A Marvelous Truth and a Sobering Danger

Grace vs Legalism - Romans 6:14

Main Problem in the Galatians Churches was “legalism.” But what is this?

Manifested in two ways:

◦ . Receiving circumcision in order to be saved.◦ ◦ . Subjecting themselves to the rituals and

ceremonies of Judaism.

Galatians 5:1-6

1. Christ died to make us free and to live a life of freedom. (Gal. 5:1)

2. To subject themselves to the Mosaic Law means Christ would be of no benefit to them. (Gal. 5:2)

3. To subject themselves to the Mosaic Law meant they would have to obey the whole Law. (Gal. 5:3)

Dangers of Legalism

3. To subject themselves to the Law meant they would sever themselves from Christ. (Gal. 5:4a)

4. To subject themselves to the Law meant they would fall from grace. (Gal. 5:4b)

5. Believers who understand they are totally accepted by God “wait” for the Lord’s Coming. (Gal. 5:5-6)

Dangers of Legalism - Continued

. Some Churches in Christendom teach a salvation by works. They add “works” to faith.

. RC Church . Christian Reform Churches (Baptism) . Some Lutheran Churches (Baptism) . Mormonism (Work to get into the Temple) . Others. (Example Myanmar)

Legalism Today

. Some Churches in Christendom teach that Christian Living is putting oneself under the Law.

. Some Reform Churches . Seventh Day Adventist Churches . Dominion Theology Adherents . Some Evangelical Churches (must

conform to certain patterns of behavior to become mature in Christ.)

Legalism Today - Continued

. The Pharisee’s went beyond the Old Testament Scriptures and added their own rules. (Deut. 23:25 with Mark 2:23-24; 7:1-7). There were called the “tradition of the elders.”

. Believers today make rules for themselves and for others that are not found in the Bible. The attitude behind these is that we maintain our acceptance before God. That is legalism!

Another Kind of Legalism - Pharisee’s

. Some believe that holiness is how many times you go to church, how many times a day you pray, how often you read your Bible.

. Others believe that certain hairstyles and dress codes make a believer more pleasing to God.

. Others have taboos such as no cosmetics, no jewelry, eating certain foods, etc.

Legalism

. We can even be legalistic about the commands and principles in the New Testament.

It depends on our attitude toward these commands.

. If we feel a sense of pride about our obedience we are exalting self instead of obeying out of love for Christ.

Legalism

“We are never made more acceptable before God by our faithful reading of Scripture or by disciplined prayer, though both are needed. We don’t receive God’s approval because we witness to others or are faithful to church.”

We are accepted by God and remain accepted before God because of the Cross of Christ! Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 1:6; John 10:28-29.

Under Grace

“God does not accept us because we do works He gives us the ability to do. Works per say are not the basis of our acceptance. These things have no intrinsic value. Our lives please God only to the extent that the means of grace are employed to increase our appreciation and application of the Grace of God.”

Under Grace - Continued

1. Provision of the Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:5, 16, 22-23, 25; 6:8; John 14:16-17

2. God accomplishes from within what legalism cannot do from without. (Gal. 5:16, 22-23, 25)

3. Motivation is Different. Galatians 5:6; John 14:21, 23 cf. Hebrew Slave

Differences between being under Law and being

under Grace - Rom. 6:14