Going to the Woodshed....Good!

Has there been a time recently when you were called legalistic for declaring God's commands?

Legalism is following man's rules that God never made, obedience to God is obeying what HE wrote in His word.

Far too many people are assigning the word "legalism" to obedience to Christ, as though they think the Bible is just full of subjective suggestions. The Bible is full of commands that God expects believers to love and follow.

It is quite easy to discern the difference between legalism and obedience. Too many people call it legalism when we preach the principles of God to be followed. It is not legalism to obey God and to expect other believers to do the same.

John 14:15-16 "15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

God did not command us to keep His commandments, He said we will be cause we have been changed into a new creation. Those that refuse to listen to Biblical principles most often have never been born again.

Those who are legalists make all kinds of rules and ideas God never gave and fight to intimidate others into compliance.

Adding to the word of God is very serious and so is detracting from it.

1 Corinthians 4:6 "6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another."

Deuteronomy 4:2
"2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.:"

Revelation 22:18-19
"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book."

Proverbs 30:5-6
"Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him."

Deuteronomy 12:32
"Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it."

Mark 7:13
"thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that."

One of the modern traditions is the idea that one can sin all they want and still be saved. Those who love the Lord don't want to sin, when they fall they are ashamed and return to obedience after confessing their sin. They do not defend sin, they may deny it temporarily but they will not fight bitterly to defend that which they know grieves God.

1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."

A believer in Christ does not lose their salvation but if they sin God will take them to the woodshed for a spanking, sometimes a harsh spanking.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"