Hold Fast to Jesus and Not to Legalism Col.2:16-23

Like I promised, here is a summary of the message from this morning. My hope is to post each week some application questions so that you can think about what I shared and how to apply it-- Monday - Saturday. Ask yourself the question, How do I live a life of grace and freedom from Monday - Saturday? Before getting started, I would encourage you to read and reread the passage. Please do not take my word for what the passage says, discover for yourself. Own it and let it take root in your soul.

Summary of the message:
The main idea from this passage is on legalism or human-religion. I shared that I believe legalism is cultivated out of a prideful heart, an insecure heart, a wicked heart. Deep down inside we all want control. And this control leads to a critical spirit rather than a gracious spirit. We are all guilty of our pride and our self- righteousness. These things get in the way of God's Spirit and what he wants to do in and through us. I first and foremost am guilty.

Therefore we too need to hold fast to Jesus, which is to hold fast to his grace and to realize that our self-righteousness, our personal legalism needs to be put to death and we can only do this by submitting ourselves to God's word and His Holy Spirit. WE need to take inventory of what is in our hearts by the grace of God. May we receive his grace today as we sit under his Word and let Him do his will in our lives. For we desire at Crossroads to have a message of grace, to be a people of grace, and to see others transformed by his gracious most glorious Gospel.

Definitions of legalism: Pastor Mark's: Legalism is at the heart earning God's approval with our own efforts and then expecting others to do the same (in order to manipulate them to do our will and not Jesus' will). [I added this last phrase]

Sam Storm's definition:
Legalism is the tendency to regard as divine law things which God has neither required nor forbidden in Scripture and the corresponding inclination to look with suspicion on others for their failure or refusal to conform.

Dr. Storm's asks some penetrating questions that you might find helpful in searching your heart.

Do you place a higher value on church customs than on biblical principles?

Do you elevate to the status of moral law something the Bible does not require?

Do you tend to look down your spiritual nose at those who don’t follow God’s will for YOUR life?

Are you uncomfortable with the fact that the Bible does not explicitly address every ethical decision or answer every theological question?

Are you more comfortable with rules than with relationships?

Here are some of mine that I shared that you also might find helpful.

Do you refuse to watch T.V. Or movies? And more importantly do you expect others around you to do the same? ( I believe without a doubt that we need to be discerning of what we watch and the quantity of are viewing as well. Same goes for the internet. My wife and I like to watch movies and then talk about the philosophy, plot, and try to understand the director's purpose for making the film. Some Christians believe you should not watch movies they are a waste of time). [This would be a matter of personal conviction and should be left to encourage not demand or manipulate].

Do you prefer to home school, or have your kids attend a Christian school or public school? And depending on what you prefer are you judging others for not doing what you prefer?

Do you prefer one way of disciplining your children over another and do you expect others to do the same or look down on them for doing it different?

Do you have in your mind a preconceived notion of how one should follow Jesus. Or receive Jesus and their King and Master? The Bible says through repentance and faith. The response to God in repentance and faith can come in many ways through Jesus. I have heard of those who have screamed out to God in desperation and their lives have been changed.

Is your view of God a picture of an authoritarian Father who slaps his child's hand over and over again, and says no don't touch that!? Or is your picture what we see in Luke 15 where the father runs (which was not normal behavior) to the prodigal son to welcome him home. The father shows his compassion to the elder brother where he pleads with the elder brother to come in and celebrate. I encourage you to read it and be amazed of God's grace.

Then there is the issue of pride that fuels a legalistic mindset. Here are some phrases I shared:
" I am doing this service to the Lord and your not, therefore I am more spiritual."
or "I am willing to forgive and your not so therefore I will pray for you."
or "I believe this is what the church should be like, they do not know what they are talking about, but I do."

If you want to do some further reading on legalism, listed below are some great articles that I think you will find very helpful:
http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/article/legalism-vs-liberty/
http://www.beginningwithmoses.org/bigger/ds_legalism.htm

At the heart of legalism is our way of earning God's approval and expecting others to do the same. This attitude of the heart will eventually lead to a critical spirit and no joy in Jesus. What will that look like to a dying world?

SDG,

Pastor Mark

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