The Apostle Paul fought legalism the whole of his Christian life. Paul was going where ever the Holy Spirit led him and following God’s orders in setting up His Church. From town to town the legalists followed him and tried to foil his work for the Lord, but no one can fight against God and win.

Legalism is an ugly tyrant that shows no mercy. Paul would know. Before Jesus introduced Himself to Paul, he (Paul) was tormenting and murdering Christians because of his Pharisaical beliefs. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, but after his meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus his message changed 180 degrees to that of “grace.” From here on his fellow Pharisees hated him.

We may not call them Pharisees today who practice legalism, but they are still plenty in number and in every corner of life. Stronger Christians are normally aware of the dangers of liberalism and its disastrous effects on us all, but we also need to be constantly aware of the legalist.

I have touched upon this subject before, but feel the need to address it once more. Legalism does so much harm to those who need to be saved and to those Christians who need to grow spiritually.

One example that jumps off the page, at least for me, is eternal security (once saved, always saved or OSAS. If you’re thinking with a legalistic mindset, you will not understand eternal security. If you comprehend grace, you will understand eternal security. Consider this.

“He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:8 NIV)

Think of it this way. What is grace? Strong’s definition is, “of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, KEEPS (emphasis mine), strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.” Another popular and accurate definition is “all that God does for us on the basis of the cross.” Notice that God is always doing the work, not us. That is important to understand when considering grace vs legalism.

In Paul’s day some of the ‘requirements’ that the legalists required to be kept were; circumcision, no work on the Sabbath, honoring certain holy days, sacrifices, not eating certain foods, etc. These, and others, were requirements of the previous dispensation, but not the Church age which started at Pentecost after Jesus was crucified.

During the Church age, the only requirement of God to be saved is to believe on His Son, Jesus Christ. Putting ones faith in Jesus is believing all that He says of Himself in His Word. God seals us with His Spirit and guarantees our place in Heaven with Him.

As far as legalists today, I’ve heard all kinds of ‘requirements’ to be saved and to keep it. For example:

Must be baptized

Must remember the date you got saved

Must walk the aisle

Must be a member of a local church

Must be _______________ (fill in blank) denomination

Must wear no makeup (females)

Must not cut hair (females)

Must wear long dresses (females)

Must not wear pants (females)

Must repent to be saved again if you sin

Must not cuss, drink, chew or run around with those who do

Must use only the ‘ORIGINAL’ King James Version (KJV) Bible

Must observe the Lord’s Supper (Communion) every Sunday

Must be re-baptized if saved, then lost and saved again

Now that’s just a small sampling. Whether these things are good or bad, none of them are a requirement to be saved and none are a requirement to keep ones salvation if you have been saved.

Legalism is all about “ME,” instead of God. Grace is all about God instead of me. With legalism I want bragging rights. With grace I have no bragging rights. Satan’s downfall started with pride.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

We may not realize it, but we have the same attitude as Satan when we allow legalistic beliefs to rule our lives, and it’s even worse when we try to push these beliefs off on others. Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

When we come to Christ to be saved, the only thing we need to bring with us is a heart that will to surrender to Him. He saves us at that point, then helps us grow as a Christian and keeps us for Himself and Heaven.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:26-30)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:8)

Don’t allow others to place their legalistic burdens upon you. Ignore them and listen to God.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 ESV)

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4 NIV)

In closing, be sure to read Colossians 2:16-23.

Life is so much sweeter when God gets all the credit (that’s grace). Don’t allow others to steal that from you through legalism.

Grant Phillips

Email: grantphillips@windstream.net

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

In Ezekiel 28:11-14 we see that Satan (Lucifer, etc.) was created a very beautiful angel and was close to the Heavenly throne. Verse fifteen tells us that wickedness was found in him, and all creation has been suffering since that time. In true fashion, everything this wicked one touches is tainted by his lies and deeds.

I’ve been thinking for some time now about all the things Satan has touched that are good and that he has worked hard in defiling. I’ll give some examples.

The word “gay” has always meant to be happy and carefree. Now, if you look it up, the first definition that pops up is “homosexual.” In years past parents would name their daughters “Gay.” I doubt any parent would do so today. It sickens me to see an innocent word made into something filthy, but that isn’t all. Let’s proceed.

Genesis 9:12-17 tells us that the rainbow that God puts in the sky is a covenant between Him and all life on earth. Every time we see the rainbow we are to be reminded that a flood will never destroy all life again, as it did in Noah’s day. Then here comes Satan using it for a logo for homosexuals. Again … sickening.

Take the word “conservative.” It means “holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.” Sounds fine to me, but Satan tries to demonize anyone classified as “conservative, and he does this through his followers, primarily the liberal to ultra-liberal of mankind.

A “fundamentalist” is “a person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion.” Uhmmm. Works for me. I’m a Bible believer, and the entire Bible is “God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Therefore, EVERYTHING God said is true, just the way He said it. When Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6) then that is EXACTLY what He means. He is the only way. Period.

Another word is “Christian.” “So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26)

True Christians are legitimate followers of Christ. However, many today say they are “Christian” for political reasons, convenience, etc., etc., but they are not. Many others define Christians as hate mongers. So Satan is at it again, trying to confuse the true definition of a Christian, and he’s doing a pretty good job.

What is true “love?” Whether it’s love between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, friends, etc., true love is putting the other person before you. It is even sometimes “loving the unlovely.”

Today’s world continues to push the idea that love is a “roll in the hay… sex.” “Let’s make love,” they say, but love is far more than a physical act of passion. True love will wait. Satan has had a field day with misconstruing what love is really all about.

Another word we might consider is “marriage.”

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

There is much on marriage in the Bible, and it is clear that it is sanctified by God between a man and woman. It is a holy institution, but yet again, Satan has worked hard to defile it as he does everything else. He has duped our ever ‘wise’ leaders that men with men and women with women can also be married.

I talked about “sex” when speaking about love, but just briefly has not Satan again made filthy something God designed and made holy between a husband and wife? Let’s make this real simple. Sex between husband and wife is holy and undefiled before God. Anything, I repeat ANYTHING ELSE is a sin before God and will be judged by Him.

One of the greatest tragedies in the last 50 years is the destruction Satan has done to the “family.”

“According to HUD, a family is simply one or more individuals who live together. Members of the family do not need to be related by blood, marriage or in any other legal capacity. Family members who are away from the household for a certain period of time may be considered part of the family. Live-in aides are also considered a family member. HUD’s definition of family is broad to help make sure decent and affordable housing is available to every type of family.” (Department of Housing and Urban Development)

This is what our government tells us that a family is, but this isn’t what God had in mind for a family. As far as God is concerned, if you don’t have a man and woman coming together in marriage, you don’t have a family.

Divorce rates are around 50% in this country. Many don’t even bother with getting married.

Children today are suffering in many “families,” because of the garbage going on with the adults in the same dwelling.

Satan has ripped apart the family structure.

I’ll give one last example, and that would be “drugs.” There’s nothing wrong with drugs per se. God has given us the means to make drugs in order that we can be healed from diseases. However, Satan has used drugs to addict millions of people and thereby destroy families. The illicit use of drugs is destroying this country.

The point of all this is that we just take a moment and consider all the good that God has given us, and then notice what Satan is up to. He is destroying our very way of life by taking what is good and smearing his garbage all over it. I guess you could call it Satan’s graffiti.

Satan has taken a country that was founded on Biblical principles, a country that once gave God the credit and due respect, and turned it into a cesspool of evil. I believe Satan is getting desperate knowing his time is running out, and I for one, look forward to his demise.

Grant Phillips

Email: grantphillips@windstream.net

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com