Are We Saved By Faith Alone?

[paganmystic]

We are told by those who (1) want to be saved that we are by faith alone and that’s how we receive the spirit. An example used most often to make this point is in Romans 4:13 and seems to confirm that, then goes onto say the laws make faith void in verse 14. Again, confirmed by verses 15 & 16. There are many examples of this in the separate letters from the Apostle Paul. This however is seriously taken out of context. Paul being a Jew from Tarsus had to show how, they (the Jews) living under the Law and the Gentiles (non believers) are on even ground for redemption. In the same letter just a few lines away, we read, Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ:, ( the colon will remain because the point continues, we’ll come back to that). For now, prior to 5:1 people have put Paul on a pedestal making him an idol to worship. Romans 5:1 starts to change that. Look at 5:10, For if, when we were enemies, [Paul being a Jew, hence we; as being Jew & Gentile] we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, (1) we shall be saved by his life. Yes you read that correctly, we shall be saved by his (Jesus, The Word made flesh) life.
This takes us to the Gospel of John 15:1>17, Jesus Is The True Vine John, being the most aristocratic disciple, that is to say, his writings, especially his Gospel were done the same way as the Old Hebrew and Judean masters, in contrasts. While maintaining Jesus’ use of common things to teach spiritual truth. This chapter to verse 17 in my mind really defines what TRUE CHRISTIANITY is about and really adds both meaning and value to Romans 5:10 entry.(The term TRUE CHRISTIANITY as far as I know, I am the only one that has used it. I use it to draw the distinct difference between the Ministry of Christ and Religious Doctrine). I must however finish my point from the opening sentence because it is increasingly apparent that through Religious Doctrine much of what Jesus taught has been put aside. This is how, since you have seen the link to the Gospel (The Laws of God), we must understand what the Letters of the Apostle were. By order of “The Word”, the risen Jesus, they were the eyewitness testimony to Jesus’ life by the disciples. We know this from all 4 Gospels Mt 28:16>20, Mk 16:14>18, Lk 24:36>49, Jn 20:19>23 & Acts 1:6>11 The Great Commission, which in turn has been passed down through the generations by those who believed only in the Ministry of Christ, their lives having been both touched by his most powerful hand and has accepted him and his life truly into their hearts and lived that way. This is the only way to really see and understand with our heart the parables Jesus used to explain his Laws.

Let’s go back to Romans 5:1 now and finish this part. From here Paul very clearly makes his point over the next 4 verses, they verify why Jesus was here in the 1st place. As a recap we know that our faith gives us peace in God, but only through Jesus. <2>By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. <3> And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation works patience;<4> And patience, experience; and experience, hope: <5> And hope makes us not ashamed; because the love God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us. So through, this chain we see that we need the tribulations (or trials), the grief and heart ache in our life, from working the Laws of God in order to appreciate, the value God puts into us. That is one thing we are not told nearly enough is it. But it can only come from the patience we acquire by having the Spirit which we receive from working the Laws, Which also runs us back to the Gospel, and the 2 fundamental laws, which should make way more sense now, it is very curious how we can simply put aside this: Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind and soul & <31> Love your neighbour as yourself. We are told that all the Laws of God hang from these 2 as does all the prophecies, given in the OT, since it was in the OT that we have the Torah or Laws of God the first 5 books. I also mentioned the Great Commission and how the word was meant to be taught, through witnessing to others as to what it means to have the Lord in our life. Thus this warning from Jesus: Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. He gave many more as well. Mark 7:7 Howbeit(to fear) in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. <9> Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition, and Matthew 6:24 No man can serve 2 masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mannon.(worldly wealth and earthly treasure) I hope you can see that there is no faith without the Laws, besides. without them what would we have faith in? Now, Romans 5:6 For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 7 can be defined this way; would you punish a good child, no you reward them. However the extent of Verse 8 runs from 7, But God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we are yet sinners, Christ died for us. Verse 9 reaffirms this and verse 5. This brings us back to the beginning of this, with verse 10 and that the life of Christ is what will save us. Jesus chose to live his life according to the Laws as a living example how we need to do this. So we cannot be saved by faith alone, everything that has to do with faith shows we are required to live by the Laws of God that is the only way to build the faith that will save us. Each of the letters written by the disciples was to a specific culture with specific issues in dealing with the Laws of God and the same thing I did here can be repeated with each of the cultures in the Letters of the Apostles. Today learning how those cultures were taught is how we learn and in turn teach others. Through our life.

A number of people in here seemed to have a serious issue with what I believe in. Well, I grew up understanding that we shouldn't have to answer to those assumptions made about us. Luckily for them I never really adhered to that either. Even Jesus our saviour, living according to the Law defended His lifestyle in the Law or Torah.

your brother in Christ

 

[jiggyfly]

This brings us back to the beginning of this, with verse 10 and that the life of Christ is what will save us. Jesus chose to live his life according to the Laws as a living example how we need to do this. So we cannot be saved by faith alone, everything that has to do with faith shows we are required to live by the Laws of God that is the only way to build the faith that will save us. Each of the letters written by the disciples was to a specific culture with specific issues in dealing with the Laws of God and the same thing I did here can be repeated with each of the cultures in the Letters of the Apostles. Today learning how those cultures were taught is how we learn and in turn teach others. Through our life.

A number of people in here seemed to have a serious issue with what I believe in. Well, I grew up understanding that we shouldn't have to answer to those assumptions made about us. Luckily for them I never really adhered to that either. Even Jesus our saviour, living according to the Law defended His lifestyle in the Law or Torah.

your brother in Christ

You are very right Pagan, I have a serious issue with the so-called gospel you are propigating. Do you understand the cross of Christ and it's significance concerning redemption? Paul definitely preached against this same religious paradigm you propigate. Paul preached the same gospel to everyone, always.

2Corinthians 3
1*Are we beginning again to tell you how good we are? Some people need to bring letters of recommendation with them or ask you to write letters of recommendation for them. 2 But the only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our* hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3*Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.

4*We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5*It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. 6*He is the one who has enabled us to represent his new covenant. This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life.

7*That old system of law etched in stone led to death, yet it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8*Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory when the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9*If the old covenant, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new covenant, which makes us right with God! 10*In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new covenant. 11*So if the old covenant, which has been set aside, was full of glory, then the new covenant, which remains forever, has far greater glory.

12*Since this new covenant gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13*We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away. 14*But the people’s minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15*Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

16*But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17*Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect* the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.

Anyone, I repeat anyone who believes that we able to stand before Father (Yahveh) righteously other than because of what Christ did on the cross is failing to understand the Truth.


Colossians 1:15-23
15*Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.* 16*Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him and for him. 17*He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
18*Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead,* so he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21*This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22*yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23*But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed by God to proclaim it.



The cross of Christ, the cross of Christ, our redemption was made in the cross of Christ and only the cross of Christ.

 

[jiggyfly]

We are told by those who (1) want to be saved that we are by faith alone and that’s how we receive the spirit. An example used most often to make this point is in Romans 4:13 and seems to confirm that, then goes onto say the laws make faith void in verse 14. Again, confirmed by verses 15 & 16. There are many examples of this in the separate letters from the Apostle Paul. This however is seriously taken out of context. Paul being a Jew from Tarsus had to show how, they (the Jews) living under the Law and the Gentiles (non believers) are on even ground for redemption. In the same letter just a few lines away, we read, Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ:, ( the colon will remain because the point continues, we’ll come back to that). For now, prior to 5:1 people have put Paul on a pedestal making him an idol to worship. Romans 5:1 starts to change that. Look at 5:10, For if, when we were enemies, [Paul being a Jew, hence we; as being Jew & Gentile] we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, (1) we shall be saved by his life. Yes you read that correctly, we shall be saved by his (Jesus, The Word made flesh) life.

The life of Christ that Paul is refering to is His supernatural life not His life in the flesh. Read the whole gospel, it is Christ formed in us, living in us. Jesus lived in the flesh and lived righteous according to the law so that He could be an acceptable sacrifice to God for us. That life ended in death just as the scriptures state, the law leads to death. The life that Paul is refering to in this text is Christ's supernatural life that is eternal.

You say that Paul's purpose was to show the Jews and Gentiles were on even ground. Well why not compare the letter to the Hebrews with this letter to the Romans?


Hebrews 2:11-13
11*So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.* 12 For he said to God,
“I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters.*
I will praise you among all your people.”
13*He also said, “I will put my trust in him.” And in the same context he said, “Here I am—together with the children God has given me.”*14*Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.Hebrews 9:11-15
11*So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. 12*Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever.13*Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement. 14*Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15*That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

Hebrews 10:8-10
8*Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or grain offerings or animals burned on the altar or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9*Then he added, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second. 10*And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

Hebrews 13:10-14
10*We have an altar from which the priests in the Temple on earth have no right to eat. 11*Under the system of Jewish laws, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, but the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12*So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates in order to make his people holy by shedding his own blood. 13*So let us go out to him outside the camp and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.

 

[Gracealone]

Simply put,and in my own words, we are saved by grace alone "unto" good works, not by them.
Until we are born again,as Jesus said to Nicodemus , our self works are as filthy rags. We can only do good works,acceptable unto God, by the power, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

 

[jiggyfly]

Simply put,and in my own words, we are saved by grace alone "unto" good works, not by them.
Until we are born again,as Jesus said to Nicodemus , our self works are as filthy rags. We can only do good works,acceptable unto God, by the power, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Amen Gracealone, any good works are really God's work done by Him through us. So really we are not even doing it, we just yield to Him. This is what Paul meant by "not I that lives but Christ lives in me". Even our faith in Christ comes from God and is not of our own doing. Our love for Christ also comes from God and is not of our own doing.

Oh, Hallelujah! The life we have in Christ Jesus is not evidence by our religious works but by our rest in His righteous works. As a matter of fact our religious works testify that we are not resting in His righteous works completely. Nothing makes us anymore pleasing or acceptable to Father than Christ's work on the cross. Thank you Jesus!!

 

[Gracealone]

Amen jiggyfly, right on!

 

[paganmystic]

It is most unfortunate so many people can see the world around them and still demean the Life Christ lived.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. and as the Lord loves me I too love you but not just those that read this but all those I am in contact with.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abid in his love When we are born again of the Spirit the Laws of God are written on are hearts. Why do you think Jesus taught about that. Why would he teach about your Life showing who you are, Matthew 12:33>37 and that sin comes from the heart, Matthew 5:27>30. To ignore Jesus' life is to ignore his crucifixion, ignoring why he died. This is what Christianity is about, it is not the inward selfish behaviour of a self righteousness, I got it so forget you.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. <13> Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Isn't that what Jesus did, <14> Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.. Also my point in Romans 5:8

Paul clearly spoke what he meant, in what I gave you, what he a gave to the Romans in 5:10 We are reconciled in God by Jesus' death and saved by his life.

Never once in any of my writings did I ever say we have to keep the Law(what is written on tablet with pen)... you're right that's gone. Everyone of my posts are about the Glory of our Saviour and the gift we were given and in return all we have to do is live as Jesus did, it doesn't even matter if we trip or stumble as long as we live as he did he will always be there to catch us.

Its curious how you have rendered so many judgements on me and you have never talked to me. That is why you have my prayers, the sad part is, those that will revere you for that self-righteous attitude.

 

[jiggyfly]

Hebrews 9:12
Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever.

As far as making judgements against you, not yet but I have judged your thread "Are we saved by faith alone" and found it is unscriptural.

 

[paganmystic]

jiggyfly...

Some of the letters can be compared when the problems in the different cultures were the same so was the message, or did you miss that point I made. Where a person's heart changes, and they become a Christian is when they see an issue they have in common with one of those groups of people in a specific letter and they find the answer in the Gospel, or the life of Jesus, and go on to help someone else. Sharing with another what they learned through the life of Jesus, hence the parable of the lost sheep. Luke 15:1>7, It is this attitude what is written on our hearts when we choose the follow Christ.

 

[stephen]

Amen Brother jiggyfly. Keep at it, you are doing a good work

 

[paganmystic]

I was going to place more but it is clear you will continue to denounce the life of Christ, which is most unfortunate, those that know me, understand me. They also know why I follow Christ, I tried explaining it to you but you have chosen to believe that what Jesus taught us in not with standing. That is your choice.

I just hope that those that follow this thread, that they follow Jesus' will as well and live their lives in accordance to the Gospel, it is true our redemption is a assured by our Saviour's crucifixion but we still have from now to the day we pass on to do the Lord's Will, as He did his Father's will while he walked with us, teaching us.

God bless you all

 

[jiggyfly]

jiggyfly...

Some of the letters can be compared when the problems in the different cultures were the same so was the message, or did you miss that point I made. Where a person's heart changes, and they become a Christian is when they see an issue they have in common with one of those groups of people in a specific letter and they find the answer in the Gospel, or the life of Jesus, and go on to help someone else. Sharing with another what they learned through the life of Jesus, hence the parable of the lost sheep. Luke 15:1>7, It is this attitude what is written on our hearts when we choose the follow Christ.

I didn't miss the point you made, I simply don't agree with it nor do I believe that the scriptures agree with your point. Here are some of Jesus' own words.

John 16:5-15
5*“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and none of you has asked me where I am going. 6*Instead, you are very sad. 7 But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor* won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. 8*And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9*The world’s sin is unbelief in me. 10*Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11*Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.
12*“Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14*He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. 15*All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me.


We are commanded by Christ to follow HolySpirit.

I was going to place more but it is clear you will continue to denounce the life of Christ, which is most unfortunate, those that know me, understand me.

You are mistaken, I do not denounce Christ's life but I most definitely rebuke you for propigating a teaching that is unscriptural.

 

[paganmystic]

wow jiggyfly I hope you reread what was discussed here.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

I think the apostle Paul nailed this issue in his letter to the Ephesians: "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no man can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:8-10 NIV)

Good works done outside of relationship with the Lord (altruism) are not sustainable, they lack staying power. Good works that have impact for the kingdom of God are the ones that grow out of relationship with God because it is God's power in the people doing them that makes them effective for blessing others and spreading the gospel.

SLE

 

[jiggyfly]

wow jiggyfly I hope you reread what was discussed here.

Pagan, maybe you should reread your post and rethink your statement here.

So we cannot be saved by faith alone, everything that has to do with faith shows we are required to live by the Laws of God that is the only way to build the faith that will save us.

 

[Gracealone]

I"m so very glad that Jesus is patient, and long suffering, for when I first came to Christ I was a child.
I did everything wrong, my understanding was faulty, and I still sinned at every turn from lack of knowledge.
I was a child.......many come in later years ,but they are still a child in spirit and understanding.
God still loves them ,and is doing a work in them, and he is faithful to complete it.
He who has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Lets just do what God called us to do.....Be Faithful.
Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in each of us, and just love those who are still growing.
Think that includes us all?
I know it still includes me.

Remember correction is good, and needed, for our Lord corrects us, but without love, it is condemnation. Let do all things in love, for Christ has first loved us.

There is a song we use to sing, "Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. Oh ,Lamb of God, I come."
His blood washes us whiter than snow......Oh what Love.

 

[ImmanuelWithUs]

We are saved by GRACE alone
through faith alone
in, through, and by the Lord Jesus Christ

Let us never forget that even our good works are like filthy used rags. Vulgar? Yes! For good reason. Our pitiful "works" are ridiculous to this glorious, PERFECT God.

We do "good works" because we are saved not to be saved.

 

[Gracealone]

We do "good works" because we are saved not to be saved.

Amen, my point also.....The law only points out how impossible it is to be saved any other way, than by grace alone.
Jesus is our only righteousness.

PS: I need to go back a few post, I think I missed something?

 

[paganmystic]

Thank you ImmanuelWithUs
That is absolutely true, good works are done with the Holy Spirit providing you have it.
We will also never be without sin, that's life and why we need to seek redemption. The thread I started here was about how when we are saved and receive the Holy Spirit, The Laws of God are written on our heart, it doesn't come with a manual or owner's guide. But the way Jesus lived while he walked the earth, his patience, his love for others, his good will and the power to help others, our need to seek God's approval is all there. That is all there when we receive the Spirit.

The original post came from when a friend of mine was questioning his faith, a group of us often meet to discuss the Bible compare notes(figure of speech), on issues we have in dealing with our faith and those we have run into that felt the need to mock us about our faith.

Anyway back to my friend, he was talking to someone, I think it was online who was going through a very rough life and he tried but couldn't do much to help them, at work he usually got a rough ride, the people he worked with felt he should sit around more often and preach while the Lord did the work. There where a number of other issues until we sat down and talked, I never understood. Which lead him to question his faith. When we were talking about God and his apparent lack of compassion, the book of Job came up, just a few months before this, I had done a thread on Job for someone in another chat environment. With that fresh in my mind and looking more at Romans since then, I found it easy establish a way to help someone to keep re-establishing their faith which allowed for refreshing our commitment to the Ministry of Christ, and the Lord's Gospel. When we sat down to discuss his faith over a coffee, I did it in the context I put it up in here. Using the Gospel to show him how strong his faith was, and reaffirm that it was the Gospel used by the disciples in their dealings with the various cultures involved. To bring people to the Lord and that it is right for us to do it.

Everything I post has a basis in my experiences. That witnessing, to the Glory of God through Christ is what Christianity is about ... That's way the letters of the Apostles were written, witnessing by the disciples of what it meant to have Christ in their lives and to teach about the word (the Gospel of Christ), I really did expect more from fellow Christians, to my knowledge the Gospel was intended as a tool to help transform the lives around us into the the light and glory of God, not a weapon to demean others. I guess I was wrong.

 

[jiggyfly]

Everything I post has a basis in my experiences. That witnessing, to the Glory of God through Christ is what Christianity is about ... That's way the letters of the Apostles were written, witnessing by the disciples of what it meant to have Christ in their lives and to teach about the word (the Gospel of Christ), I really did expect more from fellow Christians, to my knowledge the Gospel was intended as a tool to help transform the lives around us into the the light and glory of God, not a weapon to demean others. I guess I was wrong.

I don't think we believe in the same gospel Pagan. Let's look at it again.

Originally Posted by paganmystic
So we cannot be saved by faith alone, everything that has to do with faith shows we are required to live by the Laws of God that is the only way to build the faith that will save us.

Read what Paul says here to the believers in Galatia. Do you see a contradiction between your statement and Paul's?

Galatians 2:11-21
11*But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. 12*When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say. 13*Then the other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was influenced to join them in their hypocrisy.
14*When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you trying to make these Gentiles obey the Jewish laws you abandoned? 15*You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16*And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ—and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.”*17*But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! 18*Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. 19*For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21*I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.