LIBERTY, LEGALISM, LAWLESSNESS

LIBERTY, LEGALISM, LAWLESSNESS
We are called to Liberty, not legalism or lawlessness. Do not become entangled with either of those two false gospels.
(this was prompted by an article I read this morning, published by the Messianic Literary Corner, "a grace oriented Messianic Jewish ministry).

My encounter with Hebrew, or Messianic, or Jewish Christians is very limited. In fact, my encounter with Jewish Jews is limited. Of course I am glad that there are Jewish people who accept the fact that Jesus is Messiah. After all, Jesus was a Jew, and the promises, prophecies, laws, and revelation of God was given to Jews; and the first Christians were Jews, the Apostles were Jews, the New Testament was written primarily by Jews and the future plan of God is entwined with the Jews.

HOWEVER, I have been concerned and outspoken for some time as I have noticed that some of the so-called Messianic Jew's (Messianic Believers) emphasis has been taking a wrong turn and producing a bad result. The focus on rules and regulation rather than a right relationship with Jesus turns people away from the truth. Even the Gentiles that get involved with Old Testament observations tend to lean more toward laws, observances, requirements, diet, celebrations, INCLUDING SATURDAY WORSHIP (which was a covenant and a sign for the JEWS), and they also become convinced that they are better Christians than those who do not keep Jewish or Old Testament rituals. Pride, legalism, division in the body and abandonment of the gospel and the New Testament revelation is what happens when we ADD something to the gospel.

The movement (at least what I read and what I observe) has moved to a more Jewish or Torah or Old Testament orientation. It is more like Judaized or Ebionized religion than Biblical Christianity. They turn to LEGALISM, as did some in the early Church. Paul addressed this problem, especially in Romans and Galatians.

We do not need, indeed, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED, to add to the New Testament or take away from the New Testament or change the New Testament. I believe and accept the Old Testament as the revealed word of God, just as surely as I do the New Testament. But remember, the New is in the Old concealed and the Old is in the New revealed. The Old is fulfilled in the New.

Do not turn from New Testament salvation. It is the only salvation we have. Do not revert to legalism (salvation by law keeping) and do not "advance" to libertinism (salvation from morality). Between legalism and libertinism (licence to sin), there is "Love from a pure heart" (1 Tm. 1:5), provided for us by Christ (Ep. 5:25-27), produced in us by the Holy Spirit (Ac. 15:8-9), the word of God (1 Pe. 1:22). I am not saved by being a law keeper, but I am saved from being a moral law breaker when I live by love, for it is the fulfilling of the law (Ga. 5:14); when I live by the Royal Law (Ja. 2:8), when I live in the freedom of the law Liberty (Ja. 1:25), when I am delivered from death by law of the Spirit of life (Ro. 8:2; Ja. 2:12).

PASSAGES

1 Timothy 1:5

(5)  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Ephesians 5:25-27

(25)  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

(26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

(27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Acts 15:8-9

(8)  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

(9)  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

1 Peter 1:22

(22)  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Galatians 5:14

(14)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

James 2:8

(8)  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

James 1:25

(25)  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Romans 8:2

(2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

James 2:12

(12)  So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.