Embracing Holiness and Rejecting Legalism: A Biblical Perspective

PURSUING HOLINESS WHILE REJECTING LEGALISM LIFEGATE 4/27/25

THIS ALL HINGES ON CHRISTS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS. THROUGH HIM WE ARE MADE HOLY, AND COMMANDED TO BE HOLY

1 PETER 1:13-19 Be Holy 13Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. 17Since you call on a Father who judges each person s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

WHAT IS HOLINESS Although it outwardly manifests in what is or is not participated in. Holiness is not new behaviors as much as it is new affections Holiness is relational. A desire to grieve not the Holy Spirit . (Ephesians 4:30) Holiness is a command. Be holy as I am holy (1Peter 1:16) It is the love of God and the love for God, with a reverent fear of God that motivates a person to Be holy as I am holy . (1 Peter 1:16 and Leviticus 19:2)

PURSUE HOLINESS WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING Philippians 2:12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. [NLT] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [ESV]

REVELATIONS 19:7-9 The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. 8And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9Then he *said to me, Write, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he *said to me, These are true words of God. [LSB]

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN PREPARATION Rev 19:7 His bride has made herself ready. [LSB] His bride has prepared herself. [NASB] For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. [NIV] NOTE: this did not say or imply that she did not participate in the process. The wording implies active participation in preparing. This is cleansing herself from what is unclean. This is also a picture of deliverance as part of purification and readying for the groom. Her clothing is her righteous acts this the enemy tries to hinder (as unforgiveness hinders the fruit of the Spirit, doubt/unbelief hinders the gifts of the Spirit Rom 12:3 in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. )

HOLINESS Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness. Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life

HOLINESS Colossians 1:22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

HOLINESS Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, Philippians 1:10-11 so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Isaiah 35:8 And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it only those who walk in the Way and fools will not stray onto it.

HOLINESS Deuteronomy 18:13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Psalm 119:1-3 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart. They do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God

HOLINESS (RELATIONSHIP) VS LEGALISM (RELIGION) HOLINESS/RELATIONAL Relational intimacy/sensitivity LEGALISM/RELIGION Counterfeit Grace driven Works/performance based value system ( do more, not good enough ) Holy fear/reverence Shame/harsh inner critic Gratitude/love motivation Duty/detached rituals Humility Works of the flesh/man s systems Sacrifice Offense and division/argumentative/critical Fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace ) Unteachable/pride Desire not to grieve the Holy Spirit Desire to hide sin Surrender/ His conviction

MARK 9:33-42 33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, What were you arguing about on the road? 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. 36He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.

MARK 9:33-42 Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us 38 Teacher, said John, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us. 39 Do not stop him, Jesus said. For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

MARK 9:33-42 Causing to Stumble 42 If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

MARK 9:33-42 Context: The disciples were discussing, which of them was the greatest? V35 If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. V36 little child [#3813. paidion child, little child, young child, infant. highlights dependency, need for guidance and care, innocence and vulnerability] V37 little children [#3813. paidion] whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me V38-42 Jesus addresses legalism and exclusivity of miraculous works, and then gives a very harsh warning V42 these little ones [#3398. mikros small, little, least, insignificant. Used to describe size, quantity, degree, or rank, or importance. Often conveys humility or insignificance]

JESUS TAUGHT THE TWELVE MARK 9:38-42 Rebuked for the following: Exclusivism Miracles and power are not just for the apostles Not just for a special few people Warned against causing a little one (mikros small, little, least, insignificant) to stumble Legalism/religious spirit Hindering those stepping out in faith Offended that someone was doing Kingdom work

WORK/LIES OF THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT: God is seen as harsh, judgmental, distant, detached. [Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.] Living out of unbelief, doubt miracles and assume that there is a natural or rational explanation. [John 9:15-16 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He put mud on my eyes, the man replied, and I washed, and now I see. Some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. But others asked, How can a sinner perform such signs? So they were divided.] Observing religious rules, traditions and rituals, instead of listening and submitting to the Holy Spirit. [Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.] Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

WORK/LIES OF THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT: Being legalistic in the way they worship, pray, etc. through ritual. [See Matthew 23:15]. Worshiping and praying out of selfish motives, with a desire to receive praise or adoration, to sound impressive. [See Luke 18:9-14]. Being judgmental. The inclination is to put others down because of their spiritual or moral failure. The motive is often to exalt self. [See Matthew 7:1-5]. Believing that one must be cleaned up before one can come to God. [See Paul s conversion in 1 Timothy 1:12-15]. Unable to receive forgiveness. [See 1 John 1:9]. Being unforgiving. [See Matthew 6:15; 18:34-35]. Believing that God s approval is earned through self-effort. [See Galatians 2:16]. Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

WORK/LIES OF THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT: Being a perfectionist. [See Matthew 11:16-19]. Praying from the intellect rather than the spirit. [See Matthew 6:7]. Being turned off by the expression of emotions in worship and rejecting spiritual manifestations you don t understand. [See 2 Samuel 6:14-16]. Giving intellectual assent to Biblical and spiritual truth, but not putting it into practice. [See Matthew 7:26-27]. Being unwilling and unable to see the truth [See Matthew 13:14-15], particularly about the Holy Spirit [See Matthew 12:24-28]. Perverting and twisting the truth [See 2 Timothy 4:3-4]. Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

WORK/LIES OF THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT: Substituting traditions of men for the truth of God [See Matthew 15:3]. Being hypocritical. Outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt. [See Matthew 23:3] Being self-righteous, proud and arrogant [See Luke 16:14-15]. Hating spiritual correction [Proverbs 5:12]. Having a loose attitude toward sin [See 2 Peter 2:18-20]. Avoiding real repentance for sin through godly sorrow [See Matthew 27:3-5; 2 Corinthians 7:10]. Fighting spiritual battles with the world s weapons. We must wage war in the spirit [See Ephesians 6:12-18]. Persecuting and slander those who move in the Spirit [See Acts 13:44-45]. Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

WORK/LIES OF THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT: Trying to stop those who are coming out of their old religious tradition to follow the Lord Jesus [See Acts 9:1-2]. Having contempt for non-believers. [See Acts 11:2-3]. Having shame and self-contempt. The focus is on ourselves and our own worthlessness. Shuts out the possibility of focusing on God s redemption. [See John 6:37] Stirring up strife among people [See Acts 13:49-50]. Having a tendency to see that our primary mission is to tear down what we believe is wrong [See John 12:9-11]. Desiring to be in control. Fear of losing control. Feeling like falling apart when we are not in control [See Proverbs 3:5-6]. Causing people to focus on self-imposed and external religion rather than on the Holy Spirit s work in them [See Colossians 2:20-23]. Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

REPENTANCE IS THE BEGINNING OF FREEDOM. LETS PRAY: Heavenly Father, I come boldly before the throne of grace, with confidence in Jesus Christ, and I repent and renounce every opening known and unknown, I personally have given to a religious spirit. I ask for Your forgiveness. Lord, I hold up to you every lie and work that I participated in from this list. I repent and renounce everything, all my participation and agreement with the lies. I renounce and break the hold of the religious spirit over my life and refuse to allow it to steal or hinder my intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and the freedom of the Holy Spirit to move in my life. Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

LETS PRAY: Lord Jesus, I nail these to the cross, I thank You for Your forgiveness that You have freely given me. I ask in Jesus name (in accordance with John 14:13), for Holy Spirit to fill that part of my life which has been occupied and influence by the religious spirit and its lies, and for that which is unclean to be removed, as You lead and guide me into all truth. In Jesus name, Amen. Adapted from Carl Fechner's Growing Deep and Strong, Strategies of a Religious Spirit

TIME AT THE ALTER