Legalism and Other Christians

“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” Romans 14:21

I have heard of some churches that, actually, provide activities where their members are provided a venue where they can smoke and drink alcoholic beverages. Some have even misrepresented Scripture by saying that Jesus drank alcoholic wine. I, personally, do not believe that that was possible for Jesus to do, because when He touched anything that was undergoing the corruption caused by sin, such as the spoiling of the grape juice (wine) that then became old wine, it would no longer be spoiled; (obviously, just my opinion). However, I would be surprised if the disciples did not drink alcoholic wine on occasion, because that is what happens to juice. If not drank when it is new wine. It putrefies and becomes old (alcoholic) wine.

Here God instructs the church not to drink wine. But really, wine is not the issue. God, also, instructs the church not to eat flesh here, whereas in I Corinthians 8:8 God indicates that eating of flesh is somewhat benign.

The point is in the last half of the verse. “Nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

Salvation is not of works. Works cannot save us, keep us saved, prove we are saved, nor make us spiritual. Nor can lack of works or sinfulness keep us from getting saved, staying saved, or show we are not saved. Consequently, confronting a lost person about his perceived sinfulness before sharing the plan of salvation can be anti-productive. It is not your condemnation that brings conviction. It is you “peculiar” or different life that the Holy Spirit has done in you that convicts, (Titus 2:11-14 & 3:14).

Making the lost person comfortable in his life may get them to church, but it is not the Biblical way to bring them to Christ.

Maybe you, too, have been blinded by the unchanged life of a believer, or by the holier than thou attitude of a believer. Don’t let that stop you from accepting the free gift of eternal life that Jesus offers you. All He requires of you is that you believe that He is God who came to earth to die and pay for all of your sins. Then he came back from the dead after he finished doing everything necessary to get you to heaven. All you have to do is trust His payment.

I-Legalism in ___________________

A-Works ______________

1-Save you

2-Keep you saved

3-Show you are saved

4-Make you spiritual

B-Lack of works and sin __________________

1-Keep you from getting saved

2-Cause you to lose salvation

3-Show you are not saved

C-Works are not a means or purpose-They are ______________

II-Legalism in the _____________________ life

A-Cannot judge lost except in ________________

1-Not by works

2-By what they say

B- _______________ judge a believer’s

1-Motives

2-Spirituality

3-Thoughts

4-Faithfulness

C- ___________________ to judge actions (particular sins)

III-Legalism in relation to ______________ ______________

A-Romans 15:9-16:23- _________________

B-I Corinthians 6:12-The _________________

C-I Corinthians 8:7-13- ____________________ application

D-I Corinthians 10:23-33- ________________

Conclusion:

While we are commanded to judge certain named actions in the lives of other believers according to

I Corinthians 5:9-6:8, 12, II Thessalonians 3:4-15, & Romans 16:17; we cannot judge certain things.

While there are many instructions in the Bible about how to behave in general, most of them are for personal application, and we do not have the right or responsibility to judge others in these areas.