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Article Archive |
2007
Lawlessness, Legalism & Love
by Jim Morris
Three spiritual forces pull at the hearts of believers in Christ—lawlessness, legalism, and love. Actually, lawlessness and legalism are just two sides of the same coin. They are both man's crafty attempts to get around the two great commandments to love God and to love our neighbor.
For example, in the life of Cain, lawlessness and legalism were combined without love. “Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.'” (Genesis 4:4-7). Rejecting God's commands (lawlessness) and making up his own rules (legalism) without faith (love), Cain sinned and was rejected by God. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). John summarizes the result of legalism and lawlessness in Cain. “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:10-12)
LAWLESSNESS disregards the revealed laws of God by SUBTRACTING from them. Lawless followers maintain that they love God but do not keep His commandments. They find ways to spiritualize, trivialize, modernize, compromise, change or reject the word of God. They say, “In today's culture, we now know that God's word does not really mean what it says.”
LEGALISM disregards the revealed laws of God by ADDING to them. Legalistic followers maintain that they love God but do not keep His commandments. They find ways to create endless, burdensome, manmade rules, rituals and regulations that invalidate the word of God. Jesus said to legalists, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9).
LOVE keeps the laws of God in creative, righteous and living ways. Loving followers of Jesus maintain that they love God and keep His commandments. They value God's word and keep it without adding to it (legalism) or taking away from it (lawlessness). After all, Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). In New Testament times, the apostles promoted such a view. May we also continue steadfastly in love and “in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42). Amen!
02-21-07
# 8
