Subject: Mark 16:16 what does it say? |
Bible Note: No...I know the promised seed is Christ. Let me address the chapter more broadly so you will get my problem with your theology. First of all, faith and the gospel are not the same thing. One is saved justified by faith IN the gospel, but faith is a response of God's people to the gospel and not the gospel itself. In verses 1-5, Paul rebukes the Galatians for being so foolish by asking, "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law or by hearing with faith?" Obviously the answer is the latter. The Galatians received the Holy Spirit by hearing with faith. Note that hearing with faith is the SOLE means that Paul mentions, which becomes important later. The works of the Law and faith are placed in direct opposition here as means to salvation. The Law isn't a means of salvation now (a point on which we agree, I know), but hearing with faith is the means. Verse 6 refers to Genesis 15, in which Abraham's faith (belief) alone is credited as righteousness. Abraham was justifed before God by means of his faith. Verses 7-9 puts us in the same category as Abraham, declaring us his sons by means of faith. Being his sons, we are heirs to the covenant promises God makes to Abraham, particularly the ones regarding "all nations" being blessed through his Seed. Faith is the means by which we become the spiritual sons of Abraham. We who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. Galatians 3:10-12 reinforces the fact that the Law does not save. It never had the power to do so. That wasn't its purpose. Even Jews were not justified by the Law, because the Law brings a curse due to the moral ability of the unregenerate to follow it in the slightest. Verse 13 says that Christ redeemed "us" from the curse of the Law. The "us" refers to the Jews, as we see back in Galatians 2:15-16, and by the fact that Gentiles were never included in the covenant made with the nation of Israel, which is in view here. Looking back at chapter 2, he reinforces the idea that no flesh will be justified by the works of the Law, but by faith, just like Abraham. In verse 15, Paul returns to discussing the covenant between God and Abraham, in which we are included as his spiritual sons through faith. He writes regarding that covenant: "when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it." What was the condition of the covenant? By what was Abraham declared righteous? By faith. Verse 16 is very important. To whom were the promises spoken? To Abraham and his Seed. The promises of salvation were made to Abraham and to Jesus Christ. So how was Isaac saved? How were the Israelites saved? How were the Jews saved during the Babylonian captivity when there was no temple in which to make sacrifices? The answer to all of these questions is the same: union with Christ by faith in God's promise. Galatians 3:18 reiterates the point. The inheritance is based on God's promise, and not on law. Our works are not the basis at all of receiving what God has promised those who are spiritual sons of Abraham through faith in Christ, any more than the Law of Moses was a means for justification. Anything else would be adding conditions to the covenant by which we are saved. --Joe! |