Tag: justification

This episode focuses on the second possible interpretation of Galatians 5:4, which contends that believers can lose the grace of salvation. Commonly referred to as the Arminian option, this interpretation largely depends on the meaning of "grace." If grace here means forgiveness of sins, coupled with the imputed righteousness of Christ, then this verse does suggest that believers can lose their salvation. "Grace" however is multifaceted in Scripture, and many places use grace in the sense of the power of God, the unmerited gift of God to live and godly and holy life. Paul uses grace in this sense in the opening salutations when he prays that "grace and peace" be with the Galatians. He is evidently not praying for grace in the sense of forgiveness of sins. Rather, he prays that the Galatian believers be blessed with divine power, together with peace, to live a godly life. The episode also mentions Romans 8:30 in which justification and even glorification is a past act from God's perspective. Paul evidently believed in eternal security, so the grace spoken of in Galatians 5:4 is best understood as the grace of sanctification, not the grace of justification. Troublesome verses like Galatians 5:4 illustrate the broader hermeneutical principle that difficult passages shouldn't be interpreted apart from easier passages, particularly from the same author. Scripture interprets Scripture, and much faulty interpretation is avoided when the principle is applied to difficult texts.