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New Creation in Christ |
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Shepherding by God’s grace vs. by legalism Shepherding or Pastoring can be a Twisted Form of Legalism When you read the book of Galatians substituting the term circumcision with anything that might become a religious law or ordinance you can gain some insight as to how Christians come under legalistic bondage. You can also see just how to break free stay free from such legalism. Today, religious legalism’s imposed by the flesh of men upon God’s children, are one of the most prevailing problems in the realm of Christianity. Legalism’s are also one of the most growth retarding things that happen in the body of Christ. The Gospel of Grace vs. the Perverted gospel Gala 1:6-12 (KJV) “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul is talking in this
example, of a works-based gospel verses a faith-based gospel. This is also a
man-made gospel verses a Jesus Christ authored and revealed gospel. Paul is talking in this example of "false brethren" who wanted to spy out the liberty in Christ that Paul and his company maintained. It seems as though these were jealous of their freedom and had a compulsion to bring Paul's company into bondage by the same regulations that they had subjected themselves to. They were “false brethren” because they were taking on the appearance of being true brethren, but were not true brethren because they were operating by fleshly legalisms rather than the Spirit of God. Their faith was in their own works rather than in the gift of righteousness through Jesus’ blood. Difficult but Necessary Stand against Hypocrisy Gala 2: 11-16 (KJV) “11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” In this example, Peter was rebuked because he hypocritically sought the approval of men and righteousness in their eyes and disregarded the righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ. In this action he also drew others away from Christ to follow his bad example. This amounted to the establishing a system of righteousness or a condition of being made acceptable by the works of the law. Circumcision or other works cannot make us righteous before God. The ordinance of circumcision was imposed, to bring people into subjection to men and their corrupt and legalistic system. This system of theirs drew people away from the blood of Jesus for their righteousness and into dependence on their own works to be righteous. Peter, when in the company of those from James, withdrew showing that he had been subject to legalism when he was living in their company in Jerusalem. By acting this way, Peter was implying that you could earn acceptance with God, by observing Jewish cultural and legal practices. This also clearly shows the contagiousness of the disease of legalism. It also shows that Peter had broken fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Matthew 16:16 (KJV) “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:68 (KJV) “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” How bold for the truth Peter was in these passages. This is very interesting. Peter, when filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit says it like it is with great boldness and grace but when influenced by his flesh and legalism, Peter fails. Today, we may see tomorrow, we can be blinded. Most often, fleshly pride is the problem. How dangerous and unproductive we become when influenced by our flesh. We must, by the Lord’s help learn to walk in the Spirit. Legalism is equal to “fallen from grace” Galatians 5:4-6 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” You can’t have fellowship with God and Jesus based on anything less than faith in the free gift of righteousness which comes by the blood of Jesus. Caring What Man Thinks, a Trap Which Robs Your Faith Gala 4: 17-18 (KJV) “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.” The legalistic ones were using a kind of reverse psychology to cause the faithful in Christ to desire to come under their control. In this example, Paul writes that some are zealously affecting the believers. Paul is showing that it is not wrong to be zealously affected in a "good thing" but this would be a thing which they would do out of their faith which works by love and a good conscience before God, and not for proving themselves to him or other men. Faith and desiring the approval of men don’t mix. John 5:44 (KJV) “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?” Jesus shows many times in the gospels that true faith in God and not the approval or disapproval of men should motivate our practices. (See also 1Tim 1:5 and 19) Walking by the Rule of the New Creation Gala 6: 12-16 (KJV) “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” Test Your Heart and Free Yourself The word of God provides us with
a test for religious legalisms. The so-called pastors or shepherds in the
congregational religious systems (sectarian churches) have skillfully developed
legalisms that are sometimes overt and sometimes very subtle. The purpose is to
gain and maintain control over the people participating in those systems. Here
are some questions we can ask ourselves to help us become aware of our
situation, abandon our chains and stand fast in the liberty that Christ has
purchased for us with His own blood. (a) Am I doing the things I do to please men or serve and please Christ? The Bible teaches us that our primary responsibility toward God is a personal relationship of love and obedience through faith. Sometimes people are compelled or instructed to do things that seemingly are for God, but the witness of the spirit is absent or the things themselves do not line up perfectly with the word of God. 2. Is my relationship works-based or faith-based? If we feel like we have to
earn God’s acceptance by our good works, then our relationship has subtly been
diverted away from dependence on Christ’s free gift of righteousness, which is
completely by faith. The good works and obedience, which come forth in our
lives, should be the fruit of the love which we realize, having been fully
justified by faith. (a) Clever, brain teasing,
entertaining, words or laborious intellectual exercises do not make for healthy
teaching. Healthy teaching imparts the life of God and Jesus. When the
teaching is according to the revelation of Christ, people will know that they
are being spiritually nourished. The teaching that has its source in the
revelation of Jesus Christ will strengthen you and cause you to grow in Christ.
The other will keep you occupied, perhaps even running around; but you will
never really get anywhere. (a) Am I allowing myself to become subject to rules and regulations which are according to man’s ideas and not according to the word of God? What keeps us from doing something? Is it that we have heard from God or sensed His leading in our spirit and the word? Or is it that that we are under the compulsion or constraint of a man made rule? (b) We might also consider
that if we have a personal conviction from God concerning something we do, God
will give us the grace to do His will and not be jealous if other Christians
have the freedom to be different in their convictions. (a) Is your acceptance of
other Christians based on the keeping of some ordinance or practice? Lord, Let Us be perfectly clear To be PERFECTLY CLEAR, any kind of leadership or religious system which is not directly issuing out of God’s grace is not of God. God is not in the business of building organizations or systems of men or building the Church according to men’s concepts. Christ is fully occupied with the building of His body, the church according to the design written in His word. He administers this building by supplying his workers, the many members of His body, with grace. The true leaders in His
church are servants who teach by example and minister by God’s grace. The
addition of rules, regulations, ordinances etc. that are according to men cannot
build up Christ’s Church. Man-made systems or cleverly designed mixtures of
godly and carnal things cannot build up Christ’s Church. Praise the wonderful, holy name of JESUS! © 1997 Bruce Archer |
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