17 July 2016
Two-Minute Features | 24 July 2016 | 10 July 2016

Legalism Keeps Track of Past Sins (TMF:455)

Friday, July 22, 2016
Peace to Live By: Legalism Keeps Track of Past Sins (TMF:455) - Daniel Litton
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       Second, with a legalistic attitude the Christian keeps track of past sins, and ends up repeatedly accusing him or herself of those sins. Keeping track of our past sins and continuing to feel bad about them is not God’s will for our lives. The Apostle Paul stated, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you” (Philippians 3:13-15, ESV). So, we are to forget bad things from our past, and move forward by the renewing of our minds in a new way of thinking. Really, with the Christian there is no regret. I often am amazed at how fellow brothers and sisters recount negative past events like tombstones in a cemetery. This is not supposed to be what we are doing. Nor should fellow Christians keep track of others sins and create sort of an ‘FBI’ file on the person. That also is wrong.

We Feel Like We Never Measure Up (TMF:454)

Thursday, July 21, 2016
Peace to Live By: We Feel Like We Never Measure Up (TMF:454) - Daniel Litton
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       With legalism, we feel like a never measure up to God’s standard. But, we, as Christians have been forgiven of all offenses at the moment of conversion, and therefore, have complete acceptance from God. The Apostle Paul talked about this in Romans chapter 3. He pointed out that we cannot gain acceptance from God by following a list of rules and regulations. Our goal, as Christians, it to try to have the best heart we can, to want to do what is right because we love God, not because we feel God demands we do right. Jesus said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, ESV). This doesn’t mean to be legalistic monks, but to have a right ‘heart’ before God—to do things for the ‘right’ reasons, not for legalistic reasons. Legalism sucks the life out of what we do, so that we no longer enjoy doing what we are doing.

Legalism Begets Hypocrisy & Slavery (TMF:453)

Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Peace to Live By: Legalism Begets Hypocrisy & Slavery (TMF:453) - Daniel Litton
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       First, we note that legalism begets hypocrisy and slavery. The Pharisees were more concerned about their performances, rather than the actual condition of their hearts. They were more concerned about feeling good about their performances, rather than having God feel good about their actions. And this is where pride comes into the picture. Legalism is practicing a mode of prideful religion rather than living free in Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, ESV). But legalism is slavery. A person cannot gain acceptance from God by following a list of rules. Perhaps the most famous thing Jesus said about the legalism of the Pharisees was, “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger” (Matthew 23:4, ESV). This undoubtedly is at the heart of legalism. To put unreasonable burdens on others while not doing them ourselves is the heart of hypocrisy. With legalism, we feel like a never measure up to God’s standard. But, we, as Christians have been forgiven of all offenses at the moment of conversion, and therefore, have complete acceptance from God.

The Religious Leaders & Their Legalism (TMF:452)

Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Peace to Live By: The Religious Leaders & Their Legalism (TMF:452) - Daniel Litton
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       It is true that not every one of us struggles with this kind of problem—that of being legalistic. For some, this sermon is going to hit more at home, but for others it may not feel as convicting. I want us to turn to Mark chapter 7. If we go back to Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had a lot of problems in their lives like the Shakers, and one of them was definitely legalism. They suffered from having legalistic mindsets. Jesus talked about this from time to time during his earthly ministry. So, turn in your Bibles or tap in your Bible apps on your digital devices, and let’s go to Mark chapter 7, and verses 6 through 7. It is written of Jesus, “And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition” (Mark 7:6-9, ESV).

Intro to Living Free of Legalism (TMF:451)

Monday, July 18, 2016
Peace to Live By: Intro to Living Free of Legalism (TMF:451) - Daniel Litton
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       Some years ago I was up in New England on vacation with my dad and we are looking for some historical site-seeing places to visit. We made our way up into Canterbury, New Hampshire, arrived at the Shaker Village, and they took us into a small room before touring it to tell us all about the Shakers. My, let me tell you, it didn’t take long in listening to the people talking before I realized that this village used to be the site of a cult—who identified themselves as Christian. The Shakers were bound in slavery. Their ways were overbearing, and they didn’t live in the freedom that Christ offers to people. They had created their own way—which wasn’t God’s way, and followed a system of religion that certainly only brought spiritual death to its followers. They had created things as commands from God that he never made commands. Instead of walking by God the Holy Spirit, they made a mockery of him. There was no faith in the true God, and there couldn’t have been any real peace. Now, hopefully none of us are living in the type of bondage the Shakers had, but legalism still can and does affect our lives, and if left unchecked, could lead to more serious issues.