Acts 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
When we consider law for eternal salvation, the requirements, or standards, which have been preached or used vary. If the reader would allow me to use my own words while interpreting our study verse.
(a) And certain men came from a distance and taught, except you believe the gospel, you cannot be saved and go to heaven.
(b) And men came to us and taught, except you believe the gospel and are baptized, you cannot be saved and go to heaven.
(c) And some men came and taught, except you believe the gospel and continue in all things commanded, you cannot be saved and go to heaven.
These are just three examples of how men in our time are teaching law for eternal salvation. Galatians 3:21 tells, “…for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” What is Paul saying? He is saying if there was a lawman could have kept, there was no reason for Jesus Christ to come into the world and die for our sins.
In closing, I would encourage the reader to look at Hebrews 10:29. Paul, in this verse, declares what those are doing by teaching the heresy of law for eternal salvation. Hebrews 10:29, “who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace…” The individuals who teach and support the law for eternal salvation do not glorify God, but rather defame His holy name. The individual who teaches/and supports law for eternal salvation does not regard His precious blood as the only thing which could atone for sins, but rather belittles what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary. No wonder why Paul would say in Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,…” And Matthew 1:21 teaches us so much about the subject, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Amen!