Salvation Comes Through Jesus ALONE!

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

Despite the decree of the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem, the "Judaizers" continued to preach the need of the Gentiles to conform to the Law of Moses. Within a few years of the conference in Jerusalem, the "Judaizers" are seen actively in the areas of Asia Minor and Greece. We see this concern manifest in Paul's letter to the Galatians, written to churches in south central Asia Minor around 55-57. In this letter, Paul first defends his apostleship and declares his authority (Galatians 1:11-2:10), demonstrating that the message he preaches comes from God. He then speaks of the hypocrisy of Peter in Antioch, who first fellowshipped with the Gentile Christians but then became aloof when some Jewish Christians from Jerusalem came (Galatians 2:11-21). Paul then chides the Galatians, calling them "foolish" (Galatians 3:1), demonstrating very clearly that the original covenant made was made with Abraham looking toward Christ (Galatians 3:2-14). The Law of Moses was therefore designed to be a tutor, leading men to the knowledge of sin and death to be ready for the coming of the faith through Christ, in whom all men are now equal (Galatians 3:15-29). Finally, Paul makes a plain declaration to the Gentile Christians in Galatians 5:1-6:

For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.
It is abundantly clear: salvation comes through Christ and Christ alone. The Law of Moses can do nothing for the Christians in Galatia.

[James Pierce]

Mark,

What the law of Yahweh CAN do is prove that you love Yahweh, and his son(Duet 4,5,6, 1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 5:3). It also proves that you belong to Yahweh. True obedience is of his children.

[Mark H. Stevens, Th.D]

The "Judaizers" seemed to enter Corinth in around 57, between the writing of the first and second Corinthian letters. They seem to have been accepted rather quickly, leveling charges against Paul: that he was not a true apostle, having no commendation from Jerusalem, as they did (2 Corinthians 3:1-2); that he was not a qualified speaker (2 Corinthians 10:10); and that since he did not take assistance from the Corinthian brethren, this was somehow a detriment to his validity as an Apostle (2 Corinthians 12:13).

Paul writes a very strong rebuttal to these charges. He establishes that his letters of commendation are the members of the church in Corinth, for whom Paul worked diligently (2 Corinthians 3:1-3). He then demonstrates how the Spirit is much more powerful and stronger than the Law written on tablets is (2 Corinthians 3:4-18). Later, he describes himself as meek when present, but bold through his letters (2 Corinthians 10:1-3), that he is the same person in present as in his letters (2 Corinthians 10:11-12), and is equal to many of the most eminent apostles in knowledge (2 Corinthians 11:5-6). He then says that he robbed from other churches to work with the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:7-9). He then says the following concerning a comparison of himself and these "Judaizers," in 2 Corinthians 11:22-28:

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.
Paul speaks about the strange reception given to his not accepting any assistance from the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 12:11-13:

I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works. For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except it be that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
Finally, Paul asks the Corinthians if he or Titus had taken advantage of the Corinthians in any way or if their conduct was anything but befitting a servant of Christ (2 Corinthians 12:14-18). We have no information about any changes made in the church at Corinth because of Paul's exhortation, but we do see that no more rebuke or defense was necessary from him.