Featured Go, And Sin No More?

Legalism is a problem...but I think that liberalism is a worse problem.

 

Legalism and license (liberalism) are the two ends of the flesh continuum. They are lived out in the flesh. Legalism is trying to be righteous and please God by keeping the law. License is rebelling against the law.

When we are saved by grace through faith, we are lifted off that continuum to a life in the Spirit. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). "Those who are led by the Spirit are God’s sons" (Romans 8:14).

Paul addresses this in Galatians 3. He criticizes them for trying the live the Christian life in the flesh by keeping the law. He said that they had begun in the Spirit. In verse 3, he asks them, “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” They were trying to live the Christian life and experience sanctification by jumping back down to that flesh continuum, but the Christian life can ONLY be lived as we walk by the Spirit—according to the Holy Spirit’s leading by His power!

The book of Acts tells about this new kind of life. The apostles lived filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. We are told to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), so it must be possible. In fact, the KEY to not fulfilling the desire of the flesh is to walk (live) by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) , surrendered to Him, filled with and controlled by Him.

 

There is nothing wrong with being righteous, but there is something wrong with sinning:

Luke 15:7

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

And why did Jesus say "a sinner that repenteth"? And why is there joy, if he wasn't lost sheep?

 

Practically everyone in the world; as well as many Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, cults...

There is a plethora of teachings out there that amount to legalism.

 

Go and sin no more is a statement, people go astray trying to change the meaning of statements in the bible. Cheers!

 

That's not an accurate statement. Legalism would believe that you must be without sin to go to heaven. But Catholics have repentance processes. Mormons do too and believe they must obey commandments and endure to the end to inherit the highest degree of glory, but God has compassion on sinners. That is not legalism. It is in good standing with bible teachings from Jesus himself.

le·gal·ism
/ˈlēɡəˌlizəm/

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noun
noun: legalism; plural noun: legalisms

1. excessive adherence to law or formula.
   "this petty legalism encouraged more to flee"
   • Theology
     dependence on moral law rather than on personal religious faith.
     "stress obedience apart from faith and you produce legalism"

 

I guess they are going to accomplish God's purpose... if Jesus really is the Word of God... no?

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

But... what God spoke to Adam in the Garden was also His Word, was it not? This has been from day one the option provided to man: to obey God or not? What is God's purpose in what he said to the woman? "Go, and sin no more."

Quite similar it appears to what he told Adam in the Garden:

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen 2:17

To Adam God said, "don't eat" whereas to the woman Jesus said, "don't sin"!

In both cases God did want them to choose to obey... The difference perhaps is that Adam was definitely told what the result of his
disobedience would be: "thou shalt surely die".

Maybe he did not say that to the woman because she was already dead... but he was directing her toward a way of Hope.
Could Jesus have said to the woman, "don't eat from that wrong tree any more, but rather eat my flesh and drink my blood" and meant exactly the same thing? What is sin?

 

I would define legalism as believing that you are saved by works; or, by the works of the law.

Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, and the cults fall under this category, as far as I'm concerned.

As for your statement of what legalism is, that is not legalism.

For in the truth of the gospel, we must repent and begin to walk consistently according to the Spirit who is given to all who are forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. If we don't move on to sanctification after having been justified, our justification ought to be in question. For we are justified when we "turn from our wicked ways" (Ezekiel 33:11-20, 2 Chronicles 7:14).

 

We have a definition of legalism for a reason. So that we are all on the same page and understanding. You can't simply make up your own definition and then claim different denominations exhibit legalism. Then it's a false accusation. Cheers.

 

So, you're saying that we have to go by your definition in order for it to be valid....

 

It's not my definition, do a search, it comes up.

 

Ah, I didn't answer THE question.

What do you mean by "creative power"? When God said, "Let there be light," there was light, which is matter. IOW, matter called light was created. What matter can possibly be created when the words "Go, and sin no more" are spoken?

 

But what about those who think they can improve their standing with God if they can better control their behavior? Their thoughts?

Those who believe that if they commit sin that this breaks fellowship with God, until such time as they "make it right"?

Much love!

 

We are freed from the power of sin and the flesh through the death of Christ. No one who is born again need sin ever again any more, and no one who is born again will ever be guilty of sin. But this will work out in our lives according to our faith, our trust that these things are true.

Be it to you according to your faith. Trust in Jesus, that He has made a full and completely reconciliation to restore us back to God.

Much love!