Legalism In The Church

June 15 2006

Legalism In The Church - Verse of the Day : Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God throught Christ.
-Galatians 4:7

Daily Bible Reading Plan

Morning : Galatians 4

Evening : 1 Chronicles 27-29

In the New Testament days of Paul, legalism was trying to infiltrate into the Galatian Church. Some of the people were teaching the new Christians that to obtain salvation, there were required to obey and follow the Jewish laws. To them, salvation was based on works and not on God's free gift of grace.

In Galatians chapter 4, the apostle Paul was trying to show us the difference between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. A spiritually immature believer is insensitive to the Holy Spirit. He does not know how to hear His voice or how to walk with Him.

A spiritually immature Christian is a babe in Christ, lacking knowledge of the things of God. He needs to be told by others what is wrong or what is right. Thus, instead of following the leading of the Holy Spirit, he ends up being controlled by other people. And when ill-doctrinated people start to regulate your life, you will be enslaved into bondage again.

The apostle Paul said, "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is a master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father" (Gal. 4:1-2).

June 15 - Legalism In The Church - Christian Daily Devotions

It does not matter how great our inheritance is, as long as we don't grow mature spiritually, we will never get to enjoy them. We are like slaves, and as long as we are enslaved in bondage, we will never have the freedom to enjoy the blessings of God.

Friends, if we are not willing to obey and trust the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will soon go back to the slavery of the flesh, which is "adultery, fornication..." (5:19-21). Anyone who commits such sins will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That is the real danger of legalism in the Church. It allows artificial rules and regulations to take the role of the Holy Spirit in your life, like what to wear, what to eat and where to go etc.

Sometimes the intentions of the legalists may be noble, such as to prevent you from sinning, but in actual fact, they are hurting you by cutting you off a life of faith led by the Holy Spirit. Legalism eventually bring believers into a state of spiritual death, stealing them of all the blessings and joy that God had promised through faith in Jesus.

You can only have true freedom when you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in everyday decision making, be it major or minor. But you can rest assure that He will always guide and lead you to do the right thing, perfectly in the will of the Father.

June 15 - Legalism In The Church - Christian Daily Devotions

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