Author	Thread: Weak and Beggarly Elements: Death and Condemnation
Ohiograce^ View Profile History	Weak and Beggarly Elements: Death and Condemnation Posted : 3 Oct, 2022 12:51 PM Galatians 4:9 But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how do you return again to the weak and poor elements, to which you are wishing to act as slaves again? What exactly is Paul referring to? There are Christians who believe in keeping certain parts of the Law according to their own choosing, but not the whole thing. There are other Christians who don't know what to make of this because they hold the Law of moses in such high esteem that they end up watering down the Gospel. They feel the same way about II Corinthians 3:7,9 where Paul calls that written in stone a ministry or service associated with death and condemnation. He contrasts the law with the ministry of the Spirit and righteousness which God gave him. He compares the law to the glory on Moses face, which glory was disappearing. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Post Reply
Ohiograce^ View Profile History	Weak and Beggarly Elements: Death and Condemnation Posted : 3 Oct, 2022 01:11 PM Another issue in the Galatians 4:8-10 passage is that Paul is actually comparing what they were in their pagan gentile religious practice with their actions in taking up with the law. Both are equally false. They contribute nothing to our walk with God, not for salvation, nor for our spiritual growth and maturity. Gal 3:2 This only I wish to learn from you, was it out of the works of the law you received the Spirit or out of the message of faith/faithfulness?  3:3 Are you so senseless? having been begun by the Spirit, are you now making yourselves perfect/complete by the flesh?  3:4 Did you experience such things in vain? if it be indeed in vain.  3:5  He therefore that supplies to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, is it out of the works of the law, or out of the message of faith/faithfulness?  Post Reply
LittleDavid View Profile History	Weak and Beggarly Elements: Death and Condemnation Posted : 4 Oct, 2022 07:36 AM Ohio, could you cite specific examples of Christians keeping the law or keeping part of the law in order to be saved or to keep salvation. Post Reply
Ohiograce^ View Profile History	Weak and Beggarly Elements: Death and Condemnation Posted : 5 Oct, 2022 01:22 PM It depends on which branch of the seventh day adventists you talk to. Then there are certain extreme groups of Messianic Gentiles or Messianic Jews who do the same thing. They all just pick and choose what they want of course. I did use the word "extreme." I'm not saying every Sda or every messianic person follows that line of thinking. That line of thinking may not manifest itself in keeping some of the laws of Moses. a form of Galatianism or moralism is rampant in Christianity, particularly in america. It may be like the situation this american author addressed in 1859. "To make the end of preaching the inculcation of virtue, to render men honest, sober, benevolent and faithful, is part and parcel of that wisdom of the world that is foolishness with God. It is attempting to raise fruit without trees. When a man is brought to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, and to love and worship him as such, then he becomes like Christ. What more can the moralist want?" Charles Hodge in his commentary on II Corinthians 4:5 Post Reply
LittleDavid View Profile History	Weak and Beggarly Elements: Death and Condemnation Posted : 6 Oct, 2022 08:36 AM I agree with you and Charles Hodges. Another good example might be a friend of mine here in Iowa who thinks he holds the key to his eternal security. He believes only he can forfeit his salvation by choosing to “walk away from God”. Essentially he appears to base the security of his salvation on himself not on God. He may as well go all the way and admit he provides his own source of righteousness. That, to me, sounds dangerously close to works salvation similar to what Paul speaks to in Galatians. It seems that people who believe they can “loose their salvation” are basing the assumption of their “security” upon a seemingly uninterrupted parade of self-righteousness and to some extent, a righteousness achieved by law keeping even though these people pay lip service to salvation by grace through faith. But. That’s not salvation by grace alone and by faith alone in the righteousness that comes from God through Jesus Christ‼️‼️ Post Reply