EDUCATION - THE LORD'S CONCERN

Legalism

Legalism

If someone doesn't want to obey a selected scripture, the whine that sputters out is, "Legalism." Oh, every church and Christian has their scriptures they will obey, but the cross of Christ tests a man by that which he does not want to obey. The only person who is really a Christian is one who obeys and accepts the scriptures he does not want to obey or accept. That kind of person is dead to self and is dying to self as he hates his own life. Such individuals are the only ones who have the new life that comes from Jesus.

Galatians 5:17-18
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Legalism is obeying any scripture apart from the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit. To obey scripture is not legalism, rather it is how one sets about to obey those scriptures. Those who claim principals and promises are the real ones in legalism because it is obedience that arises from normal religious man, (Galatians 4:29). Only those who "led by the Spirit" to obey God are "not under law." But those who are "led by the Spirit" are not disobedient to Scripture. Indeed, they are the only ones who really understand what the Scripture means and have the power to obey them.

The vast majority of Christians have confused "freedom" with "rebellion" on purpose. These false Christians believe that to obey any scripture is law and death because they do not want to lose their lives. Even those who talk of carrying a cross, pick and choose what they will and will not obey. This is why revival is not happening - men are rejecting the law of God that gives life and true freedom.

Matthew 5:19-20
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The reason these individuals feel so threatened is that to obey by the Spirit is much more demanding than the Law ever required. The Law said that we could not commit adultery, but the Spirit says to even lust is the same thing as sinning physically. The Law said that to murder was a sin, while the Spirit says to even be angry with your brother is murder. While the demands of the Spirit are much greater so is the power to overcome those sins and to be made new in Jesus. When someone who does not follow the Spirit in obedience to the Word meets someone who does they feel threatened because all their excuses might be exposed. So they persecute those who are overcoming by the blood of the Lamb. How terrible a fate awaits those who claim the forgiveness of Jesus while continuing in self and it's rebellion. After all everyone wants to clean up their lives, but no one wants to lose their life.

Below is one quick example of the combining of faith with obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:1-6
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (2) For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. (3) Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. (4) For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." (5) And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." (6) It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.

The writer of Hebrews is pointing us to the picture at the top of this page. That Jesus was with them, just as He is with us. However, they failed because they did not combine faith with obedience and obedience with faith. We see this in the vast majority of churches today. The "faith only" group fail to understand that God's grace works obedience, while the "it is written" group fail to find true obedience because they depend on their own strength and wisdom.

This is why issues like "water baptism" cause such division. The rebellious faith group cry "legalism" and rob God of His power to save, while the "it is written group" turn it into a dead dry action of human wisdom.