How has God helped you overcome legalism in your life?
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How has God helped you overcome legalism in your life?
louisarose on April 15, 2013 at 2:06 pm
In a very simple way. I used to be very legalistic, but then I read the book of Galatians, and saw that Paul equated it to witchcraft! (Who has bewitched you?) I know how serious a sin witchcraft is, so I knew I had to avoid legalism! It also helped to see that the old Testament laws were grouped into moral and ceremonial laws. The ceremonial laws had their fulfillment in Christ e.g. sacrifices for sin, whereas the moral laws are eternal e.g. do not murder, lie, steal etc. Paul also says not to judge someone by what festival they celebrate, as long as they do it unto the Lord. So you can celebrate Christmas if you want to, as long as Christ is at the centre of it. You don’t have to if you feel uncomfortable with its Pagan origins/consumerism. We shouldn’t judge each other on that, though.
tom felten on April 15, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Thanks for sharing these thoughts based on Galatians 3:1-4, louisarose! Good distinction between moral and ceremonial laws. Also, I like how you point to the reality of disputable matters—something Paul addresses in Romans 14:1-13.
mizroby on April 15, 2013 at 7:21 pm
How has God helped you overcome legalism in your life?
For me to learn what the truth of the Word was telling me, I had to learn to “balance” things. If parables are used to teach than it’s only a teaching tool and not something to be carried out exactly as the Word says. It may be hard to imagine but I believe that I am every bad feeling possible and every good feeling possible. If I can balance out where each and everyone of those out according to how the Lord teaches, then I can see more clearly that legalism would harm my learning and not give the right information in order to balance things out. For example: I should not always be overly happy or very unhappy, but content with peace & serenity instead. Can I be that 100%? No, of course not, but I want to be there as it is a place with Jesus like no other. I fight to stay there and it is in the fight that I must learn to understand what the message is saying, rather it be legalism or not. I also believe that I must find support of belief that I come to, to be found and supported in all three sections of the Bible, being the Old Testament, the Gospel and the Old testament. In doing so, I find the “balance” of my answer.
One other thing: For me, it’s not the Word that teaches me but Jesus Christ who “comes through” the Word as I read it. He gives me the understanding and I can see for myself then that it not legalism that I should follow, but Jesus Christ himself. I use to “know of” Jesus Christ, but now I know Him.
Jesus has never said to celebrate one day different than another as far as I can tell, so all the holidays– we have, we created. I believe they have become too commercialized and people are forgetting what the purpose was in the first place. I don’t want to tell anyone else what to do, but I would do away with most of the holidays so that people can remember we are to be like it was a holiday everyday and that holiday is to celebrate the day like it was our last day on earth and that Jesus is right here with us. Just my own opinion.
tom felten on April 17, 2013 at 10:04 am
mizroby, thanks for your comments. The idea that all of Scripture points to Jesus truly resonates. May we focus on Him and the truth of God’s Word and not the manmade rules and preferences that can so easily divide us.
sbarclay on April 18, 2013 at 8:17 am
The Spirit has convicted me that in order to truly serve I must be willing to see from His perspective. Although I often fail, it is my prayer that I can see from “His eyes.” I do not want to be in the crowd that would stone the sinner, but, hopefully, the one who would love like Jesus.
tom felten on April 18, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Good thoughts, sbarclay. What a gift God gave us in the His Word which, reveals Jesus and His example for us to follow. As the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and hearts, we see and care for people as Jesus does!