A Marvelous Truth and a Sobering Danger Grace vs Legalism - Romans 6:14 An incredibly important verse! The NT believer is not under the Mosaic Law. It was given specifically to the Israel which was a theocratic nation. (Exo. 19-33; Lev. 26:46) Main point of this verse is that sin will not have dominion over the believer because he is under grace and not under law. The implication is that one has to be free from the law in order to be victorious over sin.

Galatians 5:1-6 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 is a good commentary on this verse. Romans emphasizes freedom from sin and Galatians emphasizes freedom from the Law. Most of the Galatian believers were Gentiles and therefore were not under the law as the Jews were. There was a danger that Jewish believers who had been set free from the Law could put themselves back under the law. False brethren were now encouraging these Gentiles believers to put themselves under the Law.

Dangers of Legalism 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) We understand that we are justified or saved by faith apart from works. We also are to live a life of freedom in Christ. Galatians 5-6 explains how a believer is to live under grace. At the moment of our conversion we were set free from the legal mastery of sin and of works. Now we can serve Him without fear, anxiety, guilt, hopelessness. Nothing we do increases our standing before God. Every believer is set apart from the works principle. God has made provision. (2:20; 4:19; 5:16, 22-23) “no benefit to them” - means they would rob themselves of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Obligated to keep the whole Law. (V. 3; Exo. 20-33; James 2:10) Law given as a unit. Illus: When a person comes to this country he is obligated to keep all the laws in the USA. He cannot randomly decide that he can obey part and ignore the rest.

Dangers of Legalism - Continued 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) Sever themselves from Christ - Not salvation but means they would cut themselves off from the experience of God’s provision for Holy Spirit. Closes the door to growth. External Laws do not mature a person. 5. Fall from grace - means fall from grace as a method of living. To be under the law depends on self-effort but to be under grace it means dependence on the Indwelling Holy Spirit who wants to reproduce Christlikeness in us.

Legalism Today . 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 - Continued . 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.)

Another Kind of Legalism - Pharisee’s . 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! These rules often determine our acceptance by other believers! These rules can be made on a personal level and on a corporate level. These believe they are spiritual if they keep these rules and others are spiritual if they keep the rules. They fail to see that our acceptance by God is base on the Death of Christ.

Legalism . 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.

Under Grace “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 - Continued “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.” So if our works do not earn our acceptance with God, do they every please Him? When they are done out of love for the Lord Jesus they are acceptable to God. Works are pleasing to the Lord when done with the motivation and strength that Christ can give.

Differences between being under Law and being under Grace - Rom. 6:14 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