David Miller wrote: > Gal 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and > NOT SINNERS OF THE GENTILES, > || > Gal 2:18 For IF I BUILD AGAIN THE THINGS > WHICH I DESTROYED, I MAKE MYSELF A > TRANSGRESSOR.
Gary wrote: > 2:15 proves that both Jews and Gentiles are sinners > by nature--Jews and Gentiles aren't opposites > by using the word 'we' (above) the Ap Paul classes > himself as a sinner; and, in either case he's a sinner, > both by nature and by adhering to the tenets of > Judaism against Christ (2:18) Gary, you need to read Galatians again. Read the whole passage here around Galatians 2:18. Paul is saying that if while seeking to be justified by Christ he is found unrighteous (a sinner), then does that mean that Christ is the minister of sin? If he had truly put on Christ, and he is sinning, then the answer would be yes, that Christ is the minister of sin. But Paul's answer to this question is no. What he means is that if that were the case, that he was found sinning even though he was professing to be saved by grace through faith in Christ, then he has failed to put on Christ. Anyone who continues to sin has failed to put on Christ. He has failed to obtain that righteousness that comes by faith. He is like Peter sinking out there on the Sea of Galilee, or like the apostles who failed to cast a devil out of the boy at the foot of mount Tabor. He is "building again the things which he once destroyed." In other words, he is going back to the law and is found fallen from grace, and this is evidenced by the power of sin again taking over his life. He makes himself a transgressor, not Christ, because he is going back to the law, building the thing he had once destroyed, and so sin now begins to live through him because he has fallen from grace. Gary wrote: > in sum, your position is just the opposite of Paul's-- > you deny you're a sinner by nature (in defiance of 2:15) > even while you adhere to the repudiated legalism of > Judaism (in defiance of 2:18) You twist my words to your own destruction. I am by my earthly nature a sinner. I have never denied that, but in all cases have affirmed it. Neither do I adhere to the legalism of Judaism. What I teach is that in Christ Jesus, we are cleansed of unrighteousness and made righteous. Furthermore, we receive a new nature created in holiness, as opposed to our natural nature of sin with which we are born. My position, while not always using the same words that Paul would use, is in close agreement with Paul. I find nothing about which to disagree with Paul. Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
