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Editors
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LEGALISM OR TRUE HOLINESS
As Christians, we often struggle
identifying and living out true holiness. Until we come to really understand
what true holiness is those who see legalism as the only way to attain our goal
will confront and perhaps confuse us. Legalism is an ingrained attitude of
self-righteousness. Legalists often look down on others that act or believe
differently than they do. An example is found in Luke
18:10-14: Jesus told this parable, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the
other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank
you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like
this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But
the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but
beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that
this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone
who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles
himself will be exalted.” The Pharisee had an ego so big all he could pray about was himself while looking down on the tax collector. This comparison
made him feel good and quite satisfied with himself.
Legalism provides a false-sense of comfort and safety in that one does not have
to think and make decisions for themselves. All one
has to do is live by the rules already established for them. If you stay within
the boundaries of the legalistic fences, you are looked upon as holy.
When someone has been in bondage to a legalistic group or
fellowship, having been subjected to strict rules of conduct, and then
something happens that makes them recognize that this is not the way to true holiness, it can unfortunately have a negative affect on
them. Many after freeing themselves from an oppressive environment want nothing
to do with religion whatsoever. “Being
burnt once is enough” is their attitude. They may go out into the world and
in a while the world rubs off on them and their newly found liberty soon
becomes license to do as they please.
Satan will work fulltime to encourage them to pursue this course of
life.
On the other hand, many who are liberated from this type
of legalistic bondage experience the exhilaration of the fresh air of freedom.
They can now go to God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit guide them to true
holiness. They will find joy in fully embracing Jesus’ words in John 8:31-32: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then
you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They will realize that no amount of effort or
works of their own will gain them true holiness and Christ likeness.
True holiness
comes by letting God work out His good purpose in our lives. The Apostle Paul
tells us in Philippians
2:12-13, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not
only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your
salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to
will and to act according to his good purpose.” God wants us to live lives that reflect true
holiness that brings praise to His Holy Name, but we can only do that if we are
obedient and pliable to His will.
Attaining true holiness can
be painful at times when God reveals to us some hidden sin, perhaps a bad
habit, which we have tried to rationalize away. May we have the courage to pray
and really mean the words of David found in Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my
heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.”
Sometimes it is only through the pain of a
pricked conscience that we can experience liberation. Revealment brings truth.
Truth opens the door to repentance. Repentance leads forgiveness. Forgiveness
sets us free of any burden of guilt. How blessed we are to have the provision
found in 1 John 1:9 given to us by a loving Father: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
In Christ, there should be no load of guilt. If we
experience the burden of guilt and it is an anchor in our Christian walk
towards true holiness, then we have not taken advantage of 1 John 1:9. It is
either that or we do not believe God’s provision of forgiveness and are instead
believing the “father of lies,” our adversary and God’s, Satan.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, it says, “This is the will of God, your
sanctification…” Sanctification is the
work that God is doing in us in order to bring us into conformity to our Lord
Jesus (Romans
E. Weeks