Think on These Things
March 1999
3. Thou Art in the Gall of Bitterness
Proper understanding of any passage necessitates that we use the context to determine what the author was trying to communicate. Was Paul here stating that a Christian can sin with impunity? ...that no sin he could commit could separate him from God? On the contrary, the condition that we "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" is emphasized throughout the chapter (see vss. 1, 4-8, 13). Once the ongoing conditional nature of salvation is emphasized (13 — "for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die"), the theme of the chapter changes to the persecution and suffering of the Christian. Note for example, 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
That faithfulness is essential to salvation is stated early in Romans 8. There is only one thing that can separate a Christian from the benefits of God’s love, and that is the Christian himself/herself. In stating all of the things that cannot separate us from God, Paul did not include our own sin because this is not the subject at this point, and because he had already warned them of this danger earlier in the chapter. Let us further consider the basis for true security in Christ in this issue.
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Y2K. Be watching for preliminary indicators that will give us a good idea of how bad the turn of the century will be:
April 1, 1999 – NY state and Canada start FY 2000
July 1, 1999 – 46 states start FY 2000
August 22, 1999 – GPS week rollover 1024 to 0000
If these are non-events, then chances are that the Y2K turnover will be as well. Christians will exercise good judgment in preparing for the future, and not be anxious over that which they have no control. If you are, read Matt. 6:25ff and Phil. 4:4-8 and pray, pray, pray. God is in control, and He will take care of His people (Read Rev. 4 and 5).
Gambling. Some might reason that this is an individual rights issue, but if the lottery passes in Alabama, our taxes will pay for television and radio commercials to promote greed and covetousness. The Baptist churches have generally taken a stand against this evil. If their members understood the sin of covetousness and legalized stealing, they would probably vote against it. However, even if they refused to view it as sin and just saw the reality of the true winners and losers of a state-run lottery, they would surely recognize its folly and vote against it. It is time for us to do whatever we can on an individualized basis to defeat this evil. You never get something for nothing.
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Thou Art In the Gall of Bitterness
The person being described by the title above is Simon (Acts 8:22f): "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." Do Simon’s words sound like those of a saved man?The only argument that "once saved always saved" proponents counter with is, "Simon never was saved." However, consider the evidence (Acts 8:12-13): "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." If this does not proclaim that he was saved, what would? He believed and was baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3).
The "he was never saved" argument is tenuous at best. It leads to a "salvation by works" mentality, as those who fall into sin and recognize their separation from God are led to wonder if they ever were saved. Thus, a doctrine designed to promote comfort and assurance leads to the worst possible doubt and despair.
The example of Simon, which was commanded by Peter, is totally consistent with the instructions of John (I Jn 1:7-10): "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
None of us is perfect, and the prideful ambition of Simon can motivate even the most mature among us to sacrifice the truth for our own personal interests. When we catch ourselves in this or any other sin, let us turn to God and pray to be restored to His fellowship. Anything short of this sacrifices our salvation.
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but Paul told the false teachers (Galatians 5:3-4):
Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law;
ye are fallen from grace.
The particular subject, that of binding circumcision as a condition of salvation (see Acts 15), is not a raging issue in our day and age. However, this passage exemplifies a principle that does apply: we should never bind upon our fellow Christians that which the word of God does not bind (2 John 9). We all understand that those who were in error here were Christians. It is never in question that they had obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they had been added to his body, the church (Rom. 6:3). Neither is it in question that they were at this point saved. The term "fallen from grace" necessitates that the person was, at one point in time, in the grace of God and thus saved. If they were never saved then Paul would not be addressing them as his fellow Christians (Gal. 1:2) — he would be urging them to repent and be baptized as Peter preached the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38).
Please, open your New Testaments and read the letters written to Christians (Romans through Jude). You cannot read too many pages in a row without seeing warnings that Christians must stay faithful in order to remain saved (e.g., Rom. 2, 1 Cor. 5, 2 Cor. 6:14f, Eph. 4:17, Phil. 2:12, Col. 2:5, Heb. 3:6,14; 10:26; 12:14f; Rev. 2:4,5,26).
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