Derek Thomas

And since Paul doesn't mention that, that's why I think this is written before the Jerusalem Council.

There were those who were saying that in order to be right with God, in order to be in a righteous standing with God, it wasn't enough to believe in Jesus.

Yes, you need to believe in Jesus, but you need to believe in Jesus and.

You need to believe in Jesus plus Jesus.

Observe the law.

Plus be circumcised.

Plus follow the dietary laws.

Plus obey the Jewish calendar.

And plus and plus and plus.

And that's a damnable plus for Paul.

It's Jesus only.

It's salus Christus of the Reformation.

By faith alone in Christ alone and apart from the works of the law.

And those who are advocating the necessity to obey the law were preaching a different gospel.

A gospel that isn't a gospel.

A gospel that isn't good news.

It's the gospel plus tradition.

For us, it might be something a little different, a little more subtle.

It's the gospel plus a certain degree of emotional reaction to your sin, a certain quality of repentance.

The gospel plus the King James Version.