating of speaking in Tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:1-40
14. There is church problem of Doctrine of false teaching on the Resurrection of the Dead – I Corinthians 15:1-58
15. There is church problem of Due collection for the Saints – I Corinthians 16:1-3
The Church of Corinth was plagued with unceasing multitudes of problems. Today’s churches experienced the same problems the Corinthians church faces in various forms. To those who were continuously facing heavy problems, they need to know that there is God’s solution to man’s problems. That is what Paul wanted to these Corinthians believers, to let them know that there is True and Living God who is a great problem solver. Believers must be careful to make sure that they listened and obeyed the directions and instructions of God given in His Holy Word. Every church problem has a solution from the Bible. Every problem can only be solved in God’s way.
All the various problems that plague the church of Corinth and experienced by the Corinthian believers were very similar to the problems that the children of Israel encountered long time ago. As of today, these same problems still exist in every congregation of the local churches.
The children of Israel and the Christians in Corinth, and the Christians of today face the same sins and problems
(The sins of Lust, Idolatry, Fornication, failure to trust God, and others)
There is God’s solution – I Corinthians 10:13
I Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
In spite of many problems enumerated in the book of I Corinthians, this first letter to the Corinthians is well known for Chapter 13 on the topic of the love and well known for chapter 15 on the topic of Resurrection.
C. Suffering and life of Paul for Lord’s sake
It is around 56 A.D. when the book of II Corinthians was probably written, less than a year after Paul has written the I Corinthians. The II Corinthians is the most personal letter that Paul has written that we now have. In this Paul second letter to the Corinthians, we learn more about the life of Paul, the ministry of Paul, what kind of person Paul was, etc., more than any letter in the New Testament. But of course, from the records of the book of Acts, we have also learned much about the life and ministry of Paul.
When Paul wrote the II Corinthians it is like he is almost writing his autobiography. Paul is divinely inspired when he wrote the II Corinthians, it shows Paul’s great love and great concern for the spiritual progress of Corinthians believers.
(II Corinthians 2:4; II Corinthians 6:11; II Corinthians 11:2; II Corinthians 12:14-15; II Corinthians 12:19; II Corinthians 13:10).
II Corinthians 2:4 “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.”
II Corinthians 6:11 “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.”
II Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
II Corinthians 12:14-15 “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
II Corinthians 12:19 “Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.”
II Corinthians 13:10 “Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.”
Complete the missing words on what the Lord said about Paul in Acts 9:16 “For I will shew him how great things he must ____________ for my name's sake.”
Paul suffered for the sake of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Paul suffered in seven ways: (II Corinthians 11:23-28)
1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________
4. ___________________________________
5. ___________________________________
6. ___________________________________
7. ___________________________________
II Corinthians 11:23-28 “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul gives an account of all the sufferings he endured for Christ. He is telling the church these things to bring honor and glory to God who enabled him to endure that suffering. Paul is explaining how through his experiences he is a minister of Christ. We will go through Paul’s reasoning through these verses.
1. In labours more abundant – v.23
Paul is a minister of Christ because he worked harder than any of the other apostles for Christ’s sake. – I Corinthians 15:10
2. In stripes above measure – v.23
Paul is a minister of Christ because he was beaten many times for Christ’s sake
Paul was beaten by both the Jews and the Romans. The Jews beat him 5 different times with 39 stripes. In Deuteronomy 25:3 (Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.), God commanded the Israelites that they should not go above 40 stripes when punishing someone. So, the Israelite leaders restricted the number of stripes to 39 so that they would not accidentally exceed the amount God had commanded. The Romans used rods made of birch wood to beat their victims. They were usually beat all over their body. But, sometimes the Romans would tie their victim upside down and beat the bottoms of their feet until the bones broke.
3. In prisons more frequent – v.23
Paul is a minister of Christ because he spent a lot of time in prison for Christ’s sake.
We don’t have a record of all the times that Paul was imprisoned. But, from what we can find there were at least 3 times.
Paul was arrested during his second missionary journey when he went to Philippi. This was after he healed a demon-possessed slave girl who had the power of prophecy. The slave girl’s masters stirred up the town and had Paul and Silas arrested.
Paul was prophesied to be arrested in Acts 21:11 (When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.). This occurred after he completed the third missionary journey. Paul was at the Temple and Jews from Asia caused a riot. Paul was taken into Roman custody.
Later, Paul is taken into custody again. Instead of being under house arrest, Paul was placed in a jail cell. It is from this cell that Paul writes his letter to Timothy.
4. In deaths often – v. 23
Paul is a minister of Christ because he was close to death many times for Christ’s sake.
In Acts 14:19 (Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.), Paul was close to death when the crowd tried to stone him in Lystra.
Paul also had a near-death experience while traveling from Ephesus to Troas.
5. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often – v.25, 26a
Paul is a minister of Christ because he travelled many miles and endured many hardships while traveling for Christ’s sake.
In Acts, we see that Paul had 18 journeys by ship.
6. In Perils – v.26-27
Paul is a minister of Christ because he endured many perils and discomforts for Christ’s sake.
a. Perils of water – dangers while traveling by sea
b. Perils of robbers – robbers try to rob isolated travellers
c. Perils in the city – many hostile mobs in the cities where Paul preached.
Acts 13:50 “But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.”
Acts 14:5 “And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,”
Acts 14:19 “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.”
Acts 16:19 “And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,”
d. Perils in the wilderness – dangers while traveling in the wilderness on Paul missionary journeys
e. Perils in the sea – dangers of Paul shipwrecks
f. Perils among false brethren – dangers and betrayal by those who claim as Paul’s friends
I Timothy 1:19, 20 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
II Timothy 1:15 “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”
II Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”
II Timothy 4:14 “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:”
In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. – v.27
Paul lists some of the other physical discomforts he faced in the cause for Christ.
Weariness could have come from the traveling, exposure, labor, and want.
II Corinthians 6:5 “In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;” (sleeplessness, fastings)
I Corinthians 4:11 “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;” (hunger, thirst, cold and nakedness)
7. Deep concern for all the churches – v.28
Paul is a minister of Christ because he has a burden for Christ’s church.
Even in the midst of persecutions, Paul’s concern wasn’t for himself, but for others. Paul sympathizes with the believers and cares for them deeply.
This is a great message that Paul is teaching the Corinthian church and believers today. While we may have to go through many sufferings, trials, and disappointments in life, we should continue to glorify God with our lives and have a burden for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Believers in Corinth needed to recognize that God sent Paul as an apostle and was a man of God.
We read in the Book of I Corinthians and II Corinthians that Paul helped the Corinthian Christian understand that Paul was sent from God to care for the churches (I Corinthians 9:1-2; II Corinthians 10:1-18 and II Corinthians 12:11-12).
I Corinthians 9:1-2 “Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord."
II Corinthians 12:11-12 “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
The same is true today, we need also to recognize and respect those Pastors and those leaders that God called and place over the local church to overseer us, lead us, teach us and feed us the Word of God (I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17).
I Thessalonians 5:12-13 “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
Do you express your Gratitude and thank God for giving you a Pastor? Are you grateful for the other leaders in the ministry that God put over in your local church?
II– PROBLEMS FROM WITHOUT THE CHURCH
As we have discussed recently, the Corinthians had problem from within the church, while the Galatians had problems caused by outsiders, including some false teachers who were troubling them attacking the church by teaching the erroneous false doctrines (Galatians 1:6-7; Galatians 5:10).
Galatians 1:6-7 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
Galatians 5:10 “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”
Like the Corinthians, the letter to the Galatians was another of early letters of Paul. The Book of Galatians was sent to a group of churches located in today’s is called Asia Minor. (Galatians 1:2).
Galatians 1:2 “And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:”
At the time Paul wrote the book of Galatians Paul had his war against false teachers. Paul was so concerned about false erroneous teaching that was being spread by some Judaizers bringing their false gospels among these churches. The book of Galatians had been called as the fighting epistle. Paul is fighting against false teachers and false teachings.
False teaching is very harmful to churches and Christians individual spiritual lives. Obviously, everyone was careful what kind of food or drink they want to allow swallow or eat. No one with sound mind want to drink a gallon of gasoline, want to swallow poisonous foods, or drink acetylene, milk mixed with soap for washing clothes. These things are deadly and can kill lives. Same is true with false doctrines and erroneous teachings are dangerous and can destroy spiritual lives.
When it comes to spiritual matters, spiritual health condition, false teaching and false doctrine are deadly and harmful to eternal souls. If a person wants to be saved and wants to be sure of heaven, that person must hear the bible based, true Gospel of salvation which Paul presented clearly in the book of Romans. But the cults deceivingly teach other false way of salvation, which never save a person’s soul. A false gospel can never teach and preach the glorious gospel of Christ which is the only true gospel of salvation (Ephesians 1:13). Paul writes to the Galatians and warns them that if anyone preaches a false gospel, the curse of God will be upon those false gospel teachers (Galatians 1,8-9).
Galatians 1:8-9 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
WHAT AN UNSAVED PERSON MUST DO TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD?
The false teachers says that a person must believe on Christ then must keep the law to become right with God.
Acts 15:1-2 “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
Open Galatians 2:16 and know how can man be justified by God.
Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Man will never be justified by keep God’s law. Man will be justified by believing on God’s Son.
If a man could be saved by keeping the law, then what’s the use of Christ dying for man’s sin? Read Galatians 2:21
Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
If the law can save anyone, there is no reason at all then Christ’s death is in vain, no profit at all, none sense.
WHAT MUST A SAVED PERSON SHOULD LIVE TO BE RIGHT BEFORE GOD?
The false teachers say a Christian should live by keeping the law of God and should observe the feast days and holy days which actually most of the teachings refers to the Old Testament passages about Israel. Read Paul teaching in (Galatians 3:1-6; Galatians 4:9-11).
Galatians 3:1-6 “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Galatians 4:9-11 “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”
The Bible is clear that if the Christian life started by faith, that is how a person got saved, should we not continue the Christian life by faith.
Galatians 3:2-6 “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
The Bible says that I was not saved by my own works, and I do not live my Christian life by my own works.
Actually, Paul says in Galatians 5:19-21, that the works that I produce are not very good in God’s criteria.
Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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.”
I was saved by repenting from my sins and put my faith in Christ finished works in my heart, and I must also live the Christian life by living by faith in God doing great work in my heart through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 22-23).
Galatians 5:16, 22-23 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
As a Christian, we fail whenever we try to work all what we can, but when we trust God to work in our lives we succeed.
Apostle Paul summed his book, the letter to the Galatians by the verse in Galatians 2:20.
Galatians 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.”
Is this verse happened for you as a Christian? It is not living by ourselves, but it is Christ lives in us.
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