>> “So Paul did not mean it when he wrote ‘will render to every man according to his deeds?’ “<<
Where do you gather salvation out of that? Its just not there.
Here is what Paul said WRT salvation:
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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So, you see, we cannot do good works unless we are already saved.
Who has bewitched these foolish Galatians?
Sure it is. Those "patient in good works" get "eternal life"; -- that's salvation. Those who "work evil" -- otherwise. Compare Matthew 25:31-46.
[cites Eph 2:8-10] we cannot do good works unless we are already saved.
It says "God hath before ordained that we should walk in [the good works]", so I don't think so. What kind of faith would that be, disobeying what God had "ordained" (it really says "prepared", by the way)?