ROM 6:14 (KJV): For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
COL 2 (KJV): And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Once men get a hold of something wonderful it will soon be spoiled. God gave the law to the Hebrew people through Moses and before long the religious leaders added so much detail and extra work that it became unbearable to live up to it. Jesus railed against this many times when telling the Pharisees that they themselves could not keep the laws they made, and he asked them why they laid these heavy burdens on others. It made Jesus angrier than He ever was at anything else. He hated religious legalists who were short on mercy and long on condemnation.
The same thing happened to the Christian church, which ultimately resulted in Martin Luther and the reformation. The list of religious laws added by the church on top of the Holy scripture was enormous. And the church assumed the place of God in the world. Both sets of leaders are actually quoted as saying that they were more authoritative than the scriptures.
Both the Jewish and Christian leaders were guilty of “over-managing” their flocks. They laid heavy burdens on the people and exercised religiously based control over them.
The Bible tells us that by grace we are saved though faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift we cannot lose. Such knowledge frees us to love God and obey Him willingly. When we are always fearful of doing the next correct law, we rarely arise to the place where we love and honor God in the deepest way possible.
Congregations that are legalistic in nature can never live up the standards they set for themselves. This results in people who are often sad, very critical and controlling of others and quite judgmental. In order to meet their own standards of legalism most often the standards of what is right are changed. Victory is declared after “moving the target” and then hitting it.
My purpose here is simply to say this. JESUS is the whole story and He should get all the glory. He gave His life for us. He said He will never leave us or forsake us. And He empowers us to obey the law of love. Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
If you do not learn to love and trust God Himself you will likely never be a joyous Christian. Your good days will be based upon your perceived good behavior. Your bad days, which will be by far the majority, will be based upon your ever-present true human failure.
The Bible tells us ALL of our works are as filthy rags and will earn us nothing toward our salvation. (They do count toward rewards at the believer’s judgement however, only if done for the right motive – love). The Bible also tells is God will never leave us or forsake us and that our sins are constantly being forgiven. We should rejoice.
So, what’s left to focus on then? LOVING GOD.
Then the world gets to be a much happier place.
