LAWLESS OR LEGALISTIC; THAT IS THE QUESTION!
I believe I strive to be neither lawless or legalistic. I believe to be lawless, is to be one who is heedless to the law. I believe to be legalistic is one who observes the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. A legalist would say; "if you're too sick to be baptized you are going to hell." A legalist would say; "that a woman is absolutely not allowed to speak in church." A legalist is someone who takes everything to the extreme.

In the Old Testament God's law was to teach the people they were sinners and He gave them the law so they would be able to quickly identify right from wrong. The New Testament gave us Jesus Christ. He was our scape goat, propitiation for our sins and/or a replacement for our sins. In other words Jesus became sin so that we could become free of sin.

Webster says; to be lawless is to be in violation to the law. You could say they are lawbreakers which is also one who violates the law. Webster says; to be a legalist is to be an advocate of legalism and legalism is to pay strict adherence to the law.

One of the saying's within the church is; "Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent!" It is also said; "We agree to disagree!" But I like; "God said it, I believe it and that settles it!" Many thoughts run rampant regarding how we should interpret the Scriptures and/or the law. I believe if we are patient and listen long enough, God reveals the truths to us. We will never learn all that we are capable of, even with God as our teacher.

I am not here to convince anyone that I am the last word in any of these theological discussions. I am not here to convince you of anything except that I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God. I am here to cause you to think about what you think you know. There is so much more for you to learn about our Savior. About Heaven! About the process of becoming Christlike or a Christian. So much more!

"Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness!" 1 John 3:4 Jesus says; "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved!" Matthew 24:12

In Philippians 3:4-8 Paul talks about all the things he was found blameless in, even to the point of being righteous in the law. His legalistic views? He counted them all as loss for the sake of Jesus Christ. We bind ourselves with our views when in fact it is written; "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!" 2 Corinithians 3:17

"Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslave's of God." 1 Peter 2:16 "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word in the statement, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 Let's examine this last verse. Christian liberty is salvation by grace and comes only through Jesus Christ; Liberty is freedom from the law and it's curse; from the fear of death; from sin; from the yoke of the Old Testament. But liberty must never be used as a cloak for sin. It is not a license to sin! Our total liberty is in subjection to Christ. I read that the Christian finds his liberty when he is in bondage to Jesus Christ.

My friend, Iona Kay tells me that she heard a great sermon by Al Young one time, about the church. "The theme was that the church is within all of the different denominations." I believe where Jesus Christ is preached, God is the judge not you or me. When God's will is being done, it doesn't matter what our church is called, God is still the judge. Let us become free in Christ! "For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people." Psalm 149:4a Jane Ann