3-13: Overcoming- Legalism

Memoirs of Abiding

Today we will talk about overcoming legalism, not by our own power but through abiding.

Where does it come from and why is so common in church? It comes from the same place that we have been talking about with everything else, it fills a hole within us.

What is legalism? It is overriding need or desire that people do things the way you want them. Someone would say absolute passivism is the only way, no matter what the circumstance, even self-defense. That is a legalistic viewpoint.
How does it affect us?

Mindset?

If I choose this group of rules, this legalistic mindset. Why do I continue to fail? It is obvious because that is nature of mankind apart of God. We can only be healthier and healthier with by God in the lead. By letting go of these rules and stepping into abiding with Him, we can be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). We can only be transformed by walking in an abiding relationship with God.

Belief in self?

It is one of the biggest roadblocks in their faith in Jesus. They feel a sense of self-deprecation, shame, and failure by not fulfilling all these additional mandates. They miss what it means to be in a truly abiding and loving relationship with our wonderful God.

Belief or treatment of others (Judgement)

We can see this in the Biblical examples of the pharisees, as they held others in contempt when they did not follow all the rules.

Relationship with God

“Never good enough”, works based theology defines their very core. Works based theology, is “I always having to do stuff to either earn my righteousness or prove that what God did provide was valid.” They often feel “I’m so unworthy and filled with shame that I better earn some goodness and grace.”

What are the destructive ends to this thought process in our lives?

All of them are huge, because of the nature of legalism. If we don’t turn from legalism, it’s destructive in that it keeps us from receiving the wonder and beauty of God. We don’t hear the voice of God, we don’t know the presence of God, and we don’t see Him at work in our lives because we have put our hope and faith in legalism. So the most important is the relationship with God, as the rest are impacted by our relationship with God. It prevents John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” from occurring. It blocks this, and it affects everything else.