"Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” Galatians 3:11-13 ESV
Notice what the Scriptures teach regarding faith. Faith in the message of the cross is...
Faith to join Christ in crucifixion
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ESV
Faith to join Christ in rest
"Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened." Hebrews 4:1-2 ESV
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 ESV
"We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4 ESV
Question 4: What do the above passages teach us, and what are your thoughts on them?
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Erick M. writes, “They teach us that faith is key to our salvation. Faith in what? Faith that Jesus became a curse for us. Therefore we are blessed. Faith in the good news, the gospel. Faith that we are saved by His grace and not by our works. Faith that we have been crucified with Christ and buried with Him and have been raised with Him, so it is no longer I who live according to my old self but I now live a new life because Christ lives in me. I now have the desire to do His will and not my own. I now hate the things that He hates and love the things that He loves. I desire to pursue Christ and His Kingdom and His righteousness. I desire to finish the race and please Him. I desire to obey and first and foremost preach the good news to a dying world while God has given me time.”
Peter writes, "That it is not by works of righteousness that we have done - our own self-righteousness, our attempts to "KEEP the LAW' we all fall short of God's standard of perfection, holiness and perfect, sinless righteousness. We cannot be at rest if we are still working to attain God's favor. We have not received the GIFT if we insist on working for our salvation through a works-faith, our boast is in ourselves and our works righteousness, our flesh is still very much alive and needs to be crucified in our identity with Christ in His work on the cross."
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Romans 10:1-4 ESV
Question 5: Romans 10:1 talks about Paul’s “hearts desire” for the Jews to be saved. In Romans 10:2 we find that the Israelites have a “zeal for God” but that zeal is “not according to knowledge.” What is it that is keeping them from being saved?