This is Part 3 of the “Yoke of Slavery”. So lets just start it off with this. HEAR THIS LOUD AND CLEAR. THE MEANEST, MOST UNLOVING PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE LEGALISTS!!!
Just like the Pharisees, they can feel extremely righteous even while they are stabbing a brother in the back. We do all the right things and don’t do the wrong things, therefore we are good Christian. We Think. If you buy into this mind set, you can never rest, because man has an amazing ability to keep coming up with new and more complicated laws.
For instance, the fella who knew nothing but legalism. He was told his whole life that on Sunday it’s okay to shoot a few baskets, but don’t play a game of basketball. Remember, I said the law stirs up rebellion in us. The more you try to make them live the rule keeping religious Christian life, the more you stir up sinful, rebellious desires in them.
Now it gets to, well I know I can’t play a game of basketball, but can I play just one-on-one? Or how about a game of horse? You see? We hear a law and immediately start looking for loopholes. It’s just like the Pharisees. They had laws of God, but it wasn’t good enough for them. So, they started to invent a few hundred of their own.
I know some denominations like that. Here’s an example. In that day it was okay to spit on a rock on the Sabbath, but you couldn’t spit on the dirt. Doing so would make clay. Making clay was work, and you couldn’t work on the Sabbath.
What if your aim was bad when you spit? You’d be tortured. It’s like some of God’s chosen righteously religious police patrol squad. You say Gosh and they’ll say “You shouldn’t say that, people might think you’re saying God”. Well, my question is where is the problem? In their unrenewed minds or in what I said? You say something like "boy this is all screwed up" and the self righteous legalist will say - "you shouldn't use that word because it infers something bad". Really??? Or is it just your mind that goes there? Might want to check what is going on in your mind and heart that drives you to that conclusion.
HEY…I’VE GOT A RESPONSE FOR YOU. GIVE ME A PENTECOSTAL BREAK.
Why do you think Jesus spit on the ground in John Chapter 9? He didn’t have to. He could have simply healed the blind man. He knew the Pharisees interpreted spitting on the ground as working on the Sabbath. He knew it would upset their rules. If you don’t think you have a few self righteous rules still on your agenda, just wait until someone breaks one of them and see how you react.
Also, in Jesus' day, there was an old Jewish tradition (a myth) that stated: There lies power for healing in the saliva of the firstborn. So, by spitting and making mud with saliva – what was Jesus saying? That he was the Firstborn. The firstborn of God. Boy, that really riled up the religious Pharisees.
Jesus also healed the blind man on the Sabbath. It seems he did a lot of healing and miracles on the Sabbath. Coincidence? I think not. Yet this was another sin according to the religious elite. Get ready. Jesus did this to show them the foolishness of their legalism. The hypocrisy of these legalists is clearly revealed in how they reacted to the man’s healing. Did they rejoice…NO. Did they give praise to God…NO. Did they consider the claims of Jesus and His authority…NO.
They couldn’t care less about these things. All they thought they knew was Jesus was a sinner according to their standards and rules. In other words, don’t confuse us with the truth, our minds are made up. Reminds me of some Christians. They have minds like concrete. “Totally mixed up and firmly set”.
It’s no different than when someone gives you a compliment on your ministry. There are those standing by that won’t praise God for you. Won’t rejoice with or for you. Won’t consider the anointing God has given you. They are so sour, all they can say is “Ya but, look at this and look at that. Big deal they are this and they are that”. Isn’t that ridiculous? It’s also a shame, but that’s exactly what happens under the law. That’s exactly how legalists react.
There is a story of a woman who had a unique problem. She could not go shopping, but the reasons weren’t the apparent ones like lack of money, illness, her husband wouldn’t let her, or she had no time. The reason was because she had been raised in a very strict group. They were never allowed to listen to secular music. It was of the devil and she would go to hell if she listened to it. Well, she better never get in an elevator either. Do you see how ridiculous the laws and traditions of men can become.
Well, department stores and malls play secular music. So, she felt she couldn’t go shopping. Probably couldn't go on vacation to a multi-story hotel either, because she'd have to use the steps. Now that’s bondage. Better not watch anything on TV except Christian stuff. If that’s the rule or edict placed on you by some leaders or groups, then you better not go into a TV store, because there might be a football game on. Oh yeah. Do not do business with any establishment that sells alcoholic beverages. Well, where are you going to get your food or gas? Can't fly on an airplane either.
There’s a story of people being at a couples retreat, swimming in the pool. They were asked to get out, because the rules don’t allow couples to swim together. Let me get this straight. It’s okay for me to sleep with my wife at this camp, but I can’t swim with her?
Almost always there are explanations for these stupid man-made rules, but the apostle Paul warned against them in Colossians 2:23 Where he said: “Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh”.
Basically, applying it to this situation he was saying these regulations have an appearance of wisdom with their self imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. The real problem is we refuse to recognize that our sin problem arises from our own hearts, and the law can do nothing to change a heart.
The third reason the law cannot produce the life God desires is the law is the realm of self-effort. Romans 7:15 says “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I”.
Rom 7:21-23.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
People have argued over this concerning whether Paul was saved or lost whenever he was talking about this dilemma, but that’s beside the point. The real issue here is that Paul is describing a man who is trying to live according to the law. The experience he describes is the result regardless of whether you are a lost man or a Christian.
Besides, in this Chapter 7 of Romans, Paul is talking from a place before he had the Damascus road experience. He is talking about when he was a keeper of the law. Just study the chapter. It begins with him talking to people who are familiar with the law. He points out that the law stirred up lustful desires in him. He goes on and on about how he was powerless to DO right. Then he asks the question. What can deliver me from this sin domination in my life. The answer is Jesus Christ.
The law will always drive you to verse 24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? The law will drop you right there. Remember, the law shows man his need, but not the solution. Immediately after saying verse 24, the Word, Jesus, brings Paul to verse 25. Romans 7:25 “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”.
I'll stop here for now and finish this up in part 4. Grace and Peace.
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