Legalistic Error

From the 2001 Eaglewings Daily Bible lessons, The Book of Acts.

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.

These were the Judaizers, insisting that new converts first keep the Jewish old testament covenant, including circumcision. Paul addresses this in the Epistle to the Galatians. We are not to be put back under the law.

Gal 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Paul probably more then anyone new the law and grace. He knew that the law was not to be imposed on the new believers, but that by grace ye are saved.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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This morning thinking about legalism I see some churches that claim to be more spiritual as being full of legalistic teachings. The denominations are divided because of differences. All true Christian churches say that Jesus Christ is Lord. Salvation is through his finished work on the cross; grace received by faith in Jesus. We can get along so long as Jesus is the way of salvation. To add any other requirement is legalism. Churches differ, the Pastors have different visions and purposes. Find a church and grow in the word of God. Jesus is Lord, let people have liberty to grow in him and give room for minor differences. 

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 
Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 
Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 
Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 
Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 
Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 
Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 
Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 
Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 
Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 
Rom 14:14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 
Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 
Rom 14:16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 
Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 
Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

Our Liberty

  1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

1Pe 2:13  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

My first thought was this verse:

Mat 22:21  .... Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Christians are a peace loving people. We obey the laws if they do not conflict with God's will for us. In Christ we are free and this liberty has spilled over to the nation from the beginning. 

The first two amendments of the constitution are being threatened in our time. This is from the Bill of Rights.

Amendment I (1): Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of assembly and petition
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II (2): Right to bear arms
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

It is difficult to be in agreement with a government that does not uphold it's own constitution and laws. Follow the Spirit of God in the peace of God and you will do right. A godless people will never be free, we are only free by fearing God and obeying him. In Christ we are truly free.

John 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

We hear God

Some prefer a list of do's and don'ts and someone giving them rules to live by, instead of walking in the liberty given in  Jesus Christ. It takes hearing and responding to the Holy Spirit to be in perfect liberty and to keep from sin. Our liberty should not cause a weaker brother to stumble.

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

A minister on the radio was saying that God speaks to us all the time. Are we too busy to hear or do we think it is our voice we hear? People like to say that "God told me" when it comes to giving someone else advice, but how about our own actions? Are we obeying the voice of God?  Are we willing to do things that are too hard for us to do? The LORD can work through us if we trust him. He will not go against his word, so most of our hearing should come from reading his word. Maybe he is telling us when we are doing our own thing, that we need to read his word? 

1Ki 19:12  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

After so much happens, the still small voice is heard. I suppose the LORD must do some things to get our attention? Often we hear his voice telling us to do what he has already told us to do. We are to respond to what we already know to do for he loves us. Do you feel his love?

Victory in Jesus

Tom was a young man saved through our Internet ministry. He with others in a "Free" family of new believers grew in their faith in Jesus Christ. They helped many others come out of bondage into liberty. Tom gave his life in Iraq having re enlisted in the army. He gave his all to secure freedom for others and led other soldiers to Jesus. Death where is your sting? Only in our missing those who have departed. But we will be together forever in God's forever kingdom. Those we have lost contact with will be reunited in glory.

1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

We do not fear the punishment of sin that is death. The law of sin and death is not for the Christian. Jesus has given us victory over death and the grave. We live eternally in new resurrected bodies.

1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

No, your labour is not in vain. We are not bound to everlasting torment. Works do not save anyone, but Jesus saves. Our works for him have an everlasting reward. Perhaps the best reward will be seeing others you witnessed to in glory with you. Already some have died that I helped find Jesus, some died with strongholds, but I believe Jesus' blood still saves. There is victory in Jesus, and no bad or evil thing will inherit glory, only that which is in Christ Jesus. Jesus' blood washed us clean and we are made acceptable to God our father. Be stedfast, unmoveable in your faith, always abounding, over and above  measure . Your cup overflowing with zeal for the Lord, for you know your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Being Useful

I received an email from a friend who used to attend the rest home services with us before moving to another state. She and her husband are vacationing with family near the Dolomite mountains. The picture is from this mountain range in northern Italy. Everything  has a purpose and we need to have a purpose to live for. There are times for vacations and retreat or recreation, but I need something to do that is useful that I can put my heart into. Something creative is good. Doing these daily Bible thoughts is a purpose that I am dedicated to do, it is to benefit others as well, or it has little use. A Christian living alone on a mountaintop may commune with God, but I see that we are put on earth to receive Jesus and to bring others to Him and to be a blessing.

 

1Co 12:4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

 

The same Spirit, the same Lord Jesus, the same Father God, all three working in us by His Spirit all for His glory. We are to let His light shine through us.

 

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Find something to do with great interest and passion that benefits the kingdom of God and do it with his strength and his love. Does it glorify God?  Is it useful?  Is it a labor of love? Is it needed? Then do it as unto the Lord.

Facing Opposition

Nehemiah was given permission to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the city walls. The powers that were in the area did not like the intruder. They would attempt to discourage God's workers. The enemies of God will oppose the work of God, so expect opposition when you do the work of God. Opposition comes from their fear of you.

 

Neh 2:10  When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 

Neh 2:18  ...So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
Neh 2:19  But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?
Neh 2:20  Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

 

Sanballat; strength, the enemies opposition. 

 

Tobiah ; Jehovah is good, a slave from the Ammonites, a religious name but not a good person.

 

Geshem; rain, He would rain on their parade?

 

...they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?...The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

 

Any time there is work to do for God, to take back from the enemy what he has claimed, there will be opposition. No one comes to Jesus without opposition. Jesus came to take back what the devil had stolen; the souls of men and women in bondage.

 

Isa 61:1  The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

 

A woman had been in a satanic cult before Jesus freed her. Even though she was free, the enemy continued to send bad spirits to oppose her. In the name of Jesus she would rebuke the enemy and do the work of God. When we move into the enemies territory he will put up a fight.

 When a nation gives up it's godly heritage it is not all at once, but over many years as the devil establishes strongholds. The world is under attack and is making the way for the one world order and the antichrist leader. I remember when the enemy was communism, the removal of God from a nation. Now I see that this has begun to take root and with it our freedoms are being removed. Do not let the enemy take over your mind and to remove you from doing God's work. Stay faithful to your calling do not fear and be courageous. Take back what the enemy has stolen. That is what Jesus did when he redeemed us and made us the children of God. Do not fear the enemies of God for God is with you and will always be with you in Christ Jesus.