July 2026

#75 Curse of Legalism 7/5/2026

Please consider:

2 Cor 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

It almost seems like a paradox; however, it is the Truth of the Word of God. The standards and guidelines of the law(s) may be Godly; however, to the degree that their enforcement relies singularly on the strength of the flesh (mind or body) they are oppressive, abrasive, confrontive and counter-productive. They result in suppressed thoughts, feelings and emotions. In time, all that is suppressed builds internal pressures that are toxic to heart, mind, body, soul, spirit, and relationships.

The net result is an ongoing vacillating swing, back and forth, liberal-conservative, war-peace and other ways of the world. These are not characteristic of the Way, the Truth and the Life of Jesus Christ.

This becomes self-evident in the conflict of much of our current culture and politics. The perception that might makes right is not consistent with the character of Godliness. Even the concepts of majority rules are potentially inflammatory because it does not really get to the heart of the matter.

In essence, to the degree that we accept these lesser standards, we are remiss in bearing witness to the profundity of Christianity. We may ignore, deny, defend, or rationalize; however, that does not justify our ways.

It is only as we, individually and collectively, mature in our Faith that we are increasingly anointed by the Spirit of God and inspired and empowered to be agents of righteousness.

Jas 3:17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all, pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

This can only be accomplished as we seek God to change our hearts, not merely our fleshly ways.

2 Cor 5:16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.