Legalism in Every Religion

If the word 'legalism' makes you cringe a little, chances are you are on the side of the religious fence which believes your salvation has a direct connect to something you 'do'. Many of you know of a personal journey that I went on a few years ago to study the legalistic side of my own brand of religion. The end result was, I discovered that for me to 'do' anything with regard to my salvation, other than enact my faith, was detracting from the greatest work of time and eternity...the cross of Christ.

Upon my exodus from a religious framework I found a host of people who God had led along the very same pathway. My religious past insisted on upholding specific, non-scriptural codes as tests of fellowship in the brotherhood, and more importantly, as a test to see if one was saved or not. Being taught these things from a child, they were deeply embedded within my thinking. Still, there was considerable internal stress of having to preach what the religion expected and finding more and more discrepancy with the scripture.

Grace is a powerful thing! Salvation is a gift! The Holy Spirit is a gift. Somehow religion, for their own control purposes, have abused the Word of God to manipulate people away from Grace and into their own rule-book. Depending on the religion, they can tell you everything from what food to eat, to what day to worship, to what to wear, to who you can date, and the list is endless! In my opinion, these stiff rules are enticing to those who, by personality, need a strong leader and someone to tell them what to do, etc. On the other hand, it pushes away so many people who may be genuinely hungry for the Lord but are unwilling to yield their intellect to the whims of men when they can plainly read the Word for themselves.

Legalism infiltrates every arm of religion. There will forever be the conservative and the liberal, no matter which branch of the tree you choose to travel. In Adventism, there are those who are liberal enough to eat chicken occasionally, and are scorned by those who are strict vegetarian. In the Amish community, there are those who refuse any and all modern conveniences and these hold a level of chagrin for the liberals who allow for a light in their milk barn, or wear a hat with a ribbon on it. In Holiness churches there are those who preach hot and heavy concerning ladies cutting their hair or wearing slacks. The liberal is willing to concede some of these, especially on vacation etc.

From a distance, it all looks the same, only the issue is different. They all have their Old Testament verses...they all harp on a particular view of them....they all have camps.....they all speak one thing in public and a different thing around the table of their peers....they all have secret questions....and most will not buck the system b/c it infringes upon the safety of their status, their income, or both.

So what then is important. I firmly believe God's Word is true, is pure and is powerful. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the primary factors of salvation. When a man places his faith in the salvific work of the cross, the Word of God boldly and plainly declares his salvation is made sure. We are not saved by works (Eph2:8) lest any man should boast. Circumcision will not save you! Worship on Saturday will not save you! Baptism will not save you! Communion will not save you! Holiness standards will not save you! Only the blood of Jesus can wash away your sins.

No wonder Paul said, "I'm glad I didn't baptize any of you." No wonder he further declared, "I only want to know among you Jesus Christ and Him crucified." It is a simple gospel that becomes complex in the hands of the legalist.

Jesus is Still the Only Way

At the risk of sounding a bit 'preachy' on a blog, I want to go on record as saying, "Jesus is the only way for man's eternal salvation."  That seems so very simple and that is the point...it 'is' simple and man has complicated it. In honesty, I get very upset at man-made religions...especially those who detract from Jesus' and His salvific sacrifice on the behalf of lost humanity.

No more profound words ever came from the lips of the Savior of the World than when He said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me."  It is my understanding that, contained in this solitary verse, is the plan of God for every man.  In order to get into relationship, both now and in eternity with God, one must come through Jesus.  So what does that mean?

In short, Jesus became the ultimate, permanent sacrifice for the sin of man.  Everything we could not do within ourselves, Jesus did for us.  He was perfect and therefore was accepted as the ultimate sacrifice for all time.  Jesus was tempted in every facet of life and yet He was sinless.  He is the only man ever to live who has had not sin!

God laid upon the man, Jesus, the punishment or wrath that sin demands.  The wages of sin is death.  Because Christ died He paid the debt.  Because He rose again, He became the first fruits of all who trust in Him, giving hope of life eternal for all mankind.  Without Him, all our good deeds would be fruitless.  We cannot do a solitary thing to merit salvation.  Our good works are fruits of salvation and not a requisite for it.

Jesus said, "I am the door to the sheepfold."  There is no other way to get in.  I believe that Christ, while in the grave, preached to spirits in the prison of death. (Eph 4:7-10, 1 Pet 3:19)  This was, in my judgement, the Old Testament saints who will be saved and ultimately cleansed through Jesus' blood.  Further, those who overcome in the Tribulation will do so by washing their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (Christ).  All men throughout time will have to enter through the life, death and burial of Jesus Christ.  Salvation is by faith.  It was for the thief on the cross, the Ethiopian Eunuch, the Philippian Jailor and all who come to God.  There is joy in heaven when a sinner repents!

For those who are lost in sin; for those who are twisted up in religions of various kinds;  for those bound by legalistic ideas;  for all men every where, let me remind you that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Instead of waiting to be forced to do that in eternity, why not bow today and confess Jesus as Lord of your life.  Ask Him to forgive you and He will...immediately.  Be baptized in His name 'because' He has forgiven you and receive the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you.  

Men are seeking to find other ways to salvation.  Check out Oprah's message, denying that Jesus is the only way.  I wonder how many will be lost because of her?  Be careful not to buy into these evil seductions of the last days.

Keep Jesus as the focus of your life.  Follow Him...obey Him....imitate Him...and most of all give Him your life.  In the end that is all that really matters.

Be blessed on this beautiful day.

Pastor T  

PS.  Following are some great references for personal study.  John 3:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12, Acts 5:29-32, Acts 8:37, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38-39, 48, Acts 16:30-31, Rom 3:21-25, Rom 10:9-10, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 5:1