Who has Bewitched you?

[TruthSeeker2012]

Who has Bewitched you? That's an interesting question that Paul asked.

"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" - Galatians 3:1-3

Paul rebuked them in Galatia, because they started believing that they are saved by the Holy Spirit but then needed to add human effort to finally get their salvation goal! And that's a type of WITCHCRAFT!

So this dangerous and false gospel that still exists today, is not salvation by works per se, but salvation by faith PLUS works. Unfortunately, this means then in reality that many Christians have 2 Saviours... Part Jesus, and part themselves! Jesus is not their sole 100% Saviour, because they also trust in themselves to save them through their own works and own human effort, so in reality, they have rejected Jesus as their complete Savior!

Any message about faith in Jesus’ death and life of righteousness for salvation, that adds human efforts into the equation, according to Paul “is really no gospel at all” Gal 1:7.

This means that the TRUE and only gospel of Christ is faith alone in the works of Jesus and the dying of Jesus. Having Jesus as your 100% Saviour.

Jesus must become your complete, total 100% Saviour.

Once you start looking at YOURSELF to contribute to your own salvation, you have rejected grace.

Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Now make your choice... trust in those false teachers who teach salvation through Jesus + human effort, OR, trust completely in Jesus and His merits to save you.

Do you trust in Jesus? If you answered yes, then read John 14:1-3 and tell me if Jesus was telling the truth in these verses or lying?

So we can have certainty and assurance in our salvation NOW, because in John 14:1-3 Jesus said when we trust in Him, that HE WILL COME BACK AND TAKE US WITH HIM.

Anyone who claims we cannot be certain we are saved now, they accuse Jesus of lying in John 14:1-3.

So do you believe and trust in Jesus? OR do you believe in and trust in the teachers of salvation through human effort? Make your choice because they contradict Jesus.

Salvation is a marriage to Christ, a LEGAL marriage, a LEGAL covenant.

The only sin that will legally divorce you from Christ is if you willfully renounce Christ as your Lord and Saviour and go an commit adultery towards Jesus and go "sleep and have sex" with another religion, e.g Islam, Buddhism, Legalism, or any religion that denies Jesus as your 100% COMPLETE Lord and Saviour.

Just as if you are legally married to your wife, you don't have to go back to Church every day and get remarried over and over every-time you stumble in sin against each other do you?

The same applies to salvation and marriage to Jesus.

As long as you trust in the merits of Jesus you are CONTINUOUSLY saved!

1John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Yet once sincerely saved, you will delight and love to walk in obedience because you will hate sinning. But whenever you stumble in sin, you are still saved and still covered by Jesus' righteousness and robe of salvation.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

I repeat, as long as you trust in the merits of Christ, you cannot lose your salvation. And don't let anyone tell you any different for if they do, they are false teachers of a false gospel based on maintaining your salvation through HUMAN EFFORT!

 

[Nick]

I agree - 100% faith in Jesus Christ.

However I feel it prudent to mention James 2:14-26 (ESV)

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.​

Not faith + works, but faith with works - works produced by faith, not apart from faith.

 

[Mike]

It seems to me the consistent message throughout His Promise to us is that we are saved by Faith alone. I'm posting from my phone, so no pasted verses here. Please bare with me.

In pointing to Romans 4 (one of my favorites) and Hebrews 11 (the Faith Chapter) we see it. There is a lot that is said about works, but from what I see, works are a response to faith and the Life that comes from it. I believe scripture demonstrates that God Promises rewards in Heaven for things we do here on earth, but not works as a means of getting there.

One thing we should do is encourage one another. Paul pointed out sin, but he also wrote a lot to encourage others. We ought to take care to pick each other up and carry each other and avoid being destructive to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[Nick]

It seems to me the consistent message throughout His Promise to us is that we are saved by Faith alone. I'm posting from my phone, so no pasted verses here. Please bare with me.

In pointing to Romans 4 (one of my favorites) and Hebrews 11 (the Faith Chapter) we see it. There is a lot that is said about works, but from what I see, works are a response to faith and the Life that comes from it. I believe scripture demonstrates that God Promises rewards in Heaven for things we do here on earth, but not works as a means of getting there.

One thing we should do is encourage one another. Paul pointed out sin, but he also wrote a lot to encourage others. We ought to take care to pick each other up and carry each other and avoid being destructive to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[Webb]

Read the book. The Galations were being rebuked because they were slipping back to the law. All else was a result of that.

God did not bless or reward anyone's faith until after that faith had acted. Thats in the book too.

 

[Nick]

Read the book. The Galations were being rebuked because they were slipping back to the law. All else was a result of that.

God did not bless or reward anyone's faith until after that faith had acted. Thats in the book too.

True. I'll use the classic example of the chair. If you say you believe that the chair will hold your weight, until you actually sit on the chair your faith means nothing. Until you sit on the chair, the question could be asked: do you have faith at all, if it does not affect your actions?

 

[Webb]

True! And anything God tells us to do is not a work of human righteousness but God's.

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

I agree - 100% faith in Jesus Christ.

However I feel it prudent to mention James 2:14-26 (ESV)

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.​

Not faith + works, but faith with works - works produced by faith, not apart from faith.

You just contradicted yourself. First you say 100% faith in Jesus, but then you indicated that WORKS are essential to remain saved!

Now answer me this question.. if a Christian has sincere faith in Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour yet performs NO WORKS due to illness or sickness or mental challenges or physiological condition etc...can they still be saved by FAITH ALONE? Yes or No?

If you answered no, then you have been proven to teach salvation by FAITH + HUMAN EFFORT, the same "Bewitching" false gospel that Paul rebuked in Gal 3!

If you answered yes, then what about a Christian who has sincere faith in Jesus yet performs no works, yet are able to.. can they still also be saved by FAITH ALONE? If no, then you are teaching 2 different gospels.. one saved by faith alone and another gospel based on salvation on faith + human effort!

I look forward to your reply, thank you.

BTW, James must be entirely read. He is talking about "faith without works is dead". A mere intellectual faith which doesn't change the life is not biblical faith. Biblical faith always demonstrates itself in works. See Ephesians 2:8-10 ... we are saved by grace not works, "In Order To Work". Also, something very important most people miss, is that the demonstration of works in James is not works done to be witnessed by God but works done before men.. James says, "I will show you my faith by my works" [2:18] He is talking about demonstrating our works before humans and not God.

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

It seems to me the consistent message throughout His Promise to us is that we are saved by Faith alone. I'm posting from my phone, so no pasted verses here. Please bare with me.

In pointing to Romans 4 (one of my favorites) and Hebrews 11 (the Faith Chapter) we see it. There is a lot that is said about works, but from what I see, works are a response to faith and the Life that comes from it. I believe scripture demonstrates that God Promises rewards in Heaven for things we do here on earth, but not works as a means of getting there.

One thing we should do is encourage one another. Paul pointed out sin, but he also wrote a lot to encourage others. We ought to take care to pick each other up and carry each other and avoid being destructive to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have a question for you regarding Paul. Do we have a saved man or a lost man writing two thirds of the New Testament? Because Paul was sinning terribly as he was writing the Bible, Romans 7. So what say you?

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

Read the book. The Galations were being rebuked because they were slipping back to the law. All else was a result of that.

God did not bless or reward anyone's faith until after that faith had acted. Thats in the book too.

1. So the Galatians, like many Christians, begin trusting in the law to keep them saved. And look what Galatians 5:4 says about that.

Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

2. Then you said, "God did not bless or reward anyone's faith until after that faith had acted". So I have a question for you.. was the thief saved or was he lost?

Jesus promised the thief that he shall be in paradise. Was Jesus lying or telling the truth? Because the thief did NOT ACT or produce any works at all, all he did was place FAITH IN JESUS! So tell me, was the thief saved by FAITH ALONE and no ACTS/WORKS? Or was Jesus lying?

And what about a person on their deathbed with hours or minutes to live, who never have a chance to produce any ACTS/WORKS/HUMAN EFFORT? Can they be saved by faith and grace alone if they hear the gospel and accept it before their death? Yes or No?

And do you believe the thief was saved by a gospel of faith alone, but people who survive and keep living, MUST produce human effort/works/acts to remain saved...which would mean you believe in 2 different gospels.. one by FAITH ALONE which applies to the thief, and another gospel based on FAITH + HUMAN EFFORT!

And how much ACTS and WORKS must a person do before God will accept them and save them? What if a Christian don't produce enough works/acts, will God then reject them based on their lack of works?

So which is it?

 

[Mike]

I have a question for you regarding Paul. Do we have a saved man or a lost man writing two thirds of the New Testament? Because Paul was sinning terribly as he was writing the Bible, Romans 7. So what say you?

Was Paul saved? If you're in the business of saying who's going to Hell, knock yourself out. My business card doesn't say "Judge", so I'll leave that to the One whose does.

But I think you're mixing apples and oranges. The opposite of doing good works is NOT sinning. They have nothing to do with one another. A person could be steep in, or void of, both. I believe they do have one thing in common. Neither will pave the way to salvation or block it depending on where a person's heart is and if he's given up his life for Christ.

 

[Nick]

You just contradicted yourself. First you say 100% faith in Jesus, but then you indicated that WORKS are essential to remain saved!

No, I didn't.

I said that it is 100% faith. What I clarified in that post and in others following it was that true faith manifests itself in works. Works are a product of faith. For faith to exist it must produce actions. Otherwise there is no faith - or dead faith as James calls it.

Now answer me this question.. if a Christian has sincere faith in Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour yet performs NO WORKS due to illness or sickness or mental challenges or physiological condition etc...can they still be saved by FAITH ALONE? Yes or No?

"Works" does not necessarily mean doing physical work. But God knows what will happen, and also the "what-ifs". My guess is that since God knows that person's heart, He can make a Righteous judgement. Another guess: if that person desires to do works but is unable to because of their condition, well, again, God knows that person's heart.

I still say - it is faith alone, but that faith we're talking about produces works. So yes, faith alone, like everyone else.

If you answered no, then you have been proven to teach salvation by FAITH + HUMAN EFFORT, the same "Bewitching" false gospel that Paul rebuked in Gal 3!

Well it's good that I answered yes, then. ;)

If you answered yes, then what about a Christian who has sincere faith in Jesus yet performs no works, yet are able to.. can they still also be saved by FAITH ALONE? If no, then you are teaching 2 different gospels.. one saved by faith alone and another gospel based on salvation on faith + human effort!

If a Christian has sincere faith in Jesus, he will produce works. Otherwise we get back to the chair senario, where the person refuses to sit down on the chair. Does that person really have faith that the chair will hold their weight? I'd say not.

BTW, James must be entirely read. He is talking about "faith without works is dead". A mere intellectual faith which doesn't change the life is not biblical faith. Biblical faith always demonstrates itself in works. See Ephesians 2:8-10 ... we are saved by grace not works, "In Order To Work". Also, something very important most people miss, is that the demonstration of works in James is not works done to be witnessed by God but works done before men.. James says, "I will show you my faith by my works" [2:18] He is talking about demonstrating our works before humans and not God.

Based on this assessment of James, we are in agreement in our assessment of faith and works, and it seems a misunderstanding has caused this disagreement. This is what I have been trying to say all along.

 

[Webb]

Hi Truthseeker
You ask me about the old thief on the cross question . Paul wrote: :studiy to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." So God expects us to "rightly divide" His word in our study and application of it. A simple study of the testaments, involving which testament we live in etc. will answer your question. Read the book!

You ask me "and what about a person on their deathbed with hours or minutes to live----" Now you are being subjective and emotional like the "tongues" defenders on another thread on which we both participated. Stay with the book. Forget hypothetical suppositions!

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

Was Paul saved? If you're in the business of saying who's going to Hell, knock yourself out. My business card doesn't say "Judge", so I'll leave that to the One whose does.

But I think you're mixing apples and oranges. The opposite of doing good works is NOT sinning. They have nothing to do with one another. A person could be steep in, or void of, both. I believe they do have one thing in common. Neither will pave the way to salvation or block it depending on where a person's heart is and if he's given up his life for Christ.

1. I am asking a legitimate question. Do you believe we have a saved man or lost man writing the Bible? Was Paul saved or lost as he was writing the Bible?

2. Are you indicating that a sinner can do "good works"? Jesus said nobody is good and Scripture says nobody does good.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

And in John 15:1-5 we learn that we can do nothing, but it's Jesus doing good works through us.

3. Please answer this question honestly.. can a Christian be saved by faith alone and through Jesus alone, if they do not perform works?

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

Hi Truthseeker
You ask me about the old thief on the cross question . Paul wrote: :studiy to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." So God expects us to "rightly divide" His word in our study and application of it. A simple study of the testaments, involving which testament we live in etc. will answer your question. Read the book!

You ask me "and what about a person on their deathbed with hours or minutes to live----" Now you are being subjective and emotional like the "tongues" defenders on another thread on which we both participated. Stay with the book. Forget hypothetical suppositions!

I asked you legitimate and valid questions and instead of sidestepping, please provide direct and honest answers.

1. Was the thief saved by faith alone, or by faith + works?

2. A man on his deathbed, with 10 minutes to live, can he be saved by faith alone even though his lacked works all his life and cannot produce any works before his death? Yes or No?

3. If yes, then do you believe that the thief and deathbed salvation experience is by 100% faith, but if a person has a chance to live, they cannot be saved by the same gospel they were saved by FAITH ALONE, they must also produce WORKS to be saved? Yes or No?

 

[Mike]

3. Please answer this question honestly.. can a Christian be saved by faith alone and through Jesus alone, if they do not perform works?

Really, TS... Must everything be an argument to you? Are you the type that will disregard the 98% that you agree with and bicker about the 2% that you don't?

Titus 3:9-10 "9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him."

Let's have this conversation again when you've had a chance to become comfortable in your own skin. :yes

 

[Webb]

You can answer your own question by studying and "to show yourself approved" and by "rightly dividing the word of truth" on the subject of the testaments, the OT and the NT. Only one can be in effect at a time. Under which testament do you live? Read the book.

Your other question is hypothetical and emotional and I do not give time to such.

 

[precepts]

Who has Bewitched you? That's an interesting question that Paul asked.

"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" - Galatians 3:1-3

Paul rebuked them in Galatia, because they started believing that they are saved by the Holy Spirit but then needed to add human effort to finally get their salvation goal! And that's a type of WITCHCRAFT!

So this dangerous and false gospel that still exists today, is not salvation by works per se, but salvation by faith PLUS works. Unfortunately, this means then in reality that many Christians have 2 Saviours... Part Jesus, and part themselves! Jesus is not their sole 100% Saviour, because they also trust in themselves to save them through their own works and own human effort, so in reality, they have rejected Jesus as their complete Savior!

Any message about faith in Jesus’ death and life of righteousness for salvation, that adds human efforts into the equation, according to Paul “is really no gospel at all†Gal 1:7.

This means that the TRUE and only gospel of Christ is faith alone in the works of Jesus and the dying of Jesus. Having Jesus as your 100% Saviour.

Jesus must become your complete, total 100% Saviour.

Once you start looking at YOURSELF to contribute to your own salvation, you have rejected grace.

Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Now make your choice... trust in those false teachers who teach salvation through Jesus + human effort, OR, trust completely in Jesus and His merits to save you.

Do you trust in Jesus? If you answered yes, then read John 14:1-3 and tell me if Jesus was telling the truth in these verses or lying?

So we can have certainty and assurance in our salvation NOW, because in John 14:1-3 Jesus said when we trust in Him, that HE WILL COME BACK AND TAKE US WITH HIM.

Anyone who claims we cannot be certain we are saved now, they accuse Jesus of lying in John 14:1-3.

So do you believe and trust in Jesus? OR do you believe in and trust in the teachers of salvation through human effort? Make your choice because they contradict Jesus.

Salvation is a marriage to Christ, a LEGAL marriage, a LEGAL covenant.

The only sin that will legally divorce you from Christ is if you willfully renounce Christ as your Lord and Saviour and go an commit adultery towards Jesus and go "sleep and have sex" with another religion, e.g Islam, Buddhism, Legalism, or any religion that denies Jesus as your 100% COMPLETE Lord and Saviour.

Just as if you are legally married to your wife, you don't have to go back to Church every day and get remarried over and over every-time you stumble in sin against each other do you?

The same applies to salvation and marriage to Jesus.

As long as you trust in the merits of Jesus you are CONTINUOUSLY saved!

1John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Yet once sincerely saved, you will delight and love to walk in obedience because you will hate sinning. But whenever you stumble in sin, you are still saved and still covered by Jesus' righteousness and robe of salvation.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

I repeat, as long as you trust in the merits of Christ, you cannot lose your salvation. And don't let anyone tell you any different for if they do, they are false teachers of a false gospel based on maintaining your salvation through HUMAN EFFORT!

I wonder what Paul would say concering Jesus' image, would he call it "Baal" worship or what? Witchcraft indeed!

 

[TruthSeeker2012]

It seems some people are too frightened to answer my question.

Anyone at all want to answer me?

Can a Christian be saved by faith alone and through Jesus alone, if they do not perform works?

 

[Free]

It seems some people are too frightened to answer my question.

Anyone at all want to answer me?

Can a Christian be saved by faith alone and through Jesus alone, if they do not perform works?

There are always exceptions to the rule...