The book of Galatians is a smaller epistle written by Paul. What stuck out to me in this book is the explanation that following the law and traditions of Judaism will not save us, only Christ, the fulfillment of the law, can save us.
There were many factions with differing beliefs, and one of them was that what Jesus did was good, but still was not enough to save us from eternal damnation, that following the letter of the law AND believing in Jesus was the only way to salvation. Gentiles were getting circumcised because they thought they had to be circumcised as part of salvation. People were losing sight that Jesus made the way for salvation, and although good works and living uprightly was great, our works do not, nor can they ever save us.
Works are a fruit; they show whether we have Life, or not. They are not the Life itself.
Chapter 5 verse 13-18 ( I suggest you read the whole book for proper context): For you were called to be free, brothers,; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don't do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. "
The chapter goes on to give a generalized list of behaviors that will not inherit the Kingdom of God, and then a list of the fruit of the Spirit. Worth reading.
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