Words of Comfort: The Law vs. Legalism.

Some people may wonder if using the Law (the Ten Commandments) in evangelism produces legalism. When the Law is used to show a sinner that sin is "exceedingly sinful"—that nothing can commend him to God—he clings to the cross knowing that he is saved by grace and grace alone. This knowledge gives the Christian the understanding that even after a lifetime of good works, fasting, praying, seeking the lost, etc., his "works" don’t commend him to God—he is still saved by grace and grace alone.

However, when the Law isn’t used before the cross, and a sinner simply makes a "decision for Christ," he comes with a lack of understanding about the true nature of sin. After his commitment, he thinks that his good works, his fasting, praying, evangelism, etc., commend him to God. He is the one who thinks that what he eats, what he wears, and what he does become relevant to his Salvation.

He is the one who is liable to say "touch not, taste not, handle not"—the one who becomes "legalistic." Using the Law in evangelism before the cross liberates a new convert from legalism.

http://www.onthebox.us/…/words-of-comfort-law-vs-legalism.h…

dsquare33:


A lot of people in this part of the world don't understand the meaning of grace.'For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves;it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast' Ephesians 2vs8.like you have rigthly said there is alot of touch not taste not, in our churches especially our 'conservative' churches and because there is too much 'spying and condmnation' they cast away that grace, thereby subjecting people to rigorous legalism. That is why you see some christians looking too stern and stoic in nature. For the mere fact that I am under grace does'nt mean I should commit adultery, stealing,keeping malice, harbouring unforgivness , envy.backbitting,taking bribe. I am suppose to hate what the LORD hates and loves what HE loves and how do I do this by walking in the Spirit Galatians 5vs16 'I say then walk in the Spirit and you shall not fufill the lust of the flesh' asking for grace to always obey His will.I remember while I was in a market oneday heard a preacher he was emphasising on women who fix weavons and wearing trousers,I just said how can he be wasting the Message like this instead he should have preach salvation, saving grace and God's enternal love and condemnation he just deviated.The whites who brought the gospel understood Grace in its all fullness nowonder some of them enjoy good relationship with God.

OLAADEGBU:


I agree with most of what you said but I must state that the grace of God teaches us to be sober, righteous and godly in this world.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12).

dsquare33:


To be sober does not mean one have to look forlorn or downcast .To the best of my knowlege it means to be watchful and live our lives as if Christ is coming now,It means we have to be much more conscious of his imminent return and I don't have to look stern and stoic looking to be sober.

OLAADEGBU:


"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children" (Titus 2:1-6).

Sound doctrine teaches us to be sober-minded amongst other things for the sake of our testimony

ifeness:


Any law that cannot be broken is a real law. Can the ten commandments be broken? Yes!!!

OLAADEGBU:


Moses broke them all in one day!

ifeness:


So did Snow white and Prince Charming.

Jesus is Watching You

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shone his flashlight around, looking for valuables, and when he picked up a CD player to place in his sack, a strange, disembodied voice echoed from the dark saying:

"Jesus is watching you".

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off and froze. When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head, promised himself to take a break after the next big score, then flicked the light back on and began searching for more valuables. Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard:

"Jesus is watching you."

Totally rattled, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

"Did you just say that?"

He hissed at the parrot.

"Yes,"

the parrot confessed, then squawked,

"I'm just trying to warn you."

The burglar relaxed.

"Warn me, huh? Who do you think you are any way?"

"Moses,"

Replied the bird.

"Moses?"

the burglar laughed.

"What kind of silly people would name a parrot 'Moses'?"

The bird promptly answered:

"The same kind of people that would name a Rottweiler 'Jesus'! 

OLAADEGBU:


Moses and Jesus brought the law and grace respectively. See how their names brought the fear of God into this godless burglar.

ifeness:


Story book should have been written at the back of the bible

OLAADEGBU:


The Bible is His Story, God's story. Blessed Information before leaving earth.

ifeness:


That is His(european man's)story, what is your story?

A bunch of atheist evolutionists who thought they were scientists, got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. They picked one "scientist" to go and tell God that they no longer needed Him.

God listened patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist finished, God said,

"Very well! How about this? Let's have a man-making contest."

To which the man replied,

"Okay, great!"

But God added,

"Now we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."

The scientist said,

"Sure, no problem"

and bent down and gathered a handful of dust.

God just looked at him and said,

"No, no, no. You have to make your own dust out of nothing!"

End of contest.

davien:


OLAADEGBU is creationism demonstrable?

ifeness:


Who is my maker mr fairy tales teller?

ifeness:


Any law that cannot be broken is a real law. Can the ten commandments be broken? Yes!!!

OLAADEGBU:


If you mean creation science, yes.

Hiswordxray:

So the Nigerian law is not a real law because it can be broken?

ifeness:


Nigerian law isn't perfect is it? As we evolve our laws evolve.

Hiswordxray:

It seems you don't know the different between perfect and real.
Something may be real but not perfect.
So according to your statement Nigeria has no real law?

ifeness:


Mr man! A real law cannot be broken.

Law number 1. You exist and will always do.This is a law that cannot be broken

Law number 2. What you put out is what you get back(Karma) Nothing you can do about that.

Tell me what other laws cannot be broken? Nigerian laws are like the ten commandments that can be broken.

Hiswordxray:

So now you agree that Nigerian laws are similar to the ten commandments, meaning that the ten commandments are also laws?

ifeness:


I do not agree, I know. I know no god is meant to be worshiped just as I know 13 year old girls shouldn't be allowed to be married to pot bellied old men. I also know gay people have the right to life and protection from the govt,not prison.

Hiswordxray:

So what did God did to you that He deserve not to be worshipped?

ifeness:


1. There is no god. Your question requires no answer. Stick to the Op's topic ,don't derail.

Laws and Legalism.

ifeness:

I do not agree, I know. I know no god is meant to be worshiped

davien:


okay, could you list an experiment done demonstrating creationism?

OLAADEGBU:


If you are talking about creationism then that is an ideology but creation science confirms what we have in the Bible. The book of Genesis tells us everything was created by God and this evidence is what we see today we do not see evolution.

Every creature was given the ability to reproduce after its own kind, is that not what we see repeatedly today? Dogs do not produce cats as Darwinian evolution teaches neither do dogs evolve into cats perhaps you've been led to believe that poodles are cats.

Dogs began as dogs and are still dogs. They vary in species from Chihuahuas to Saint Bernards, but you will not find a "dat" or a "cog" (part cat/dog.

davien:


wow...again, the question is can you give me one experiment that verifies creationism....
Or I'll be specific....an experiment that concludes or concedes that ;

A classification scheme such as a "kind" exists...

davien:


Said kinds were products of divine creation..

davien:


Why said kind like tigers and lions can reproduce something viable when they aren't supposed to bee related as claimed by creationism..

davien:


How the earth is 6000 years old....

Can you do that?