Christ Gives Liberty; Churchianity Locks You in Legalism
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
For this week’s blog, I like you to consider with me a word or term that you will not find in the dictionary. However, I submit to you that this word is a consistent characteristic of a carnal church. The word Churchianity is a word that I am employing for our edification. It is a word that reflects a church that is rigid in rules and rejects the truth of a real relationship with the Lord made possible by His grace and gift of eternal life through Christ’s death and resurrection.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14 -15 (KJV)
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)
In our opening text, the Apostle Paul points us to the discussion in the previous chapter of the book of Galatians (Chapter Four) which differentiates between bondage (locked down) and liberty (loosed). Paul also authoritatively announced that Christ the Lord was the prodigious Provider and permanent Proponent of liberation that set believers free from bondage. The apostle then appealed to the Galatians to stand firm in that liberty, for having been delivered from slavery they were in danger of becoming lassoed in legalism linked in slavery to the Mosaic Law. Similarly today, too many in the body are led away with legalist control freaks that fix themselves in self-righteous and rigid ritualistic rules.
The phrase “stand fast” means securely fixed; unwavering and to persevere. So we are to securely stand, without swaying, in:
FAITH:
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (KJV)
LIBERTY:
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
UNITY:
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Philippians 1:27 (KJV)
LORD:
“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” Philippians 4:1 (KJV)
“For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8 (KJV)
TEACHING:
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (KJV)
Are you standing in what God freed you from? Or are you laying down in legalism that leads you to being lost?
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR