Posted on 04/17/2018 6:36:56 PM PDT by metmom
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8).
Legalism can’t produce a pure heart.
By the time Jesus arrived, Israel was in a desperate condition spiritually. The Jewish people were in bondage to the oppressive legalism of the Pharisees, who had developed a system of laws that were impossible to keep. Consequently, the people lacked security and were longing for a savior to free them from guilt and frustration. They knew God had promised a redeemer who would forgive their sins and cleanse their hearts (Ezek. 36:25-27), but they weren't sure when He was coming or how to identify Him when He arrived.
The enormous response to John the Baptist's ministry illustrates the level of expectancy among the people. Matthew 3:5-6 says, "Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins." The uppermost question in everyone's mind seemed to be, "How can I enter the kingdom of heaven?"
Jesus Himself was asked that question by many people in different ways. In Luke 10:25 a lawyer asks, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" In Luke 18:18 a rich young ruler asks exactly the same thing. In John 6:28 a multitude asks, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Nicodemus, a prominent Jewish religious leader, came to Jesus at night with the same question, but before he could ask it, Jesus read his thoughts and said, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
As devoutly religious as those people might have been, they would remain spiritually lost unless they placed their faith in Christ. That's the only way to enter the kingdom.
Still today many people look for relief from sin and guilt. God can use you to share Christ with some of them. Ask Him for that privilege and be prepared when it comes.
Suggestions for Prayer
Pray for those enslaved to legalistic religious systems. Be sure there is no sin in your life to hinder God's work through you.
For Further Study
Read Galatians 3.
Why did Paul rebuke the Galatians? What was the purpose of the Old Testament law?
Studying God’s Word ping
Best thing that ever happened to me was when the bondage of legalism was broken in 1973. We had legalism drilled into us since we were small kids.
When my mom was on her deathbed she cried to her “preachers” that she was scared to die as “I’m afraid I have not done enough!”
I wanted to yell, “It is not what YOU have done for Christ, It is what Christ has done for YOU!”
They assured her she had “done enough” which causes me to wonder how THEY knew she had “done enough.”
“does this sound like enslavement?”
The article is not addressing God’s law but manmade rules. The religious leaders had added many rules, regulations, and procedures to the Law of God.
Mark 7:8
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.
Sometimes these manmade rules actually prevent people from obeying God’s Law.
Jesus kept the law. The Jewish Christians in the New Testament continued to keep the Law. Gentile Christians learned and followed moral principles from the Law without converting to Judaism or becoming obligated to keep ceremonial laws, such as circumcision. Civil law was followed by all Christians according to the laws of the land. This included Gentiles Christians who were in the land of Israel.
It sounds like a heart changed by God’s redemption, one that desires God and delights in Him without feeling obligated to do works out of fear of retribution or to earn God’s favor
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