growing out of doubt...!!

 

Ending the bondage to deception...

 

The legalist experiences practical and doctrinal difficulties understanding grace, justification by faith, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and the relationship of faith to works.

First there was legalism (verses 16-17).  Human nature has an amazing capacity for complicating the gospel.  The false teachers wove a web of rules and regulations around the Colossian believers.  As in Galatia it was taught that Christians should also keep the Jewish weekly, monthly, and annual feasts.  Paul criticizes the loss of Christian freedom to religion of ritual and external rules.

Paul indicates that since the Law has been fulfilled and replaced by Christ, there is no need for such law-keeping.  Verse 17 says, “These things are mere shadows of a coming reality; the reality has now come and it is found in Christ.” The Colossians were mistaking shadow for substance.  OT Jewish ritual was only a foreshadowing of the truth and the “reality” found in Christ.  The “things that were to come” have come with Christ.  The Jewish food laws were of little importance compared with the overriding truth of the Cross.  The letter to the Hebrews is a commentary on this verse (cf. Hebrews 8:5; 10:1).  Human nature enjoys “religious duties” but any system of salvation that encourages the idea that man’s religious practices can contribute to his own salvation is contrary to the gospel of the grace of God.

Christianity is more than the church.  It is Christ.  He is the head.” Their big difference  than idolatry of buildings forms and  orders,  the s indwelt awareness  must be made alive through faith  alone ,being led in sound s notice  you have go live that way so we can break our unholy schedules, learn how to hear inside so the fog goes away, of doubt ,,,and we are found utterly barren on the last day in the added stuff ; stuff  to appear novel I have no use for that still out there is not waiting for the go away it’s taking lives over easily and random that separate us form faith  to life apart ..

 

 

Legalism Has A Satanic Origin.

The tragedy of the Galatian Christians was that they went sadly wrong after beginning so well.  “Foolish” means “spiritually dull and unwise”.  (See Luke 24:25 where the same Greek word “anoeetos” is used.)  Christians are deceived, says Paul in verse one, when they take their eyes off the Cross as the center of their Christian life.  The cross of Christ was always central with Paul.

Some commentators see the question, “Who has bewitched you?” as a sarcastic rhetorical one and favor a figurative explanation. For example, F. F. Bruce paraphrases, “Who is it that has hypnotized you?”  that is huge today we have almost no historical knowledge other than the pc indoctrination and giggle ville best guessing schemes as emotionally  charged  ..

 Others offer a more literal explanation involving witchcraft.  Either way, the influence of a cunning satanic power corrupted the faith of the Galatians and used legalism to do so.

The Greek “baskaino”, Strong’s #940, translated “bewitched” (KJV; NIV) or “ put a spell on?” (TEV; JB) occurs only here in the NT.  Thayer says it originally mean “to speak ill of one, to slander” .  Vine defines the word as “to slander anyone; to bring evil on a person by feigned praise, or mislead by an evil eye, and so to charm, or bewitch” (English, “fascinate” is connected); it is used figuratively in Galatians 3:1 of leading into evil guessings? Wish not…

 

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize.  Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.  He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?  These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” Empty as ever !!

 

 

 

The truth is cruel, but it can be loved, and it makes free those who have loved it.”[1]

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [2]

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

It is a characteristic of human nature that, in different ways, we try to add to the “finished work” of the cross.  Legalism is an inherent part of our sinful human nature for we find salvation by faith in Christ alone, hurtful to our spiritual pride.  Church and individual have frequently repeated the foolishness of the Galatians.  In all our Christian activities, it is easy for us to miss what matters most to God, love for God and love for our neighbor (Matthew 22: 37-40). 

 

Evangelicals often pride themselves on their superior knowledge of the Bible, and Pentecostals\charismatics usually claim a superior spiritual experience, while older denominations sometimes pride themselves on centuries of tradition.  Yet it is easy for all churches of all persuasions within the community of the Christian faith, to be blind and deaf to uncomfortable in biblical truths.

 

Jesus emphasized that human tradition can never have the same authority as the Word of God.  He forced people to look beyond the cultural and the traditional to find the essential core of God’s Word.  The apostle Paul said to the Galatians that fellowship with God is a trust in Christ that works through love: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”(5:6) Extra biblical rules may seem spiritual, even helpful and necessary, but given too much emphasis become death to life in the Spirit, and to the individual freedom to which God has called us in Christ. 

For the Christian, obedience is to the indwelling Holy Spirit, not to the letter of the law, or religious rules.  As Paul has it,“Not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) inward awareness !!

The Pharisees of the New Testament were dedicated legalists and traditionalists with a loveless, impersonal, and mechanical religion based on man-made rules that Jesus emphatically rejected.  In short, legalism is substituting law for grace, achievement for faith. Yet many believers have unthinkingly adopted a checklist of acceptable and unacceptable behavior that requires such things as church attendance, a particular style of worship or ceremony, compulsory tithing, a dress code, or undue deference to church leaders, or denominational traditions, to the neglect of “more important matters – justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). The many additions is merely binding mechanism minus the spirit ledness.

While Jesus had earlier used yeast as a symbol for the extensive growth of God’s kingdom (Matthew 13:33), it was also an image for the corrupting power of evil to extend its influence.  Jesus twice warned his disciples against the “yeast”, that is, the inner corruption of the teaching of the two groups of religious leaders. 

“Be on your guard” or “Beware” (KJV) or “Keep a sharp eye out for” (The Message) translates the Greek “prosecho”, Strong’s #4337.  It means “to hold the mind towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about.”  Vine defines it as “to turn one’s mind or attention to a thing by being on one’s guard against it; it suggests devotion of thought and effort to a thing.”   Thayer says it means, “to give heed to oneself, to guard oneself no idea what faith is operate like  and how it see…

 

The Pharisees provide a solemn warning about the danger of self-righteous hypocrisy.  They began as sincere people who valued God’s truth but over time they developed their own understanding of the Old Testament to the point where Jesus said their own traditions, human rules and regulations, contradicted God’s revelation.  It is easy to condemn this legalism, yet be guilty of it ourselves in our relationships with others.  Salvation by works may be dressed in the most evangelical or charismatic of clothes and imposed on an unthinking congregation.

 

Given that human nature is basically the same in every generation, all Christians should beware of replacing inner spiritual reality with outward religious ritual.  Those who place human traditions above the Bible, eventually lose the power of God’s Word in their own lives.  How tragic that those who profess to be Christians should so practice their faith that they become worse for doing so.

The danger with all religious rituals and institutions is that they often acquire a life of their own.  Whereas once they blessed people, later they oppress people.  What for one generation may be a test of truth and a means of blessing may become an idol and a hindrance to another generation.  For example, in the OT God commanded Moses to make a bronze figure of a snake and set it on a pole, so that anyone bitten by a snake need only look at the bronze serpent and he would live (Numbers 21:4-9; 1 Corinthians 10:9, 11).  Centuries later King Hezekiah of Judah destroyed the bronze serpent because the people had made it an idol and gave it superstitious respect (2 Kings 18:4).

William Barclay explains:

“Assembly h is in danger of death when it begins to worship its own past, when it lives on its memories instead of finding a challenge in its hopes, when it is more taken up with its traditions than its ideals.  There are assembly s which are more concerned with correct ritual than they are with living vitality.  Assembly is in danger of death when it loves systems more than it loves Jesus Christ.  The danger that any assembly runs is that it should become a ‘club’.  Every assembly activity is necessary, but only as it serves the primary activity of bringing men and women face to face with Jesus Christ.” 

1) “The attempt to acquire merit before God through the performance of various rituals and practices.” [6]

(2) “Legalism is a distortion of obedience that can never produce truly good works.  Its first fault is that it skews motive and purpose, seeing good deeds as essentially ways to earn more of God’s favour than one has at the moment.  Its second fault is arrogance.  Belief that one’s labour earns God’s favour begets contempt for those who do not labour in the same way.  Its third fault is lovelessness in that its self-advancing purpose squeezes humble kindness and creative compassion out of the heart. 

So far, then, from enriching our relationship with God, as it seeks to do, legalism in all its forms does the opposite.  It puts that relationship in jeopardy and, by stopping us focusing on Christ, it starves our souls while feeding our pride.  Legalistic religion in all its forms should be avoided like the plague.”

 

 Legalism is the attempt to please God by erecting hard and fast rules where the Bible does not give them, and then making them binding on oneself and others.  It is not a matter of following those things that are commanded, or that have clear biblical principles associated with them.  It is a matter of raising so-called doubtful things to the level of commands.

 

Legalism effectively ousts love as the dynamic of the gospel and the Christian life (and so banishes joy from religion), by reducing both to obedience or conformity to a set of external commands or rules, after the manner of the scribes and Pharisees in the gospels.”

The Pharisees mistook religious practices for real devotion.  Have we not known people who kept all the rules, whose habits were faultless, and yet whose “sanctity” was cold and unattractive?  They lacked a sense of the significant, giving priority to trivialities, putting procedure before people, and conformity before compassion.  Their religion was all law and no grace.”

 

Legalism is an attitude, a mentality based on pride.  It is an obsessive conformity to an artificial standard for the purpose of exalting oneself.  A legalist assumes the place of authority and pushes it to unwarranted extremes.  It results in illegitimate control, requiring unanimity, not unity.  Pride, which is at the heart of legalism, works guilt, fear and shame.  It leads to an emphasis on what should not be, and what one should not do.  It flourishes in a drab context of negativism.

 

Legalistic obedience, life before God based on religious achievement, does not bring one into right relationship with God (Galatians 2:16; 3:3) but to alienation from him (Galatians 5:4), to rejection of God’s grace (Galatians 2:21), to a life of legalistic bondage (Galatians 4:9, 21; 5:1), and to the curse of death.  (Galatians 3:10–13)” “Whenever men forget the love and the forgiveness and the service and the mercy that are at the heart of religion and replace them by the performance of rules and regulations religion is in decline.  Christianity has at all times consisted far more in doing things than in refraining from doing things.  People matter far more than systems.  Persons are far more important than rituals.  The final arbiter in the use of all things is love and not law.”

 

The Greek word “grammateus” Strong’s #1122, occurs 67 times in the NT.  In the KJV it is translated “scribe” in every occurrence except Acts 19:35, where it is translated as “town-clerk”.  Other versions favour “teachers of the law” (NIV; TEV) or“doctors of the law” (NEB).  Arndt and Gingrich comment, “A term for experts in the law, scholars versed in the law, scribes mentioned with the high priests and the elders with whom they formed the Sanhedrin.”

 

Thus the scribes or “lawyers” were scholars and teachers of Scripture, the custodians of Jewish traditions and experts in the study of the law of Moses (the Torah).  In Jesus’ day, they were usually associated with the Pharisees (Matthew 12:38; Mark 7:5; Luke 6:7) and the Sanhedrin, the highest legal and administrative body in the Jewish state.

They questioned the identity and credentials of Jesus (Mark 2:6; 3:22; 11:27-28) and they disliked his frequent association with the disreputable elements of society (Mark 2:15–17).  As the major opponents of Jesus, they were involved in his trial and mocked him on the cross (Mark 15:31).

For the scribes, following the traditions that had grown up around the Law became the measure of a person’s devotion and spirituality.  The scribes’ official interpretation of the meaning of the Law eventually became more important than the Law itself. Consequently “the results were an exceedingly shallow view of religious and moral life.  Religion was reduced to legal formalism.  All religious and moral life was dragged down to the level of law.”

While many scribes were Pharisees, the two groups were not identical.  The origin of the Pharisees is obscure but seems to begin in the second century B.C.  Although the root meaning of the word “Pharisee” is uncertain, it is probably related to the Hebrew verb “parash”, meaning “separate” or “divide.” [18]  Thus the name “Pharisee” is usually taken to mean “the separated ones.” It may mean that they separated themselves from the common people or that they separated themselves to the study and interpretation of the Law.  Also they would have nothing to do with the Gentiles whom they considered to be “unclean”.  In first century AD Palestine they were one of the power brokers of Jewish society.

In general, the Pharisees in the NT are a sad indictment of religious legalism, sectarianism, traditionalism, isolationism, and formalism.  They began as an important spiritual movement that promised moral renewal, a purging of the nation’s idolatry, and a restoration of national reverence for God’s Law.   However, the Pharisees developed their own body of interpretations, expansions, and applications of the Law that they came to regard as of divine origin.  Mark (7:3) describes these extra-biblical rules as “the tradition of the elders” (NIV) or “old established tradition” (NEB) or “the tradition of their ancestors” (Knox).

 

The Pharisees thought they could reach God’s standards by keeping all the outward rules.  Luke says they “trusted in themselves that they were righteous.” (18:9).  This can easily happen when religious people think God’s will is the same as their list of what they can and cannot do.  Their desire to keep all of God’s laws was commendable, but they put the emphasis on the wrong places so that minor details became a major concern, and they forgot the more important things.  The Pharisees despised “sinners” especially people like tax collectors and prostitutes.  Christians need to remember that they themselves are sinners in God’s eyes, and that Christ died for everyone.

 

 

It is important to make a clear distinction between the gospel and “cultural and spiritual baggage”; otherwise there is the danger of making aspects of one’s culture the gospel message.  Christians need to be aware of popular ideas or cultural norms as well as assembly traditions that would “nullify the word of God.”  There is the deeply dumbed spirit fast bond to loss  unable escape into faith,  or fallen from grace  they have no part in grace … often the word of God is spirit,  not print something many do not grasp for a long time  I believe JESUS LEFT NO WRIT FORTHE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF THE IDOLTRY LATCHED ONTO… TO EASILY , HE LIVES INHIS QUESTIONIS WHEN WILLTHAT TAKE NOTE OF THE NEW …. …THEY WERE TO Be Spirit LED, still foreign??  take the book away what is left??? Will it be a vacuum or an awareness,   to what the inward presence actual is about  1 Corinthians 1-4 do they have any idea what that is composed of  through the exercise of God in us what faith is? Or even looks like?  if a man can do it is not faith ?? There is no glory for God in the practice. sarxism, non  …

 

God loves the impossible, for man, away from the dead conformity to a life apart , there were no books for the most centuries, the spirit was in them and they knew heard,  and known,, tremendous wonders in those of faith in  Languedoc, later on, is open   they were often murdered by the conformists  of the satanic onslaught used to  surpass them , their state religion stop the spirit going today through all the junk added back in  little has changed, few it be???…  it would be wise to know some real history besides terms of assumption  or   minus  the guess a me stuff,  relieve one- self emotionally, charged assumption making void truths  so amazing clear as stated …  voiding the pc’s parrot cage , unreal joke to say the least..loss is huge  …

 

We are not at liberty, as did the Pharisees, to manipulate, distort, rationalize, formalize, externalize, trivialize, or displace it.

However, all these first century errors still exist today.  They remain part of the Christian community where believers try to tame God’s Word with narrow traditions and dogmatic personal opinions.  For example, they may be seen in the church where a leader tyrannizes an entire fellowship with the “weaker brother” argument, yet he will not live in the spirit of Romans chapter 14.  It is the weak believers who need the security of rules and regulations and who are afraid of their freedom in Christ.

 

It Is Easy To Be Lured Into Legalism.

Legalism is a “gospel plus” distortion and deviation of Christianity that is difficult to disprove as it is usually mixed with sound evangelical doctrine.  Legalism, which teaches that a person’s justification [being made right with God] and sanctification [becoming holy like Jesus] depends upon a person’s efforts and obedience to church rules, is an enemy of the gospel of grace. Some people respond to a faith that is not afraid to make heavy demands on its followers.  It is seen as an attractive alternative to some mainstream churches that may lack authority or spiritual vitality. 

Today the keeping of certain assembly rules or ceremonies is sometimes made the condition of salvation and Christian maturity.  The issue is not simply one of grace versus obedience, as some legalists would make of it.  It is fatally easy for we Christians, having begun by simple faith in Christ for salvation, to live the Christian life in our own strength, and by keeping rules, try to make ourselves acceptable to God and to assembly leaders.

 

 Paul makes it very clear that to alter the gospel message in any way is to desert the loving God “who called you by the grace of Christ.”  Other passages in Paul’s writings have “gospel” and “grace” used in the same context, implying that the only channel of divine grace is the “truth of the gospel” (Galatians 2:5, 14.)

In verse 6 Paul uses the Greek “metatitheemi”, Strong’s #3346.  It is translated “removed from” (KJV, RSV) or “turned away from” (JB) or “transferred your allegiance” (Phillips) or “deserting” (NIV, NASB).  It implies the idea of following.  In secular Greek it meant “to bring to, or set in another place; a change of place or change of mind.  The Septuagint translation uses it for removing boundaries, transplanting peoples, or translating from the earth [Hebrews 11:5] as well as for convincing or talking around.”

 

 

 

Quenching the legal; spit !! of satan

Vincent says, “The verb is used in Greek and Roman classical authors of “altering a treaty, changing an opinion, desertion from an army.  Lightfoot renders it: ‘are turning renegades.’” [39]  “The word ‘deserting’ carries with it the idea of changing one’s mind, of a willful forsaking of one’s former loyalty and adoption of another.  The term may be rendered as “abandoning,” “leaving to the side,” or even “going off and forgetting.” [40]

The Greek “tarasso”, Strong’s #5015, is translated “trouble” (KJV) or “unsettle your minds” (NEB) or “confusing” (Exp. Para.) or “disturbing” (NIV).  Thayer defines the word as “to agitate, to make restless, to render anxious or distressed, to perplex the mind by suggesting scruples or doubts.” [41]  A gospel of legalism that adds works to faith can only bring unsettling doubts and confusion because it undermines one’s In verse 7 Paul uses the Greek “metastrepho”, Strong’s #3344, which means “to transform into something of an opposite character.” [42]  Arndt and Gingrich define the word as “to alter, to pervert, to change something into something else, often its opposite.” [43]  It is translated “distort” (NEB, NASB) or “pervert” (NIV, RSV) or “twist and change” (NLB) or “reversing” (Barclay).  The same word is used in Acts 2:20, “the sun shall be turned into darkness” (quoting Joel 2:31).  Bertram also notes that Paul’s opponents turned the gospel into its opposite.[44]  The false teachers were turning the (neb )really nails the spitter,s poisons,, the light of God’s truth into the opposite of the gospel, the darkness of error.

assurance of salvation.  It is the opposite of Christ’s gift of peace.

 

 

The significance of what Paul says comes from the contrast between the two words translated “different” (verse 6) and “another.” (verse 7).  Paul is amazed that the Galatians had embraced a “different” (Greek “heteros”, Strong’s #2087) gospel (verse 6).  In reality, what they have adopted is not “another” (Greek “allos”, Strong’s #243) gospel (verse 7).  Buchsel comments, “heteros” is used for “another gospel”; and “allos” for “which is not another,” i.e., which is no gospel at all but a human teaching.” [45]  Thayer explains “heteros” as “another i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different.” [46]

Paul says that the Galatian drift of apostasy toward “a different gospel” is the acceptance of false teaching.  The Galatians were deceived and were deserting the free gospel of salvation.  Any system of salvation that differs from it is counterfeit.   Since salvation is in Christ by grace alone, the legalistic Galatian emphasis on the idea that one must work for his salvation was definitely a flawed doctrine.  The UBS Handbook Series comments on verse 7, “In some languages it may be necessary to say “to take away the good news about Christ and to put in lies,” or “to substitute false words for true words in the good news about Christ.” [47]  The TEV translates verse 7 as, “Actually, there is no ‘other gospel’.”

To make sure that the Galatians understood the seriousness of the situation, Paul twice says that anyone, even an angel from heaven, who proclaimed any other form of gospel than that which Paul had preached, “let him be accursed.” (KJV) or “devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment.” (Amp. Bible) or “eternally condemned” (NIV).  The Greek word “anathema”, Strong’s #331, means “being given over to divine condemnation.”   Serious charge for the hectate!!!….

 

Twice Paul says that the person in question will be separated from God.  The idea is handing over to God’s judicial wrath. [49]  God delivers whoever preaches a false gospel to destruction.  The NET, (and TEV) says, “Let him be condemned to hell!”  This translation gives the outcome that is implied by this dreadful curse.  It is the strongest possible form of condemnation with eternal consequences.  Like the Galatians we must learn to evaluate our teachers.  The nature of the message validates the messenger, not the outward appearance of the messenger. 

 

In verse 13 Paul uses two different Greek words that the NIV translates as “hypocrisy”.  The first word is “sunupokrinomai”Strong’s #4942, which occurs once in the NT.  It means “to join in pretending or playing a part, join in playing the hypocrite.” [51] The word means literally “to answer from under” i.e. from under a mask as an actor would do on stage while playing a part or role.  Hence “hypokrites” means “actor”.   

The second word is “hupokrisis” “Strong’s # 5272 which gives us our English word “hypocrite”.  Arndt and Gingrich define it as “playing a part, hypocrisy, pretense, outward show.” [52]  Thayer says, the verb means “to make an answer on the stage, to personate anyone, play a part.  Hence to simulate, feign, pretend.” [53]

Vine explains, “Pretending to act from one motive, whereas another motive really inspires the act.  So in Galatians 2:13, Peter with other believing Jews, in separating from believing Gentiles at Antioch, pretended that the motive was loyalty to the Law of Moses, whereas really it was fear of the Judaizers.” [54]

Justified”, the Greek “dikaioo”, Strong’s #1344, a key word in this passage, occurs three times in verse 16.  Justification is an image drawn from the law court.  To be justified is to be declared innocent by the presiding judge.  It is translated as “put right with God” (Barclay; TEV);or “to be declared righteous and put in right standing with God” (Amp. Bible).  It means “to judge, declare, pronounce righteous and therefore acceptable.  It is used respecting God who declares such men as put faith in Christ to be righteous and acceptable to him, and accordingly fit to receive the pardon of their sins and eternal life.” Not by law or the observance of it…

 

 G. Schrenk defines the word as, “acquitted”.  He continues, “The wicked are justified by faith on the basis of God’s gracious action in Christ enacted at the cross.  Justification is a finished work of grace, yet the term “by faith” shows that it is also a continuing present.” [57]  Faith is the means by which we receive justification; faith is not the basis of justification.

 

He describes the consequences of Peter’s actions as “not acting in line with the truth of the gospel.” (NIV verse 14).  The Greek“orthopodeo” Strong’s #3716, means “to walk straight, walk upright, figuratively act rightly, be straightforward.” [55]  Other translations have: “This behaviour  was a contradiction of the truth of the gospel” (Phillips) or “not living up to the truth of the Gospel” (Amp. Bible) or “straying away from the right path which the gospel lays down” (Barclay).  This mistake was related to the very heart of the gospel itself.  After twenty centuries, have we learned this lesson even today.

Paul kept his integrity in Christ; he was able to confront Peter’s hypocrisy and fears because he held firmly to “the truth of the gospel.”  Group pressure is one aspect of the spirit of legalism that seeks a dictatorial and oppressive control over a church.  This problem still exists in many evangelical\pentecostal\charismatic churches. As an a ecclesia Christian there is no institution  but each person  no unholy secret  or esoteric unions to groups  as such unions nor is 501-3 sold I do succumb to the heard instincts , their was no  such condition till after Constantine when endless comprise became the new norm of their day to this day !!!! many are unable to delineate between the most simple of terms -forms ,,,,,,

By the way that process was used when we charge  the word ecclesia to church form simple body to compared to quackism, which is even more deluded    named after sea witch Circe  that is what Tyndale died for ,, he knew the cult forms and would comprise the scripture oh ye temple of Jupiter,,, God bless you Tyndale wise words for deeply replaced the beauty of his people with  ego ,,, 

The word “bewitched” suggests the use of magic, particularly the casting of a spell through the use of the evil eye.  The belief that one person could cast a spell over another is common in many parts of the world, but one must not deduce from this statement that Paul believed in magic.  He is more likely using “bewitched” in a metaphorical sense, and he probably means by it “to pervert,” “to lead astray,” or “to confuse the mind.” 

 

 G. Delling offers a more literal interpretation of “baskaino”.  He says, “This is not an exaggerated metaphor, for behind magic stands the power of falsehood and this has been exercised to do harm to the Galatians.  The dangerous feature is that the Galatians have willingly yielded to these magicians and their influence without realising to what powers of falsehood they were surrendering.” ^[

 

Flesh or Spirit?

In verse 3 Paul makes a sharp contrast between the (Holy) “Spirit”, and “the flesh” (NASB) or “human effort” (NIV) or “your own power” (TEV).  The Greek “sarx” Strong’s #4561, means “human nature apart from divine influence, and prone to sin and opposed to God.  It includes whatever in the soul is weak, low, debased, tending to ungodliness and vice.   It is the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit.” [63]  E. Schweizer notes that the flesh as a wrong disposition away from God becomes a controlling power, and that legal observance is itself a manifestation of ‘sarx’.” [64]

 

The nature of the Colossian heresy is evident from two key words used by Paul to describe it.

The first word “tapinophrosunee”, Strong’s #5012, used in verses 18 and 23, is translated “false humility” (NIV, Phillips) or “self-abasement” (RSV) or “self-mortification” (NEB) or “self-humiliation” (Exp. Para.).  Thayer notes that it is “used of an affected and ostentatious humility” in this context. [69]  Arndt and Gingrich also comment that this humility or modesty can be wrongly directed. [70]  W. Grundmann observes, “the term is a concept in the Colossian heresy and it either means ‘fasting’ or ‘mortification’.” [71]  A humility in which a person takes delight is only pride.

The second word “ethelothreeskia”, in verse 23, Strong’s #1479, is found only here in the NT.  It is variously translated as “self-imposed worship”, (NIV) or “will-worship” (KJV), or “self-imposed devotions” (JB), or “self-made religion or delight in religiousness” (NASB), or “forced piety” (NEB), or “self-willed worship” (Exp. Para.). love the neb super  tey did great job that stage of thr spins  to remove them  dw,  K….

Thayer defines this word as “voluntary, arbitrary worship i.e. worship which one devises and prescribes for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of the faith which ought to be directed to Christ; said of the misdirected zeal and practices of ascetics.”[72]  Arndt and Gingrich define the word as “self-made religion, would-be religion.” [73]

 

 

The dreadful absence endless gossip slander der condemnation, it’s goon  the jack ass of Satan’s ministry be broke by grace!!!  Turned into love like that of  it’s savior

The basis of Christian freedom is the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Therefore test all teaching against who Christ is and what he has done.  Test what is not sure against the sure.  Hence the need to know God’s Word.  Jesus replied to the Sadducees, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Mark 12:24).

Scripturally speaking, the first of these definitions best fits what will be addressed in this article. However, in practice "legalism" has become the principal term of choice for "grace only" advocates to describe the belief that obeying the Law of God is required of believers. It is frequently redefined by those who use it, but "legalism" is generally meant to slander, disparage, and cast doubt upon the beliefs so labeled. Due to the negative connotation of the word, those tagged as "legalists" are immediately put on the defensive regarding their beliefs.

 

For if righteousness come by the law; if a justifying righteousness is to be attained unto by the works of the law, or men can be justified by their obedience to it,

then Christ is dead in vain; there was no necessity for his dying: he died without any true reason, or just cause; he died to bring in a righteousness which might have been brought in without his death, and so his blood and life might have been spared, his sufferings and death being entirely unnecessary; which to say is to cast contempt upon the wisdom, love, and grace of God in this matter, and to offer the greatest indignity to the person, character, sufferings, and death of Christ.

Wherefore it may be strongly concluded, that there is no righteousness by the law of works, nor to be attained that way, otherwise Christ had never died; and that justification is solely and alone by his righteousness. be spirit led ....!!!

moving for ward faith..!!!.

 

Roger Smalling, D.Min

This article corresponds to the book

Joyfully Justified

available in Kindle

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1

A British naturalist who collected animals for zoos, Gerald Durrell, tells how he captured a number of African birds and small mammals.kept them in cages for several weeks. Due to political turmoil, he could not export the animals to Britain and was forced to free them.

He opened their cages to let them go. To his surprise, some refused to leave. They had become comfortable in their cages, nourished and sheltered from predators. He resorted to prodding them out with a stick but the moment he stopped, they went back in.

Durrell was obliged to destroy the cages to prevent the animals from staying. They had lost their taste for freedom.

So it is with some Christians. They prefer the secure confines of rules, only to miss out on a world of adventure.

“Every man harbors a Pharisee in his heart,” observed the radio preacher.  I agree. Remnants of corruption remain as long as we live, and often generate legalism.

Legalism is the assumption we get righteousness by following rules. Like the Galatians, some suppose we are justified by faith but sanctified by law. Paul protests,

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:30

The other day I wanted something. I thought to myself, “I’ve been good lately. God will probably give me what I ask.” A moment later, I realized this thought was atrocious.

I had fallen into the familiar trap of legalism, assuming God would reward me for my own righteousness. “You old Pharisee!,” I thought. “You teach grace and then assume God might bless you on the grounds of your own goodness.”

Why do we relapse into such snares?  None of us escapes entirely the influence of our old nature. A subtle drive for autonomy and self-validation remains.

Our old nature is ego-centered. This feeds legalism. Since God’s law did not originate from the self, man feels the urge to supplement it. We develop new rules apart from those God gave. Urging others to comply is even better since it lends an illusion of authenticity. Our sinful nature considers religious practices acceptable as long as self is in control.

The legalist misses the point: Self is the problem. Attempting righteousness by rules only strengthens our autonomy. This in turn leads to more sin.

Are rules bad? No. However, rules can never produce righteousness. The Ten Commandments are still valid. We sin by breaking them, but they are powerless to make us righteous.

Legalism does nothing to improve carnality. The proof is in the way legalists treat free people.

Reformed legalism

Every Christian movement has its unique brand of legalism. Since grace is the central theme, we would expect the reformed movement to be free of legalism. Some have avoided it. Others, considering themselves “truly reformed,” have fallen headlong into it.

This is a warning. Like a tree, all movements develop branches while maintaining core values. Some branches are fruitful, others sterile. Even within grace theology, legalism exists and some would rob us of our liberty.

Why grace works and legalism does not

Grace succeeds because it is based on a relationship with Christ. He is not only sufficient but also indispensable. Jesus is not a supplement to our righteousness. He IS our righteousness.

Some fear the freedom of grace may lead to a disregard of the divine law. The opposite is true. We find ourselves following Christ more closely, who is always in accord with the divine law. Here’s the biblical pattern:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Titus 2:11

First, grace brings salvation. We do not bring it to ourselves. What then? Does grace say, “I started you on the right path. The rest is up to you.”?

It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, V.12

Once grace brings salvation, it stays around and teaches us godly living. Any who imply that grace is freedom to sin, are calling licentiousness by the wrong name.

When we grow in grace, we become more free yet less libertine. Grace allows us to relish our present acceptance with God, as opposed to the legalistic mere possibility of a future acceptance.

Legalists suppose they have divine authority

The legalist is convinced he is standing firmly on the authority of the divine law. Instead, he has one foot on the law and the other on the remnants of his own corrupt nature. This is slippery ground. Neither foot is planted on the imputed righteousness of Christ.  The sins of pride, self-righteousness and judgmentalism have foothold.

Laws always produce more laws, not more righteousness. They multiply like germs in a Petri dish. This is why Jewish Rabbis, not content with Old Testament law, wrote the Talmud, a set of volumes expanding the law to the size of an encyclopedia.

Legalists imagine they are mature

Freedom is an ambiguous concept, tricky to define. Where does freedom end and license begin? Laws are concrete while principles are ethereal. Children require rules due to their undeveloped faculties. As they mature, they understand the principles.

Paul alluded to this,

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  Galatians 3:24-25 (NKJV)

We can remain children led by a tutor if we choose. Or we may be free, mature adults acting on principle.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans  14:1  

The legalist is a spiritual weakling. Like a straw man propped up by sticks, so the legalist props himself up by petty rules. Though he thinks he strong, he is going nowhere.

Rules are like scaffolding for building a wall. Once the wall is built and can stand on its own, the scaffolding is no longer needed.

Legalists assume strictness is holy

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:  21  “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?  22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20

Religious strictness usually makes things worse. Paul had been a strict Pharisee, so he knew the legalist mindset. Pharisees were detailed about laws. It was the one about murder they overlooked.

More strict equals more sin. Why? Because the power of sin is the law

God’s risk

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13  

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1Peter 2:16

Free from what? From rule-based righteousness. Humanly speaking, God takes the risk that we might abuse our freedom to indulge the flesh. If this were not so, these warnings would not be in scripture. The warnings are proof of how just free we are.

Should we fear we might abuse grace? That’s like a doctor saying, “I’m giving you a prescription but be careful because it might make you forget you are sick.”  This is precisely what the prescription is intended to do.

How does legalism enter the reformed camp?

Some reformed teachers ignore an important principle of biblical interpretation:  the New Testament interprets the Old, not vice versa.

It happens due to a misuse of the idea of covenant. God made a covenant, a kind of agreement, with Abraham. This is the Christian covenant, sometimes called the covenant of grace. Galatians Chapter Three teaches this clearly.

This covenant binds the Old and New Testaments together. Some reformed teachers take this concept further than the apostles intended. Launching from the idea of the unity of the testaments, they drag Old Testament law into Christian living. Such practice is like reading the Bible to the end, then like a rubber ball hitting a wall, bouncing back and getting stuck in Deuteronomy. ALL DONE OUT SIDE FAITH IS SIN ,,, WHAT MAN CAN DO DOES NOT BRING GLORY TO GOD  BUT WHAT GOD DOES IN MAN – 1600 hundred years  wondering? still!!