The Enemy of Grace
“There are some people in our church who teach that I must adhere to the requirements of the Old Testament Law, especially from the Book of Leviticus. Can a person be saved or grow in Christ by adhering to the law?”
Some believers, even some who are in church leadership, believe that religious practices, such as saying the right words or doing the right acts, will make us acceptable or help us grow in Christ-likeness. However, works of righteousness can never earn a personal relationship with God, nor is it based on your church membership; neither does living a clean, moral life merit salvation; not even doing miraculous acts. When death comes, the born-again Christian will go to heaven because he is trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ; the person who is trusting in the saving power of his own goodness will be lost.
The Bible clearly teaches these truths: (1) "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 2:8-9); (2) "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" (Titus 3:5). The Bible also says, (3) "To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness" (Romans 4:5). We must accept salvation as a gift; it cannot be earned. Regarding the law, the Bible teaches that: “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law” (Galatians 3:25). And, “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).
Trying to be good enough or right enough or holy enough through our own effort does not work. It is only in believing in Jesus’ provision for our sins and living each day in His power that we too can boldly agree: “The righteous will live by faith” (Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38).
There have always been and always will be religious men, women and groups both inside and outside the church whose purpose is to destroy the very life and freedom Jesus died to provide. In Jesus’ day, there were many such religious leaders divided into many groups. Two of the most recognized groups were the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees carefully followed both the Old Testament laws and the oral traditions handed down through the centuries. The Sadducees believed that only the first five books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy) to be God’s Word. There was no love lost between these two groups, but they found common ground in their struggle against God for they both despised the life and teaching of Jesus. John the Baptist criticized them because they were hypocritical, legalistic, and taught the letter of the law while ignoring the Spirit of the law.
By the time Jesus came onto the scene, the Pharisees had taken the basic 10 Commandments and had added more than 600 other laws. One of the Pharisees, an "expert in the law," asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest law?” Quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40). By fulfilling these two commands, Jesus said that a person keeps all the others. These two commands summarize the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament moral laws.
What is the Law?
In the Old Testament there were three categories of laws:
1. Ceremonial Law: This kind of law relates specifically to Israel's worship (see, for example, Leviticus 1:1-13). Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ. Therefore, these laws were no longer necessary after Jesus' death and resurrection. The ceremonial law prepared people for Christ's coming. With Christ's death and resurrection, that system was no longer needed. Ceremonial laws no longer bind born-again Christians, but the principles behind them - to worship and love a holy God - still apply.
2. Civil Law: This type of law dictated Israel's daily living (see Deuteronomy 24:10-11, for example). Because modern society and culture are so radically different, some of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. At times, Paul asked Gentile Christians to follow some of these laws, not because they had to, but in order to promote unity. Born-again Christians are no longer bound by civil laws, but the principles behind them should serve as a guide for our conduct.
3. Moral Law: This sort of law is the direct command of God (see the Ten Commandments Exodus 20:1-17). It requires strict obedience. It reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies to us today. Through Christ we can fulfill the moral law as we walk in His Holy Spirit. Born-again Christians are to obey this moral law not to obtain salvation, but to live in ways pleasing to God.*
Throughout church history, many have used the Book of Leviticus as a basis for supporting their personal soapbox regarding holiness. In truth, divisions, church splits, and whole denominations have been born from a misunderstanding and misrepresentation of who God is. We must be very, very careful of those who use the text of Leviticus as a basis for applying or adding to the completed work of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul confronted this issue many times. Legalists in the church, called Judaizers, taught that certain Old Testament laws were still binding upon Christians (just like legalists today). We began our Christian life in the Spirit and spiritual maturity, or sanctification, is by the same Holy Spirit.
“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” (Galatians 3:1).
The Apostle Paul then goes on to tell us that Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. Christ came to set us free to live unselfishly!
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
A twisting of the truth is more difficult to spot than an outright lie. There will always be people who pervert the message of God’s grace. Either they do not understand what the Bible teaches, or they are uncomfortable with the truth as it stands.
Beware of people who say that you need more than simple faith in Christ to be saved. When people set up additional requirements for salvation, they deny the power of Christ's death on the Cross (Galatians 3:1-5). Regardless of supposed spiritual maturity, wisdom, or religious training, it is wrong to put a burden of law keeping on another believer. Stand against those who would enslave you or others with rules, methods, or special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ.
Once and for all eternity settle the issue that you can't be saved or grow in Christ-likeness by keeping the Old Testament law, even the Ten Commandments. The law serves as a guide to point out your need to be forgiven. Christ fulfilled the obligations of the law for you. We must turn to Him to be saved. He alone can make us right with God.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free - Live Christ Deliberately!
Doug Morrell
Director, CORE Discipleship Group Ministries
http://www.coregroups.org
admin@coregroups.org
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Copyright 2004 by Doug Morrell, CORE Discipleship Group Ministries, http://www.coregroups.org. You may copy this article for free and distribute as long as you do not change the content, make sure this copyright statement is included, and you distribute for free. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. |
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