|
HOUSMAIL HM052 15
February 2000 LOVING JESUS IS NOT LEGALISM! One of the great discoveries of the truly regenerate Christian
heart, is that the secret of obedience and victory over temptation and sin,
is to LOVE JESUS more! "If you
love me you WILL keep my commandments". (John 14:15) "He who
does not love me does not keep my commandments". (John 14:24) It is a sad fact that, in this Laodicean age of the Church, (Revelation 3:14-22) the term
"LEGALISM" has become an epithet, levelled indiscriminately, and
often SLANDEROUSLY, in an attempt to discredit true believers who dare to
emphasise the importance of the words of Jesus about obedience. And the
epithet is frequently accompanied by other accusations, such as "DENIAL
OF GRACE" and "SALVATION BY WORKS". Why is this so? Why should so many who claim to have received
the GRACE OF GOD, be so resistant to the scriptural call to STRIVE for
HOLINESS ..... without which none of us can hope to see God? (Hebrews 12:14) I do not ask this next question to become a judge over others.
But it must be asked ..... and each of us must answer it individually, for
ourselves. Could it be possible that resistance to teaching about obedience
to Jesus, is actually a symptom of a deep spiritual problem in the hearts of
the accusers? If
we listen carefully to Jesus, that would certainly seem to be the answer!
Read those two verses quoted above, and those which follow below. Read them
carefully and prayerfully. They are words from a book inspired by God and
written for our learning! "By this we
may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who says
"I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth
is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly LOVE FOR GOD is
perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides
in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:3-6) It is NOT LEGALISM to love Jesus enough to obey Him. It is NOT LEGALISM for those who love Jesus, to talk amongst
themselves about the meaning of obedience. It is NOT LEGALISM to encourage others to love Jesus and obey
His commandments. ALL OF THOSE THINGS
ARE LOVE IN ACTION! "Why do you
call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46) "For as the
body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26) It is NOT LEGALISM to believe that obedience to the way of life
described in the commandments of Jesus, is an essential and non-negotiable
product of FAITH in the Gospel. "(Paul)
declared ..... that they should repent and turn to God and PERFORM DEEDS
WORTHY OF THEIR REPENTANCE." (Acts 26:20-21) THAT IS FAITH IN
ACTION! It is NOT LEGALISM to call others to the same repentance that we
have experienced. And it is NOT LEGALISM to contrast the sins which separate men from
God, with the good works which will surely follow, when men truly believe and
repent. "REPENTANCE
and forgiveness of sins SHOULD BE PREACHED in his name to all nations." (Luke 24:47) It is NOT LEGALISM to name the sins from which men must repent, in
order to receive GRACE. "How shall they hear without a preacher". (Romans 10:14) Repentance is the first
word in the Gospel! WE CANNOT PREACH THE
GOSPEL EFFECTIVELY, WITHOUT USING IT! "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". (Matthew 4:17) "Just so, I
tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who REPENTS than over
ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) "Many of those
who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and
some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like
the brightness of the firmament; and those who TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, like
the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:2-3) Allon |