Bible Question:
Would you teach what the bible says in Mark 16:16? The answer to your Galatians question is ch.3:26-27. How does one get into Christ? How does one put on Christ? |
Bible Answer: You wrote: "Would you teach what the bible says in Mark 16:16?" I would teach what the whole Bible says, placing Mark 16:16, a disputed verse, in the context with the clear and undisputed passages such as Romans 4:1-5, Romans 5:1-8, Titus 3:4-5, John 3:16, John 5:24, etc. etc. "The answer to your Galatians question is ch.3:26-27." Let's see: "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." --Galatians 3:24-29 Hmmm...nothing there that contradicts NO additional conditions to the Abrahamic Covenant by which we are saved. What does it say, however? 1. We are justified through FAITH. 2. We are sons of God through FAITH in Christ Jesus. Adoption hinges on faith. That is the instrument. 3. All who have been baptized in Christ Jesus into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Where does this say that baptism is a condition of justification or adoption? Nowhere. All of those whom Paul is addressing were baptized. Also, all of those whom Paul is addressing have professed faith in Christ Jesus. This passage does not say that baptism precedes justification, however, and to do so would contradict what he said ten verses earlier! 4. We are sons and heirs according to the PROMISE God made to Abraham. Abraham was declared righteous for believing God. The Israelites were declared righteous not by following the Law of Moses, but by believing God. No other conditions were added to the Abrahamic Covenant. Therefore, the elect of Israel "got into Christ" by faith in God's redemption, and the Law was not another condition. Christians "get into Christ" by faith, NOT works, and baptism and the Lord's Supper are not conditions or means do becoming part of the Abrahamic Covenant. It says 3 times in this passage alone that faith is the instrument God uses for our justification and adoption. Show me one single passage that uses the word "justification" and "baptism" in the same verse, and I will recant of my "error." It is simply not there. But let's assume that I am wrong. Please tell me what Galatians 3:15-17 IS saying, then! --Joe! |