Paul writes to the Galatians. Perhaps, this is the first letter of Paul written around 48AD or perhaps it comes after the letters to the Thessalonians, in this case, it was written around 54AD. In this letter, Paul is furious because others has added some words to the gospel from: "salvation comes from Jesus" to another gospel: "salvation comes from Jesus and circumcision".
Let us say that it was the very first letter of Paul. In this case, it was written to the people of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe before the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 where it was stated that circumcision was not necessary for salvation, for the believers. In the letter to the Galatians there is no reference to the Council of Jerusalem so it seems that this was an open question in the beginning of Christianity.
Paul writes:
6-9 I can’t believe how you waver—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing an alternative message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.
However, who is about to be cursed? People who says that believe in Jesus because they were in the church. Paul is very clear that salvation comes from Jesus and it is really a great gift from the Lord.
If Galatians is really the first letter of Paul, then Paul states from the beginning of his career how important is the sacrifice of Jesus.
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