Death came about after Adam sinned. He then experienced spiritual death and would face physical death (at 930 years old, Gen 5:5). A spiritually dead person cannot see spiritual things. And if his sins are not washed by the blood of the Lamb while he is alive, he would face the “second death” (Rev 21:8). Many strive to avoid or delay physical death, not realizing that their urgent need is their spiritual state: that they are sinners before God. And they think that they can be saved by doing good works.

In Galatians 2:17, Paul raised the question of whether Jesus made people sin in order that He can be their Saviour. Then Paul refuted this by first pointing out therelationship between sin and death (Gal 2:17). Sin came about because of man, and death came about because of sin. And hence, Christ came so that our sins may be taken away and we can be forgiven. Thus, we will not face the “second death.” Christ’s miracles on earth have only positive messages to all: mercies and forgiveness if we believe in Him (John 3:16-18). Jesus taught that the only way to salvation is by faith in Him alone, not through any religious rites that they perform.

In Galatians 2:18, Paul told the Galatian believers that if they believed in false teachings, they were being “forward and backward” in their faith. They had heard the gospel and believed (i.e being “forward”). Then they went “backward” when they believed in teachings contrary to the gospel. In doing so, they made themselves transgressors.

The Charismatics’ health-and-wealth gospel is contrary to Christ’s teaching, and is dangerous. Christ came to save us from carnality, but the Charismatics teach that Christ came to save us so that we can have health and wealth.

In Galatians 2:19, Paul described the cause and effect of the law. God gave us the law (the cause). Because of the law, we then know what sin is, and that when we sin, we not only sin against a person, we also sin against God. Thus, we realise we need God’s forgiveness. With Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we can then “live unto God” (the effect).

In conclusion, man sins because he is born a sinner. No amount of keeping of the laws of God will enable him to be saved. All must go to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.