Galatians 3:1-2

Galatians 3:1-2, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

That last part of verse 2 is one of my favorite phrases in the Word of God, “or by the hearing of faith?” The Apostle Paul started multiple churches in Galatia. As he labored onward on his missionary journey, the apostle heard rumors that the Galatian churches had become corrupted by a perverted gospel. So, Paul writes to the churches in the Epistle of Galatians to address the problem, warning them that there is only one Gospel, and they have been deceived by false prophets.

In Galatians 3:1-2 Paul wants to know how they got saved. That is, how were they indwelt with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). Paul asks them if they got saved by keeping the works of the law (aka, Lordship Salvation), or was it by simply believing the Gospel when they heard it preached. I love that phrase, “by the hearing of faith.” 

On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter preached to several thousand men present and 3,000 of them got saved. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” They simply believed the Gospel truth they heard and were converted.

Moses preached the Gospel for forty years to the Jews in the Wilderness, but sadly they did not believe him. Hebrews 4:1-2, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Do you see the simplicity of the Gospel? When you hear the truth of the Gospel, and you place your faith (reliance, trust) in it, you are immediately and forever born again.

When Cornelius and his companions heard Peter preach the Gospel message in Acts 10, they were saved by simply believing what they heard in Acts 10:43-44, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” Peter simply told them to believe on Christ to be saved, and they believed and were converted.

If you read the full passage, you will see that Peter never actually told them to do anything to be saved. Peter simply preached the Gospel unto them—the wonderful story about Jesus' death on the cross, burial and resurrection—they put their faith in those facts and were saved.

It is tragic that a counterfeit gospel is being preached from nearly every pulpit today, in every religious tract, religious college, so-called “Christian” books and movies, et cetera. Men love to complicate things, adding more requirements to God's simple plan of salvation. The Apostle Paul asks in Galatians 3:1, “who hath bewitched you?” The Greek word for “bewitched” is baskaino which means “to malign, that is, malignant, harmful or evil; by extension to fascinate with a lie.” Paul wants to know who suckered them!

You'd be far better off just staying home on Sundays than to attend a corrupt religious cult where they use modern perverted English translations, and preach another gospel that requires repenting of your sins to get to Heaven. Behavior modification is a work of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25), and not a mandatory prerequisite to saving faith (Romans 3:20; Jonah 3:10; Titus 3:5).

I am so sick and fed up and tired of hearing incompetent pastors say that you must “be willing to turn from your sinning,” and life a lifestyle of repentance, to get to Heaven. No such teachings exist in the inspired King James Bible. Thank you for reading my ministry blog.

Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew 25:14-30, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Evangelist John R. Rice writes concerning this passage of Scripture:

“...the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 does not necessarily refer to saved people only. There is a similar parable in Matthew 21:33-46. It is directly applied to the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders. God had turned His vineyard, the nation of Israel, over to the Jewish leaders. They were held accountable for it. That does not mean that they were saved people. God does hold most people accountable for the things He puts in their hands, the opportunity He gives them, and particularly any place of influence. 

“...it is quite clear that the servant who had one talent and was cast into outer darkness does not represent a saved person at all. God will hold people to account for the way they use what He has given them and for the opportunities they have had. And that is the great principle of the parable of the talents. Two of the servants represent saved people, so here is a lesson of rewards for Christians according to their labor. I think the one man represents a lost man and here is a reminder that God will judge men according to their opportunities. 

When you read the story again you will see that there is nothing about that one man that would indicate that he was a Christian. He hated his master and slandered him. He does not represent a Christian.” —Dr. John R. Rice, “Dr. Rice, Here Is My Question...,” p. 276; 1962

I fully agree with Brother Rice concerning this Scripture passage. Whether saved or lost, the Holy Bible warns that we will all be judged according to our “works.” The difference is on what basis we will be judged. For believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will be judged on the basis of being God's redeemed children saved by grace (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11; Romans 5:20). A believer can only fall “in grace,” but never “from grace.” We will be judged as believers according to our “works” (1st Corinthians 3:11-15).

For the unbeliever, they will be judged for the “works” on the basis of the law, since they died in their sins under the curse of the law without Christ (Revelation 20:11-15). Either way, we will all be judged as humans according to our works. I like to compare the two different judgments to criminal court versus civil court. In criminal court you risk being punished if found guilty; whereas in civil court your only risk is monetary loss of rewards or money.

The parable in Matthew 25:14-30 applies to both the saved and the unsaved. We will all be judged according to the talents, resources and opportunities which God has entrusted to us in life.