Please show me the verse in Galatians that teaches Paul is addressing unbelievers, and not the Church at Galatia.
Paul is addressing the Church at Galatia, but he is describing unbelievers in Galatians 5:19-21 and also in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (refers to them as the
unrighteous who
practice such sins) IN CONTRAST to believers in 1 Corinthians 6:11. We also see this CONTRAST in 1 John 3:7-10. *Be sure to compare Galatians 5:19-21 (
practice such things) with 1 John 3:9 NASB - No one who is born of God
practices sin..
Please read this verse carefully.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:12-13
It's up to the spirit filled believer, to put to death the deeds of the flesh, by the Spirit.
If you live a life after the flesh, dominated by the flesh, totally surrendered to the flesh, and under the authority of the flesh, you are not saved, you are lost.
Living in the present tense means that one is not just behaving for a moment under the "spell" of the old nature but that this person is behaving continually, habitually having their life dominated and directed by the evil nature, the flesh. It's called practicing sin (1 John 3:9).
According to the flesh (kata sarx) conveys the idea of one placing themselves down and therefore under the dominion or control of the evil flesh nature. If a professing (not possessing) "Christian" habitually lives in sin and shows no concern for repentance, forgiveness, worship, or fellowship with other believers, he proves that he claims the name of Christ in vain.
Please read these verses carefully.
Romans 8:8 So then,
those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are
not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And
if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But
if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Again, here is who will receive eternal life.
- eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
God who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
Romans 2:6-8
Once again I see that you have completely IGNORED what I shared with you in regards to Romans 2:6-8.
Let's try it again: Patient continuance in well doing, seeking for glory, honor, and immortality; (verse 7) is not at all set forth as the means of their procuring eternal life, but as a
description of those to whom God does render life eternal.
*Notice that
ALL who receive eternal life are
described as such,
everyone who does good (vs. 10). Good deeds flow from a heart that is saved and evil deeds flow from a heart that is unsaved.
Verse 8 - but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath.
*Notice that
ALL who do not receive eternal life are
described as such,
everyone who does evil (vs. 9).
What those passages convey is that though our deeds are judged by God, it's not the good deeds themselves which are the basis or means of receiving eternal life, but the type of deeds expose whether our heart was saved, or not. These deeds done out of faith are the fruit, not the root of salvation. If Paul wanted to teach that we are saved by works, then he would have clearly stated that we are saved through faith
and works in Ephesians 2:8,9 and that we are justified by faith
and works in Romans 5:1 but that is clearly NOT what Paul said. Also see (Romans 4:2-6; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9 etc..).
So that is a
DESCRIPTION of those who will receive eternal life. Now here is
HOW one receives eternal life (I often hear works-salvationists confuse
DESCRIPTIVE passages of scripture with
PRESCRIPTIVE passages of scripture).
John 3:18 - He who
believes in Him is not condemned; but he who
does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 10:43 - "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who
believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
Acts 16:30 - And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said,
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God unto salvation for everyone who
believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 3:24 - being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood,
through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has
faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but
believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom
God imputes righteousness apart from works.
Ephesians 2:8 - For
by grace you
have been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is the
gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
*You still have not answered my question: *Please explain to me what YOU believe it means to BELIEVE the gospel.
*What do YOU believe it means to be saved by grace through FAITH?