From His Heart

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Do you know much about legalism? Is living your Christian life just with rules? Could it be that you have fallen into the ditch of legalism? Could you be a legalistic Christian?

Guest (Male): This is from his heart with pastor Jeff Schreve and today we're going to learn how to get out of the ditch of legalism. As he said, legalism is setting up rules you think you must follow in order to walk with the Lord. And it's really easy to fall into the works righteousness salvation thinking if you aren't careful. Why is the apostle Paul so fired up as he talks about this issue? Today pastor Jeff exposes ways to avoid the ditch of legalism by keeping your eyes on the cross and by walking on the road of grace and truth.

Today's lesson is entitled the ditch of legalism and it's from the series Beyond Amazing, Understanding the Grace of God. This series is also our gift of thanks to you for your support this month of any amount. Just go to from his heart org to make your gift and receive the series Beyond Amazing. But first, let's learn about how legalism can be so hazardous. Open your Bible to Galatians chapter 5 as pastor Jeff begins to describe the depth of the ditch of legalism.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: I ran across a little test so that you can tell, you can kind of test yourself to see if perhaps you are in the ditch of legalism. Seven questions. Number one, do you try to control God by being good? Do you get the idea that if you're good, then God is going to do X, Y and Z for you? Question number two, do you get angry at God when life doesn't go as you think you deserve? Question number three, is serving God a chore and a bore and something that you have to do, not something that you get to do?

Number four, do you have trouble forgiving other people? Number five, do you tend to be quick to judge others? Number six, are you a person who lacks joy in life? Number seven, do you have a tendency to elevate traditions and personal preferences over the commands of God? The ditch of legalism. We're going to see that it's real easy to fall into the ditch of legalism if you're not careful. Paul wrote the book of Galatians because he had gone on his first missionary journey. He had gone to these cities. Galatia is a region. He had gone to these cities, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe.

You can read about those in around 48 AD or so, 47 48 and then he preached the gospel, the gospel of grace, God's riches at Christ's expense and grace, the the unmerited favor of God and the people responded to the gospel. But then behind Paul, on the heels of Paul, came the Judaizers. The Judaizers were Jews who said, listen, if you're going to to please God and serve God, you have to fulfill the law of Moses. And they were really big on circumcision. You have to get circumcised. Paul was preaching to Gentiles. Gentiles didn't get circumcised.

Circumcision was a a Jewish thing, but they came in and they said to these Gentiles, you can't follow God unless you're circumcised, unless you follow in the laws of Moses. And so this is what Paul says beginning in chapter 5 beginning in verse one. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold, I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation to keep the whole law.

You have been severed from Christ. You who are seeking to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit by faith are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything but faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view but the one who is disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. Would that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves? These guys like circumcision so much, well, why don't they go all the way and castrate themselves? That's how stern Paul is in this letter. Why? Because people were taking the gospel of the grace of God and they were perverting it. And Paul says in chapter one of Galatians, even though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one which we preach to you, let him be a curse.

Let him be anathema. Let him go to hell. That's how stern he was. That how uh fired up he was about what was happening in Galatia. Now remember, Galatia is not a city. It's not like the the church of Ephesus or the church of Colossae. Galatia is a region and you have these cities in the southern part of Galatia. And so when Paul was writing to the Galatians, he's writing to these churches that are in this region and he's sharing these things with them because that's where he went on his first missionary journey and the Judaizers followed him.

Paul says about these Judaizers, Galatians 2:4, but it was because of the false brethren. These aren't true Christians. These are emissaries from hell because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. That 's why he says it was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery, to a yoke of bondage. Remember what Jesus said to those people who are all burdened down, come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon me upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy. It's gracious, it's kind and my burden is light. So here's our question for today. What is the ditch of legalism and why is it so dangerous? Why is Paul so fired up as he talks about this issue? Three discoveries. Discovery number one, the ditch of legalism is adding the works of the law to grace. That's what it is. Adding works to grace. So the Judaizers said to these new believers that started out really well, put their faith and trust in Jesus, were overwhelmed by the the grace of God, amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

And they came in and they said to them, oh, wait a minute, time out. This is what Paul didn't tell you. You have to follow the law of Moses. All you guys have to get circumcised. You have to start towing the line or you can't continue on with the Lord. Legalism tries to take works and combine it with grace. Now you mark this down. Grace and the works of the law are mutually exclusive. Those things don't mingle together. See, there are two ways to go when you want to a relationship with God. There's a way that takes you to God and that is the way of grace.

But there's another way to go and that's the way of works, the works of the law. Well, that road leads off a cliff. That road never gets to God. But what you don't have is a road that's grace and works together. Grace and works uh don't do they don't meet. They don't somehow meet and mingle and meld together. They're two opposite roads. This is what Paul said in Romans 11:6. But if it is by grace, grace, the unmerited favor of God, grace, the unearned favor of God, you don't uh earn it, you don't deserve it, but God gives it to you anyway.

If it is by grace, what is the it? Salvation. If salvation is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. Now works is merit. Works is I got to do this and this and this and this and this and then God will uh receive me, God will accept me. Grace says it's none of that. You God got it's unmerited favor, unearned favor. So if it is by the unmerited favor of God that we're saved, it's no longer based on works cuz works is merit. And if you take merit and mix it with unmerit, well, then you destroy the whole concept of grace, the unmerited favor of God.

If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. And if it is by works, it is no longer on the basis of grace, otherwise works is no longer works. Those things are mutually exclusive, grace and works. And here's the thing, you come by grace to God or you don't come at all. There's only one way to peace through the power of the cross. And the Judaizers are saying, no, no, no, you you have to add works to grace. Now remember this, the law the mosaic law was never designed to save anyone.

You say, what's the point of the law of Moses? Was that to save people? No. It shows Israel how they were to live. But the law was not given to save. The law was given to show every single person, hey, you know what? News flash, you don't measure up. You missed the mark. You are a sinner. And Ezekiel 18:4, the soul that sins shall die. So Paul says in Galatians 3:24, the law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ. The law shows you that you are a sinner, a helpless, hopeless sinner. And so your only hope is not by doing more works of the law.

Your only hope is in Jesus who died on the cross and rose again from the dead. Your only hope is in God's grace. The law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ. Now Paul says in Galatians 2:16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, since by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. That's not the purpose of the law.

I've told you before, the law is it's like a thermometer. I think everybody in this room probably has a thermometer in their house. You know, and when you're starting to feel sick, you are starting to feel hot, what do you do? Uh you get the thermometer out. Well, I got to see what kind of a fever I have. I feel like I have a fever. Sometimes you you feel like you have a fever and and you the thermometer says, no, you don't have a fever. But other times the thermometer is like, man, you got a fever, big time.

And so you you say, okay, uh this thing is saying I'm at 103. What do I do? Well, just keep sucking on the thermometer. You know, that's dumb, right? The thermometer doesn't help you get better. It just shows you how sick you are. That is the purpose of the law. Uh think of it this way. You know, when you're drowning in the ocean, you need a savior. You need a life uh saving device. You need some kind of life preserver. Well, if you cry out for the law, what's the law? It's a boat anchor. Oh, you're drowning?

Well, here, take this. Well, that's just going to send you down. The law just says you are a sinner. Here's the standard. You don't meet the standard. You're done. The soul that sins shall die. So the law was never designed to save anyone.

Guest (Male): Pastor Jeff will explore more about the depth of legalism in just a moment. But he's often said that people don't do religious things to earn their salvation, but rather because they are thankful for their salvation. Here's something you can trust. Some people are exhausted from trying to earn God's approval. Others are gradually drifting from the Lord, wondering if they wandered too far to come home. Listen, you will be blessed and relieved when you listen to the series Beyond Amazing, Understanding the Grace of God. Seven messages for your gift this month to from his heart from pastor Jeff.

Through your support from his heart helps people discover that God's grace is greater than their guilt, stronger than their failures, and sufficient for every step of the Christian life. To get your copy on a USB flash drive, CDs, DVDs or an immediate MP3 download, just go to fromhisheart org or simply call 866 40 Bible, 866 40 Bible and request the series Beyond Amazing, Understanding the Grace of God. Now back to conclude part one of the ditch of legalism.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: The law was never designed to save anyone. It was designed to lead us to Christ, to show us how desperately we needed him. See, the law shows us that we are sinners in need of grace. So what does Paul say to these people? Verse two, I Paul, I Paul, I the apostle Paul called by God say to you that if you guys go on and receive circumcision, then you have left the road of grace and you've gone on the road of works and Christ will be of no benefit to you. It it doesn't I mean you're you're divorcing yourself from Christ and his grace.

I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that now you're under obligation to keep the the whole law. And he says you've been severed from Christ. You are seeking to be justified by law. You have fallen from grace. Now don't get confused on that. Some people get confused on verse four, fallen from grace. They say, well, does that mean you can lose your salvation? You fall from grace. That's not what he's talking about. He's talking about the there are two realms in which you can live. You can live in the realm of God's grace, unmerited favor of God.

I walk by faith in the God who loves me and gave his son for me. Or I can live in this realm of works and the works of the law and and getting circumcised and following all the dietary laws and the ritualistic laws and the sacrificial laws of Moses. Well, so if I go that route, well, I'm not in grace anymore. I 'm trying to be justified and right with God through works and that's not how a man is justified or right with God. For by grace you've been saved through faith and then not of yourselves.

It is the gift of God, not as a result of works. For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. It's a boat anchor for those who are drowning. It just takes you down. So the ditch of legalism is adding the works of the law to grace. Second discovery. The ditch of legalism is attractive to our fallen nature. Hey, let's just be honest. I I I don't know a Christian on the planet throughout history that has not struggled from one degree or than another with legalism. Why? Well, the Bible says Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 it says the same verse.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Legalism seems right to you and to me. It just seems right to our fallen nature. I mean, come on. I I I you know, I mean, I I have to do. What must I do to be saved? Remember the Philippian jailer asked Paul that, Paul and Silas, sirs, what must I do to be saved? What do I have to do I have to join a church? Do I have to do this? Do I have to do that? Do I have to do the other?

I mean, there is no free lunch. So what must I do? And Paul said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. See, there really only two religions in the world, if we can use that word religion for uh true faith in Christ. One is spelled do and one is spelled done, d o n e. Every every false cult is built on works. Every world religion, you study Islam, it's built on works. And there is no assurance of salvation in a cult or in a world religion that's built on works because how do you know if you've done enough?

And so it's what must I do? I must do more and more and more. Well, Christianity is spelled done. Jesus paid it all all to him I owe. Sin has left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. What do you have to do? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved. That's what it is. That's grace. I remember talking to uh a boss I had one time and I shared the gospel with him. He allowed me to share the gospel with him. And when I got done, you know what he said to me?

He said, that's too easy. That's too easy. Can't be like that. There's a way which seems right to a man, but the end is a way of death. It seems like we have to take God's grace and add our works to God's grace in order for us to be saved, in order for us to be right with God. That is in our fallen nature. Now here are the dangers with that. Number one, it puts external rules above an internal relationship. Why is legalism so bad? Because it puts rules above relationship. And and see, we like the rules.

There's something about our flesh that likes the rules. Why? Because then you can keep score easy. How do I know if I'm a good Christian? Well, a good what does a good Christian do? So I know I'm a good Christian cuz I had a quiet time. Know I'm a good Christian because I spent 30 minutes in prayer. I know I'm a good Christian because I tithed to the penny. I figured it out. That's what the Pharisees did. Jesus said you tithe mint and dill and cumin. You tithe you tithe from your garden. I mean, count out your count out your your herbs and you say, okay, nine of these are mine.

This one's the Lord's. You know, you're just so meticulous. Well, I do this and I do this and I do this. I I don't smoke, I don't chew, I don't go with girls that do. I'm a good Christian based on all of that. And and so we like it because it's easy to keep score, to check those boxes. Yes, I did this and yes, I did this and yes, I did this. And that person over there, they don't have any check marks. You know, that's the when Jesus told Luke 18 about the Pharisee and the publican publican went to the temple to pray.

And remember what the Pharisee said? He said, God, I thank you that I'm not like other people, swindlers, liars, adulterous adulterers or or like this tax collector over here. Well well, God, I I pay tithes on all that I have. I fast twice a week. What a good boy am I? Remember what the tax collector said? He was standing some distance away. He was just beating his breast. And he said, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, that tax collector went home justified and that Pharisee just went home.

He's just bragging about his check the box stuff to God. Hey, we like the check the box stuff because it makes us feel good. It's about external rules. And remember this about the Pharisees. You know, we we talk pretty negatively about the Pharisees. The Pharisees didn't start out being a rotten group. They became a rotten group. They became all about rules. It didn't start out all about rules. They they were the separated ones. They wanted to be separated to God. They wanted to be pleasing to God. They wanted to live a life that that was honoring to God.

That's how they started out. But what does Paul say here? A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. A little bit of yeast. You just have to put a little bit of legalism into your situation, into your church, into your walk with God and all of a sudden it just takes over. And it leavens the whole lump of dough.

Guest (Male): As you survey your faith life, is it full of trust in God's grace or full of lethal legalism? Only you and God know the answer to that, but we pray today's lesson has been an eye and a heart opener. Now we only heard part one today. Part two is set for next time. And for the rest of this month we'll be hearing other grace-filled lessons like a license to sin, insulting the spirit of grace. Are you growing in grace when blessings abound and more? You can get them all this month when you request the series Beyond Amazing, Understanding the Grace of God.

Yours for a gift of any amount to from his heart in the format of your choice. Just call 866 40 Bible, 866 40 Bible or go to fromhisheart org Thank you and God bless you. We're going to pause right there in this lesson for today, but we'll be back on Monday. And after a brief review, pastor Jeff will continue explaining how the Christian life is not about rules, but about relationships and how that takes all the pressure off of you. Are you in the ditch of legalism? Are you trying to earn your way with God?

If you're a Christian and you've fallen into the ditch of legalism, you can get out of it just like that as you start walking by faith with the one who loves you, who says you're accepted in the beloved, who says to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Dr. Jeff Schreve: Join us on Monday when we'll open God's word and share real truth, real love and real hope from his heart.