“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” – Galatians 3:22
MANY ARE THE TRUTHS REFERENCED by my text – that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; that the promise of eternal life and redemption from sin and death is available to all who will believe on Christ; that only faith in the gospel is necessary for salvation, apart from all works. It need hardly be asserted that these three doctrines are among the principle beliefs upon which all that can be considered “biblical Christianity” is founded. Without sin, there would be no danger of spending eternity amidst everlasting fire. Without hell, there would have been no reason for Christ to be made a little lower than the angels and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Without Christ’s work of redemption, there would be no hope for eternity, and we who have believed on his name would must needs be of all men most miserable.
But I direct your attention to the first three words of the text – “but the scripture.” Is the scripture reliable? Is it inerrant? Is it inspired by God himself? What is “the scripture”? And who is qualified to determine what it is, or is not? I have written at length upon these subjects because the answers form the basis of what one may reasonable believe, or disbelieve about the word of God, and the doctrines therein. Who then is your final authority, dear reader? God? So-called “scholars”? Yourself. I pray you choose wisely.