Legalism, Licentiousness And Liberty

Jonathan Heng Ministries

Legalism, Licentiousness And Liberty

April 23, 2022

The church of Jesus Christ often swings to extremes – parts of it are legalistic, which is attempting to attain righteousness and holiness by conforming to rules and regulations, as well as performing outward religious works and ordinances. Yet, there are other segments who are licentious or lascivious, which is using God’s grace as a license to live carnal lifestyles. Whether Christians lean towards legalism or licentiousness, some of us reflect these mind-sets and behaviours outrightly. Others are more subtle. Also, there are some preachers who teach false doctrines and heresies. Others mix some truth in with error. We are to be firm and take a strong stand against such deception. We need a Biblical balance of God’s law and grace. It is grace that empowers us to live a Spirit-filled life. It is grace that enables us to be free from the law of sin and death.

For us to understand and apply the foundation doctrine of righteousness and victory we have by faith in Jesus Christ, we can learn much from the writings of the Apostle Paul given under inspiration by the Holy Spirit, such as the book of Romans and the book of Galatians, among other epistles. We can see Paul, who once persecuted the church, now preaches the gospel of grace. We see Paul reproving Peter, a fellow apostle, for reverting to law. We also see Paul’s warnings against the works of the flesh and lasciviousness. These are examples and exhortations for us, to walk in true liberty of God’s grace, in order to avoid the dangers of legalism and licentiousness. We need a revelation of the New Covenant. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) and the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19), in order for us to experience His favour and freedom. We are neither to be legalistic nor licentious, but to stand fast in the liberty of Jesus Christ, on the basis of what He has done on the cross, to set us free from the bondage of the law and the arm of flesh.

One of the questions Christians ask is, “Since we are under grace, should we keep the law?” In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “law” appears over 500 times. In some other translations, it occur more than 600 times. In the Bible, the word, “law” has a number of definitions and applications.

In the Old Testament, the word “law” primarily and most prominently refers to the Law of God given to Moses comprising three parts, namely, moral, ceremonial and civil, with the moral part which includes the Ten Commandments.

In the New Testament, the word “law” is used in other contexts and meanings. For example, in Romans 7:22 to 25, we see the various “laws” that are being alluded to, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Then in Romans 8:2, we read, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." In these verses, we see that there are:

· The law of God,

· The law of my mind,

· The law of sin and death, and

· The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Furthermore, there are other types of spiritual laws or principles, if you will, such as:

· The law of faith mentioned in Romans 3:27,

· The law of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7,

· The law of Christ in Galatians 6:2, and

· The law of liberty in James 1:25.

These applications give us the blueprint for living a victorious Christian life.

Alright, to answer the question, “Since Christians are under grace, should we keep the law?” The issue of law and grace has been a contentious subject in the church. Now, when Jesus came, we no longer have to observe the ceremonial laws, rituals and sacrifices of the Old Testament. As far as salvation and sanctification are concerned, it is all by grace, not of works or law. We cannot mix law and grace. The law cannot justify and sanctify us. True faith is having a relationship with Jesus, not religion. It is concerned with “being”, not “doing”. However, out of a living relationship with the Lord, we will produce good works and be obedient to moral laws. The love for God is our source and motivation. We have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, to be Christ-like and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

In our fallen world, we are also to respect civil laws, which are necessary to protect the freedom of people and punish offenders. Without law and order, society will be chaotic. As Christians, we keep God’s moral law and commandments not to earn or merit our salvation. Yes, we are saved by grace and delivered from the law, but grace is not lawlessness. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts that fulfills the law. We walk in His Word and His ways, to lead Godly lives. Not in the letter of the law, but by grace through faith. Not in our own self-effort and strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. External laws and commandments are meant to be a schoolmaster (or, it could also mean, custodian or guardian) to bring us to Jesus Christ. Only Jesus has ever kept the demands of the law fully and completely. Outward piety cannot remove our sins. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and minds, as we put our trust in the Lord and His finished work on the cross, that justifies and sanctifies us.

Today, there’s so much news concerning racism. However, we Christians can be guilty of a number of “ -isms”, namely:

· Legalism

· Asceticism

· Galatianism

· Sectarianism

· Antinomianism

We have already touched on legalism just now, which is attempting to be righteous by observing the law and performing religious works.

Now, closely related to legalism is asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial. Now, please do not misunderstand. Denying oneself, and taking up the cross and follow Jesus is Biblical. However, when we reflect a holier-than-thou attitude in the eyes of others, we fall into spiritual pride and self-righteousness.

Next, there is a subtle error that we could be guilty of, which is called Galatianism. This term is derived based on a prevalent situation in the Galatian churches when Paul wrote the epistle then, and still is among segments of the Body of Christ today. In essence, Galatianism means that we are saved by grace, and then kept by law and works. Now, this is subtle and often cloak in spirituality. For example, when we think that it’s our self-effort in more praying, more fasting and more studying of God’s Word that makes us holy, we fall into the deception of Galatianism. Now, all these spiritual disciplines are very important, but they must be based on a loving relationship with the Lord, and not done in a dry, mechanical and fleshly way.

Also, we are to beware of another ‘ -ism’: denominationalism or sectarianism. While it can be a blessing to belong to a particular church, denomination or ministry, when we begin to esteem our group as superior to others in the Body of Christ, it becomes spiritual elitism, which is pride. The spirit of exclusivity must die. We must never boast in our accomplishments or traditions, but we exalt Jesus Christ, the precious Lamb of God! We glory in the cross of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation! (Romans 1:16)

One more “ -ism” that we will cover is a theological word called “antinomianism”, which means, “anti-law” or “against the law”. This is the opposite of legalism. People who promote “antinomianism” teaches that since we are under grace, it does not matter how we live or behave. Often, antinomianism is expressed by being “licentious” and “lascivious”. This is taking the grace of God to extreme. This is false doctrine which will destroy the soul. While we are dead to the law, the true grace of God does not mean that we are to be lawless.

In fact, in the New Covenant, we are to be obedient not just outwardly, but inwardly. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers us to live under a new law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. You see, we can obey laws outwardly without allowing God to change our hearts inwardly. But God judges the root of our hearts and the fruits of our works. He knows our thoughts, not just the acts. Yes, we are justified and sanctified by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sin. Keeping the law will not save us. But true grace is not lawless. It is out of the abundance of His law of love in our hearts that we walk in the power of the New Covenant. Praise God!

Now, let’s take a closer look at a few other spiritual laws and principles for the Christian life.

Romans 7:23 speaks of the law of the mind, which is like a battleground. Whether we experience victory or defeat, our mind is a powerful weapon. Thoughts are seeds that grow and produce physical and spiritual harvest, whether good or bad.

Many of us think of “law” in the sense of moral code, especially when we read the Old Testament. Keeping the Mosiac law is good but it cannot save us. It is faith in Jesus Christ and what He did at Calvary that we receive the gift of salvation. In Galatians 5:13, we see the law of liberty and the law of love, even though the term “law” per se is not used, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

Another law is the law of the flesh. One of the most destructive gaints we face in life is lust. If we do not walk in the way of the Spirit, we will become licentious or lascivious, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which

do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:16-21).

What then can make us free from the acts of the flesh, and the law of sin and death? It is another law, if you will. A more powerful law called the law of the Spirit – "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). We cannot combine the works of the flesh with the way of the Spirit! We cannot live for God in our own strength. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit! Let’s live and walk in the Spirit!

The cross of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. When we glory in the cross, we experience liberty in Christ Jesus! We are free from the dominion and government of law. We walk in victory and are dead to the world system and the flesh. We overcome legalism, licentiousness and all the other unbiblical errors we have mentioned.

Experience Pentecost Now

June 17, 2023

The first Pentecost took place some 2,000 years ago. Throughout the church age, there has been moves and waves of the Holy Spirit. In 1906, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street, Los Angeles, USA. This is the birthplace of the Pentecostal movement that has spread all over the world. Since then, hundreds of millions of believers have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this move of God, there was a prophetic utterance that declared in the last days, there will be an overemphasis on: · Praise to a God we no longer pray to, · Power rather than righteousness, and · Spiritual gifts rather than the lordship of Christ. We are to avoid these dangers and pitfalls. There are parts of the church that have become seeker-friendly, instead of Spirit-filled. Yes, we are to be sensitive to people, but we must first and foremost, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, but He is also a consuming fire. As we develop various means and methods of outreach in the church, let us not neglect the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit who still convicts sin, call for repentance and conform God’s righteousness in our lives. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not grieve or quench Him in the process of drawing large crowds to our churches. In the Gospels, when Jesus said, “Follow Me”, it meant forsaking oneself and taking up one’s cross. In the early church, the Apostle Peter preached a message that pricked the hearts of the hearers and saw 3,000 people saved. Peter’s sermon, under the work of the Holy Spirit, was convicting and hardly comfortable, yet it results in a harvest of conversion. Why? And how? The key is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive and yield to the Holy Spirit in ministry, He will discern the hearts of the ones being ministered to better than any of us could expect, or at least in the way that He intends. Thank God for the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit! We need to allow the Holy Spirit to move in the House of God. A Spirit-filled church is a church that has a heartbeat for anointed worship. True worship is a lifestyle, not just an activity. It is more than simply turning up for church services, but is a reflection of loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength... ” (Mark 12:30). We are called to experience not only the visitation of the Holy Spirit, but to be His habitation too, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). The House of God needs to be ignited with the Holy Spirit. We need a blast of wind, a blaze of fire. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God for the first Pentecost in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Thank God for the move of God throughout different periods of the church, especially the Azusa Street revival that birthed the worldwide Pentecostal movement at the turn of the 20th century. As we move ahead in this 21st century, we need a new Pentecost now. We cry again for a sound from heaven, a rushing mighty wind. We want to see people being baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, to be equipped for service in the Kingdom of God. We are called as a holy people and a royal priesthood. Next, we are to be united with one accord in our hearts. In a world of racial and class divide, believers need to be united in love. We are the Body of Christ, one in communion and purpose with the Headship and Lordship of Jesus. At the same time, unity must be based on foundational and fundamental truth. The truth that Jesus saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. The truth that all blessings comes through the cross of Christ! Unity does not mean conformity. We are one and united in Spirit, but with have different types of gifts and ministries. A New Testament church is ignited with the fire of the Holy Spirit, is united in love, communion and purpose. It is also to sow and reap an expedited harvest of souls. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit for employment, not enjoyment. We are employed as laborers in His harvest field. We ask the Lord for open doors. Due to the pandemic, the last few years have been difficult with all the shut downs. It’s time to step up again to usher in the final hour harvest of souls. The power of the Holy Spirit will accelerate and expedite the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

Arise And Build

May 27, 2023

Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11). He received report that Jerusalem was in ruins. The city walls had been torn down, the gates were burned, leaving the residents vulnerable to the enemy’s attack and invasion. There was no peace and no security. Nehemiah was heartbroken and desperate to see the hand of God move and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Today, we see devastation of false doctrines in the body of Christ. Spiritually-speaking, there are gaps in the walls of our churches. We need to proclaim that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. That we are justified and sanctified by grace through faith, on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary’s cross. It’s time for us to rise up and build the walls of sound Biblical doctrines. In our life, our ministry and in serving the house of God, there are precious truths we can learn from the life of Nehemiah. For example, there are lessons about defeating distraction, discouragement and distress. Through prayer, Nehemiah responded to God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Although God is sovereign and omnipotent, He is looking for men and women with hearts who are broken and burdened to fulfil and finish His work. Today, there is so little anguish and agony in the house of God. Do we experience the sorrow and pain of God’s heart over the sins, the backsliding and compromise in the church? Are we also grieving for lost souls and do all we can to reach them with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ? To accomplish the task that God has set before us, we need to know that He is the Master Builder. We are to keep in step with the Spirit, know the right timing and opportunity to move in faith and boldness. When Nehemiah stood before the king with sadness on his face to seek permission to build the walls of Jerusalem, it was in essence, a ‘live or die’ moment. Thank God for the king’s compassion and favour to grant Nehemiah’s heart desire to go to Jerusalem. Yet, there are people who opposed Nehemiah. Just because we are doing God’s work does not mean that it will always be smooth-sailing. We will be distracted, discouraged and distressed at times. We can face accusation, attack, intimidation and lies against us from people. We need to stand strong, secure and steadfast in finishing the task, and not allow opponents to shut us down. We need the Word of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us not react in the flesh in such times. Nehemiah was a role model on handling criticism and misunderstanding. He did not let discouragement stop Him from obeying God and carrying out his responsibility. He kept building the wall. Today, we may face all kinds of distractions. Worldly pleasures and wrong relationships may divert our attention from fulfilling our calling. We are to stay the course and refused to be disturbed and disrupted. When God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls, there was a lack of resources and people thought that the task was going to take a long time. In spite of hindrances, Nehemiah fixed his eyes on the Lord with undivided commitment and complete this massive task in just 52 days. Nehemiah’s motives and motivations are to give God all the glory and praise. It is all about God’s plans and purposes, not our ambitions. Once the walls were rebuilt and gates restored, Nehemiah planned to revive the authority of God’s Word in the land. Gatekeepers and musicians were appointed. Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s days is a picture of the church today. Like the Israelites, many Christians are spiritually apathetic and defeated. False doctrines, idolatry, worldliness, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life have become widespread throughout the body of Christ. The church is a called-out body, separated from worldly culture. Separated but not isolated. We need to repent of our backsliding and disobedience. Ask the Lord to revive us, restore us, and set us apart for Him, to be light that shines in our dark and evil world.

Let’s Be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) For Jesus

March 20, 2023

We are called to be disciples for Jesus Christ, committed to follow Him as Lord and Master. We are entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel and reach the lost. We are to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is a committed way of life, dedicated to the Person of Jesus Christ and His purpose. It is not paying lip service. Some follow Jesus out of convenience, but true disciples will experience opposition and persecution from others. Discipleship is denying oneself. This does not mean asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial of legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. Of course, it is Biblical to fast from food and sleep or some other activities, in order to spend more time in prayer and studying God’s Word. However, we must not carry out these spiritual disciplines with a holier-than-thou attitude, or to believe that we can earn God’s favour. Rather, self-denial is to surrender and give up all self-effort. To take up our cross is to put our faith in Christ and His victory on the cross. We are to commit ourselves to Christ above all persons and possessions. Our love for Christ is to be so much more than our family, friends, jobs, money, hobbies and the like. As human beings with affections, it is so easy to put relationships and riches ahead of the Lord. Yet, any excessive devotion to people and things becomes idolatry. The cares and concerns of everyday life will keep people from following the Lord wholeheartedly. We must, in essence, count the cost and ask, are we willing to pay the price? The Christian life is a journey – to fight the good fight, run and finish the race, and keep the faith. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7). This should be our prayer and our cry too. We have a mission – to fulfil our calling and role to win the lost and equip the saints. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ involves evangelism and discipleship. We are called-out and set apart to be salt and light to the world. In the church, there is tendency to measure success in terms of the size of attendance, buildings and money. Another condition is that far too often, many Christians are spectators, when we lay the responsibility for God’s work largely on the shoulders of the five-fold ministers – the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Jesus did not call us just to be churchgoers and pew-warmers, but disciples. To carry out the work of the ministry, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We need to be alive and ignited with the flaming fire of God. The book of Acts is the blueprint of what the church should be and must be. The church was born in power, with a community and worldwide vision. Jesus told the disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses unto Him, " …both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Throughout the church age, we have men and women of God who have caught the heavenly vision and were consumed with the passion and compassion to declare the good news of the gospel. As labourers, we must point people to look to God as the source. We are not celebrities, but servants with Christ-like humility. Our pride and vanity must be pulled down and removed. It’s all about Jesus, and not about us. In this age of self-esteem and promotion, we need to lose ourselves and let Christ be our everything. We need the anointing and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power, to fulfil our mission to win souls. Not entertainment and amusement, but the preaching of the gospel. The gospel message is not always popular with the wise and wealthy in this world. It is not easily accepted by the great and mighty in society. Even the religious are confounded and stumbled by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Many look at the Christian faith as foolish and weak. Yet, it is the preaching of Christ crucified that is the power of God unto salvation. In Acts chapter 17, verses 1 to 6, we read, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;" (Acts 17:1-6). Here, we see Paul and Silas who preached Christ boldly, and have turned the world upside down. God’s messengers have often been accused of creating mess but the truth is, for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their lives will be turned right side up. It was sin and the fall that have brought disorder in our world. The presentation of the glorious gospel brings light and shines into the darkness of hearts. People can either receive or reject this light. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our mission is to preach the gospel and fulfil the Great Commission, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let us follow the examples of the apostle Paul and many other men and women of God through the centuries. Let’s be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) for Jesus!