This a long topic,Sorry, but it's necessary to answer some questions that have come up..
While it is true that legal matters can become very confusing, it must be remembered that Gods laws are plain and simple. They can be written in one paragraph, memorized by the smallest child and as the Bible states, are not grievous .In spite of many modern ministers who say they can't be kept!
In an age when many turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, Galatians 5:19?�
The Greek word behind the English term �lascivious� is aselgeia. It occurs nine times in the New Testament. Twice it is rendered as �wantonness� (Romans 13:13; 2 Peter 2:18), and once it appears as �filthy� (2 Peter 2:7). The other six times it is translated as �lascivious� (. Mark 7:22; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; 1 Peter 4:3; Jude 4).
There are those, professing themselves to be wise, who attempt to persuade that the laws of God are now void and of no value. Such persuasion can be described in no better way than what the Bible calls "vain deceit."
Jesus Christ, our Creator, the law giver, and our Savior said that until heaven and earth pass away, not even the slightest dot or tittle concerning the law will change.Matt.5:17-18, We are told that sin is the transgression of the law and that Christ died for the remission of sins. In fact, if any of the commandments could have been changed, sin could have been redefined, and He would not have had to die.
We are also given Biblical warning that through the sacrificial death of Christ - as payment for our sins - and through faith in his shed blood, we receive forgiveness only for sins that are past - and that if we sin willfully,[In other words if we don't care anymore}, once we have come to the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sin, certain judgment and ultimate destruction.
We are told however, that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we confess and strive to change,Repentance means change!
Now if misguided men can persuade us that God's laws are invalid, then sin, which is the transgression of those laws would never be confessed - and the wages of unconfessed sin is death.
Yes, Satan, our adversary as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Be sober, be vigilant and remember "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law..."
SAVED BY GRACE
�For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.� ......Ephesians 2:8-9
There is no law that can be kept in order to establish ones own righteousness; for �There is none righteous, no, not one: ......Romans 3:10 No man has ever fulfilled the righteous obligations of the law to the point that he has not known sin. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ......Romans 3:20 �What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law:� ......Romans 7:7
�For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.� ......Romans 3:23-26
Sin is the transgression of the law. By the law is the knowledge of sin. Jesus knew no sin because he kept the law perfectly. Only the righteousness of Christ could ever fulfill the righteous obligations of the law. �For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.� ......2 Corinthians 5:21
There is a penalty for sin �for the wages of sin is death� and �without shedding of blood is no remission� of sins. Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was �made... to be sin� for those who will accept His righteous shed blood as the only sufficient payment for their sins. They are made the �righteousness of God in Him.� ......2 Corinthians 5:21
�Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.�......Romans 10:4 Not the end of the law but to be like Christ,The aim or purpose of the law,
�For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.� ......Matthew 5:18, Is heaven and earth still here? Yes! So according to the Words of Jesus,the law is still in effect!
�Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.�......Romans 3:31,To establish certainly doesn't mean the law is done away!Says the Apostle Paul under Divine inspiration!
Many people, known as �Jews�, thought that they could keep God�s laws in �the flesh� and obtain eternal life. Many people, known as �Christians�, think that they can break God�s laws in �the Spirit� and obtain eternal life. Scripture proves that both lines of thought are in error. Both groups of people have �trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant... an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.� ....Hebrews 10:29
Those who seek salvation �by works of the law� are despising the Spirit of grace by rejecting it, and those who �continue in sin� by breaking the law, are despising the Spirit of grace through it�s abuse.
The Apostle Paul tells us that �Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness...because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.� He also tells us that those calling themselves Christians, who attempt to �continue in sin that grace may abound� and who obey not �unto righteousness�, yield themselves to �sin unto death.� ......Romans 6:15-16
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law� ......1 John 3:4 Christ Jesus was �set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;� ......Romans 3:25
Jesus paid the penalty for �sins that are past.� He did not die that we may practice or, �continue in sin.� If we confess our sins,and be willing to change, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.� ......1 John 1:9 �...If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.� ......Hebrews 10:26-31
�Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:{Continues to break Gods law after the truth is revealed to their understanding!} whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
But now being made free or
[forgiven] from past sins, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; Remember [Sin is breaking the commandments} 1 John 3:4,
But the gift of God {forgiveness} is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ......Romans 6:22-23
Those who accept, through faith, the gracious free gift of the righteousness of Christ and who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit are �free from the law of sin and death.� [The death penalty} because Jesus has paid the death penalty for �sins that are past� and believers have been given the �holy Spirit of promise�, �the earnest of our inheritance,", that we may walk after the spirit and thereby not practice sin.To walk or imatitate the Spirit is to keep Gods commandments or practice coming out of sin!
�There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,breaking the law which is sin, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the {Our human flesh], God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.� ......Romans 8:1-9, So what is the bottom line? Who are considered the saints?
�Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.� ......Revelation 14:12
Legalism is the notion that a sinner can, by his own efforts, or by the power of the Holy Spirit in his life, do some work to obtain or retain his salvation. Some legalists think man has free will and can perform good works if he just sets his mind to it, thereby obtaining the favor of God. This type of legalist thinks that a sinner can believe the Gospel on his own steam. Other legalists think that a sinner does not have free will, that any good he does is done by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, and it is these good deeds done by the power of the Holy Spirit that obtain or help obtain, retain or help retain, his salvation. Both types of legalists, but especially the latter, may acknowledge that Christ's work of obedience is necessary for salvation, but both deny that Christ's work is sufficient for salvation. Both types of legalists assert that to Christ's work must be added the works of the sinner, done either under his own steam, or by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is what makes them legalists: their shared belief in the incompleteness or insufficiency of the work of Christ outside of them. They may differ on what constitutes good works; they may differ on whether only God's law or church law as well is to be obeyed; but they agree that the work of Christ alone is insufficient for their final salvation.
It is according to where you put your eyes James, You response is as good as defintion and example of legalism in otherwords saying God's word says other that what it clearly states will always be legalism in otherwords as a Christan I believe what the word of Gods I cannot and will not put a meaning. The word says even the simple would understand, I am grateful I CAN AT LEAST BE CONSIDERED AMONG THE SIMPLE AND TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD
AS THE SCRIPTURE TEACHES, FOR THEIR OWN GAIN, SOME LIKE TO CORRUPT THE WORD FOR THEIR GAIN OR PURPOSE.
I BELIEVE ENGLISH TAUGHT US A SENTENCE IS A DECLARATION
YOU BELIEVE YOU WILL BE SAVED, THE YOU IS UNDERSTAND THE ONE THAT BELIEVES.
JESUS ALSO SAID THE ONE THAT BELIEVETH NOT WILL BE DAMNED THERE IS THE WILL FACTOR AS WE KNOW HE DIED FOR ALL, THE WHOLE BIBLE IS BASED ON IF YOU WILL I WILL, I WILL NOT FORCE YOU,THAT IS THE FATHERS VOICE, AND IT IS UNDERSTOOD YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, THUS AGAIN PROVING THE WORD, YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BELIEVE JUST AS JESUS SAID SOME WOULD
PhillipJohn what in the world are you talking about? :ROFL:
James I like how you kept it short and to the point. There are all kinds of shades of legalism going on and in toady's culture humanism has bleed into legalism.
It is that simple that is all, multitude of words changes nothing.
Here is a great example:Theology I with Dr. Cynthia Rigby.
Found in Book 3 of the Institutes of the Christian Religion (3.2.7 to be exact), Calvin�s definition of faith is this: �Faith is a firm and certain knowledge of God�s benevolence towards us, founded upon the truth of the freely-given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.� So what does it mean?
It means that faith is a gift of God and it is nothing we can achieve by our own work or study. Faith is beyond simple comprehension, it is our assurance of God�s steadfast love for us as we experience the mercy and compassion of God in the depths of pain and the heights of joy. It is our growing confidence that although we have never been promised great riches or all that we could want, as the prosperity preachers would lead us to believe, God is always with us.
Through Scripture as illumined by the Holy Spirit, we come to know Christ Jesus. We are assured of salvation because of God�s
This definition is no where in the bible it does not come close, there is no meanness to my statement, to believe that statement defines faith.
I didn't say i believed, you assumed that, but I will tell you what you tell me what bible faith and how it is released?
You assume I do not know, believers should know in whom they believe. Listen closely I do no go by what people. I do sit under a pastor, but he is one that believes the word of God and agrees with it and knows the Holy Spirit
My bible tells me it is by grace thru faith, that I am saved.
Legalism:a claim that one thinks that he or she has to eternal life,based upon their own works,or beliefs.
Salvation:A gift,A FREE GIFT,one that is not earned,or given in exchange for any type of service,or deed.
Salvation is given according to the will and Omniscience,Omnipotence,Omnipresence and Sovereignty of the Lord to those whom He will freely give this to.
The Lord cannot help knowing who is going to be saved,seeing that He is Omniscient(All-Knowing)
He tells us in His word everything that Is going to happen,and we still refuse to believe what He says.
In the mind of the Lord,I was saved before the foundation of the world.
The reality of this in my life was when He had given to me faith to Trust,Yeshua as Lord and Saviour.
The Holy Spirit put into my heart and mind to begin reading the Word of GOD over 20 Years ago.
Not one person shared the Gospel with me,I was and am Saved by the Sovereign Will of the LORD Himself..
The Lord saves,Yes the Lord Himself saves.
He does not need anyone,nor does He need our help,Yet He has Sovereignly commissioned and empowered every believer to proclaim the Gospel.
Even though He knows who will be saved yet He still uses His adopted children to proclaim,teach and disciple others and each one of us.
Good topic,I have gotten more out of being on this site,this past week,then the last 11 years within the body of Christ,that "goes to church".
How are we able to be going somewhere that we are.
