Licentiousness, Legalism and Liberty

“…human wisdom is more inclined to understand the law of Moses, than the law of the Gospel… - Martin Luther – Table Talk

"So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do." - Benjamin Franklin, from his Autobiography

16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

18"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

19TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

20And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

21And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Luke 4

CS Lewis

• an Irish author and scholar

• Defender of the Christian Faith

• best known for his children’s

series The Chronicles of Narnia.

Born: 29 November 1898

Died: 22 November 1963

What Liberty is NOT

• …embracing Licentiousness

• …bound by Legalism

Part I:

What is Licentiousness?

Example – the Corinthian church

1 Corinthians 6:11-13 (Message)

9-11Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I'm talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you've been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit.

12Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims.

13You know the old saying, "First you eat to live, and then you live to eat"? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body!

Romans 6:15-18 (The Message)

So, since we're out from under the old tyranny (of the Mosaic Law), does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind?

Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom.

Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits.

All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!

What is Liscentiousness?

So…

Licentiousness in our world

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrRipLBh6jo

So… What is Liscentiousness?Giving yourself over to

your own selfish desires

Licentiousness

• Makes you a SLAVE to whims/pleasure – not holiness

• It is Not Liberty

• It is - Anarchy – Chaos

It is the sin of the Flesh

Part II

What is Legalism?

Example: Phariseeism

By the time of Christ the Pharisees had developed a system of

613 laws

• 365 negative commands (Thou shalt not)

• 248 positive laws (Thou shalt)...

Luke 18

 9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'

13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

What is Legalism?

Following certain rules will cause God

to love me

So…

Legalism today• You must not have…

• The opposite is true, too…

• These are man-made restrictions/requirements & may be appropriate for certain circumstances, but they are not SALVIFIC.

Legalism is the sin of the Mind

1Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

2One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.

3The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.

Romans 14:1-3

Failings of both

• Man centered

• Legalism rejects justification (God has forgiven us apart from LAW)

• Liscentiousness rejects sanctification (God is making us HOLY)

Both reject the example of Christ!

Matthew 11

28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.“

What is Christian Liberty?

• Not the easy road

• Not throwing out the rulebook

• Not being shackled to the rules

What is Christian Liberty?

• Different things for different folk

• Guided by the HOLY SPIRIT

Fruits of the spirit - Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is: • love• joy• peace • patience • kindness • goodness • faithfulness • gentleness • self-control; • against such things there is no law.

Summary

• Legalism is a sin of the Mind• Licentiousness is a sin of the

Flesh• Liberty is guided by the HOLY

SPIRIT

• …allows the abundant life

John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

What is Christian Liberty?

So…

Living a Christ honoring life; led by

the Holy Spirit