Freedom in Christ and the trap Legalism

MV for the week.

Gal 5: 1,13

It is for freedom that Christ set you free. Stand firm, then, do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. You my brothers are called to be free, do not use that freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve on another in love.

We are free to worship Christ and be in commune with him however we want, as long as we do not abuse the freedom and sin. Grace God’s forgiving grace is not a freedom to Sin. However we are no longer bound buy rules.

Following rules should not take the place of our personal relation ship with Christ, because doing so could distract us from our relationship with him.

Gal 3: 10- 11
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[a] 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."[b]

The Law points us to our sin but because we are justified in Christ we are free from the consequences of our sin. Our faith will lead us to righteousness, not following a set of rules (Legalism). Our change to righteousness can not be done by our own action; we have to rely on our faith in Christ.

Col 2:20-23
20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence

Legalism Got eve in trouble when she added to God’s command:

God Said, Gen 2: 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Eve Said: Gen 3: 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

God never said touch, and by adding this Eve took the focus off what God’s command and added to his word, and this lead her down the wrong path.

I find it interesting that

Satan Said:
Gen 3: 4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Even Satan knew God’s command, and that it was eating that God commanded against.