Bewitched

Saved Pt 2: Bewitched

Galatians 3:1–5

1 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? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

It is evident that Paul does not mince his words in his letter to the Churches of Galatia. He does not wish in any way that his own words would become muddled nor misinterpreted.

It is clear he believes the churches of Galatia have been “bewitched”, a strong word that alludes to a level of deception far more sinister than any ordinary lie, one that has contained within it a far darker rendering.

The word is employed elsewhere only in reference to the sorceries of Simon who greatly “bewitched the people of Samaria” in Acts 8:9-11.

Paul refers to the churches of Galatia as “foolish” for being so easily bewitched, 1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,

He refers to them again as ‘foolish’ in verse 3, 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

In this he makes it clear that they are not in obedience to “the truth” in that first verse. He claims that before their own eyes “Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among” them. 

What is it that they have turned to? Who is it that has troubled them with “another gospel”? What is that other gospel he refers to in the first chapter? “Which is not another” (Gal 1:6-7).

Galatians 1:6–7

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

A Conditional Salvation is what Paul is referring to. One that ultimately depends upon you, which is CLEARLY NOT GOOD NEWS. It is Not “another gospel”

Paul refers to the nature of that other gospel in his rhetorical questions of verse 2-3; 

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Beloved the ONLY argument that can affirm any form of conditional salvation is based purely on a doctrine of works. 

This is quite literally the ONLY other option, which is not another. Why? Because works cant save you, thats why.

Jesus said…, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Any person that believes salvation can be lost for any reason while living the course of this life, are stating that ultimately THEY THEMSELVES are the “way, the truth, and the life”. Jesus was just some strange introduction that must have died for our past sins but now its up to me.

It is little wonder that Paul refers to it as a damnable heresy, even “another gospel” in the first chapter.

Turn there with me so we can see this to be clear. Galatians 1.

(Brethren, before we conclude this introduction, the one element that I find in dealing with this matter is that those who believe you can lose your salvation cannot see that the only alternative left to them is a doctrine of WORKS.

They don’t seem to see it that way however. They deny that that is what they believe but they cant seem to frame it or explain it. Those who try to do so end up making the greatest complexity of how a man can be saved.

Completely contrary to Paul speaking of “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor 11:3). What is that simplicity?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31)

“whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Jn 3:16)

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16

SIMPLE, SIMPLE, SIMPLE…yet evidently it is not easy to believe it.)

Galatians 1:1–9

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

It is that OTHER gospel that has bewitched them that continues to bewitch many today.

Last week the foundation was laid respecting the basic use of WORDS.

That if we are willing to change the meaning of the word “SAVED”, we thereby must alter the meanings of 

Sealed

Justified

Preserved

Promise

Gift 

Grace

Born Again

Baptised

Saints

Children of God

Bride of Christ

The Church

The Body of Christ

Crucified with Christ

The Old Man

The New Man

New Creature

Chosen

Predestined

Elect 

When it says;

“Saved to the uttermost” (Heb 7:25)

“Shall never perish” (John 10:28)

All these must change in their contextual meanings and adequate explanations must be provided as to why they do not mean what they say.

I made it plain that if Salvation is conditional upon us in ANY way, it becomes a doctrine of works. 

It testifies to the individual NOT TRULY KNOWING WHAT THE GOSPEL IS.

ANOTHER GOSPEL

Synergism

Synergism is the belief that both God and Man work together in cooperation in the work of Salvation.

This is NOT THE GOSPEL.

This is a DIRECT CONTRADICTION to the Gospel;

Ephesians 2:8

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Titus 3:5

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Romans 4:5

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly,his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now you will notice that each of these are CLEAR in their referencing. They are not vague, they are not obscure in any way, but this is not the case for those who claim otherwise.

They employ passages that are not clearly referencing salvation, nor eternal life that can be one moment saved and the next lost.

The late Southern Baptist theologian Dale Moody (d. 1992) claimed that Christians may “break the chain of salvation (Rom 8:29–30) by their own godless choices and actions.”

He claims that, Hebrews, in particular, holds out the possibility of the saints’ apostasy (Heb 2:1–4; 3:12–14; 6:4–6; 10:26–31). 

It is so strange how often Hebrews is employed in affirming this notion, but it further testifies to the Biblical illiteracy of so many men of the cloth so to speak. 

Hebrews is to the Jewish believers what Galatians is to the Gentile believers. 

It is an apologetic and explanation that any return to the law cannot save you. 

Cherry picking a verse here or there but ignoring the greater volume of what the letter is saying, disqualifies the preacher;

The old saying comes to mind, “A text out of context becomes a prooftext for a pretext.”

Just for a moment turn to Hebrews 7:18-19, for it deals with matters respecting the Law in the clearest sense.

Hebrews 7:18–19

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 7:22–25

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 10:1–4

1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Dale Moody argued that God preserves those who abide in Christ, but a Christian may choose not to abide in him.  Moody asserted that the preservation of the justified is not unconditional but conditional (Col 1:23). 

He concluded that “Eternal life is the life of those who continue to follow Jesus. No one can retain eternal life who turns away from Jesus.”

Not unlike Moody from the Southern Baptist tradition, we see pentecostals also follow his leading.

Pentecostals insist that believers can lose their salvation by walking after the flesh. 

The Assemblies of God theologian Ernest S. Williams believed that God has made ample provision for Christians’ perseverance unto the end. Yet the scriptural exhortations to persevere (Heb 3:6, 14; 2 Pet 1:10) and the warnings against apostasy (Heb 3:12; 6:4–6) suggest that believers are capable of willfully forfeiting salvation. 

God has called believers into the fellowship of his Son, and he has the power to keep them from falling (Jude 24); but his children may abandon faith and become lost. “When a person leaves holiness and begins to walk after the flesh, he has lost his sanctification.”

Respecting the idea of Synergism, theologian Bruce Demarest wrote;

Synergism …alleges that God and humans cooperate in the work of salvation. But if the latter fail to perform in a way sufficiently pleasing to God, salvation is forfeited. 

Kevan calls this synergistic view of perseverance “a form of quasi-evangelical doctrine which leaves the issue in an … uncertain position.” He continued by saying, “It would be wrong to call this view completely unevangelical, but it seems not unfair to say that it is not evangelical enough. There is not sufficient ‘good news’ in it.”^[1]

That last statement is an UNDERSTATEMENT.

Not sufficient “good news” is no good news at all.

This is “another gospel, which is not another” as Paul wrote in Gal 1:6-7

Lest I be charged with ignoring the claims, let us look at one of the key passages employed.

Hebrews 6:4–8

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

While all the passages we cited are clear in their representations, this one is a little difficult to understand.

First of all we notice verse 6 as the sticking point employed, claiming it is referencing salvation, yet the word employed is not salvation but “repentance”.

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

Claiming this to be definitive of salvation is difficult when it speaks to those so fallen away from the Lord that they will not turn to repentance. 

You would think that if God was referring to Salvation he could simply have used the word “Salvation”. 

But take note that if it were salvation referred to here, verse 4 begins the sentence and speaks of the impossibility of having them renewed.

Therefore beloved, IF this were referring to salvation at all, what is clear is that if a person lost his salvation, it is “impossible” to renew him again. 

Now, that it does not refer to salvation is seen in the next verse conveniently left out of the discussion;

Hebrews 6:9

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

The First Counsel

Acts 15:1–21

1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 

The First Resolution

Acts 15:1–21

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner;

Now, from midway through verse 23 to the end of verse 29 is the entirety of the letter that was expected to completely straighten out the heresy of conditional salvation that was being propagated at the time.

Only 170 words (in English).

“The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”

 30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

The “necessary things” are for the brethren to live a full life, that they “shall do well”, it is not a law to follow to retain the gift of eternal life, but to fare well in this life.

Paul speaks to all being lawful for him but not all is expedient;

1 Corinthians 6:12

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

1 Corinthians 10:23

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

It is of interest that he writes of fornication in chapter 6 while addressing foods in chapter 10.

The Simplicity That is In Christ

Galatians 3:1–5

1 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? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

BETTER

Better than the angels. (Heb 1:4)

Hebrews 1:4–9

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Better Hope and Better Testament 

Hebrews 7:18–22

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Better Covenant established upon Better promises

Hebrews 8:6–10

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

A Better Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:23–28

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

A Better and Enduring Substance

Hebrews 10:34–39

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

A Better Country

Hebrews 11:14–16

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

^[1] Bruce A. Demarest, The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation, Foundations of Evangelical Theology, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1997), 436–437.