One In Jesus

And so that’s why I believe that making a cappella music a salvation or fellowship issue is to commit the Galatian heresy. As I’ve said before, teaching it a cappella only is not heresy. I disagree, but we’re still brothers even so. But when you make it a salvation issue, then you’ve fallen from grace.

Teachers and Students

Paul does not, however, make his condemnation so sweeping that even the victims of this error are damned. At least, he makes it clear that those who teach this error are in the greatest jeopardy.

(Gal 1:8-9 ESV)  8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Paul condemns those who preach this error — not their victims. In chapter 5, Paul again focuses on the false teachers —

(Gal 5:10 ESV)  10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.

But he is also warning the listeners away from this error. They aren’t entirely absolved; rather, Paul holds the teachers and leaders to a higher standard.

Therefore, I see a huge difference between our editor-bishops to pound out this false gospel — this salvation by faith + works — and those they seek to deceive. But I can’t go so far as to think and let think on this issue.

Disagree with me on how many children an elder must have or what deacons are supposed to do, and I think you’re wrong but not damned. Brothers in Christ can and will disagree about such things. But we have to agree on the sufficiency of Jesus and justification by faith — not works. We cannot teach that the Law of Moses was replaced with a new Law of Christ based on such things as how to worship and how to organize a church.

No — the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love, because this is what a new creation is created to do.

Baptism

One reason 20th Century Church of Christ soteriology (theology of salvation) is so messed up is our effort to defend baptism as a “work” and essential to salvation. Because we see baptism as essential and assume that it’s a work, we figure we must be saved by works, because “baptism now saves us.”

This is from Truth Matters —

When we talk of obedience, we are talking about works. Since there are at least two kinds of obedience, then there must be at least two kinds of works. Works that result from human reasoning have absolutely nothing to do with justification (Ephesians 2:8-10). But works that result from our doing what God has said because of our faith are, in reality, the workings of God. For example, when I am baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3,4) I am engaging in a work. But it is a work of God, not my own. Paul wrote: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12).

When the Bible says we are not justified by works, it does not refer to the workings of God, but rather to other kinds of works such as works of human resigning or works or the Old Law.

The “logic” is that when we do what God really requires, it’s a “work of God” — even though we’re the ones doing it! — and so not the kind of “works” that Paul condemns, as he only condemns seeking salvation through works that God didn’t command. Obviously, the author never bothered to actually read Paul.

(Rom 4:4-5 ESV)  4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Try this —

(Rom 4:4-5 ESV)  4 Now to the one who works [by doing things not really commanded], his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work [by doing things not really commanded] but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

You see, Paul speaking of God saving “the ungodly,” not those who perform the right works. And it’s only the right works that deserve wages! No one gets paid wages for doing the wrong thing.

No, baptism is rescued as a doctrine because it’s simply not a work. A work is something we do that has merit — so that we could in theory do perfect works and so be saved without grace. Baptism is for those who need grace.

And baptism is always in the passive voice. Baptism isn’t done — it’s a gift received, not a work done. And this is why Paul can repeatedly condemn seeking salvation by works and yet connect baptism with our salvation.

In short, we don’t need to explain Paul away to teach baptism.

James

As I’ve argued in several places, in Paul’s thought, “faith” (pistis in the Greek) includes both intellectual belief and faithfulness. When Paul requires faith, he does not mean mere assent to the idea that Jesus is the Messiah. “Faith” includes obedience — but not the sense of perfect obedience. “Faith” includes obedience in the sense of striving to obey. It’s a state of the heart. Obedient people sin, but they don’t rebel. They try to do right.

James argues against the false understanding of “faith” as pure intellectual assent. Of course, faith is supposed to produce works. But the works don’t save — the faith does.

(Jam 2:21-23 ESV) 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”–and he was called a friend of God.

Of course, God credited Abraham with righteousness decades before he offered Isaac! The works didn’t justify so much as “complete” the faith. The word is teleios — meaning to make perfect or complete or to achieve the desired end. And God gave Abraham grace through faith so Abraham would respond in obedience.

And this is precisely what Paul teaches — except that Paul adds the Spirit’s working in us to achieve that end. There is no need or warrant to re-write Paul to make him consistent with James, because Paul expects obedient works to come from faith, too.