Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 5/8/2005 1.

Don McClain W. 65th St. church of Christ - 5/8/2005

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• Deception – Mat. 24:4

• Persecution – Mark 13:9

• Overconfidence – 1 Cor. 10:12

• Drifting away from the truth – Heb. 2:1; Gal. 1:6-9

• Carnality – 1 Cor. 1:10-13

• Bitterness – Heb 12:15


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• Legalism ?

• Liberalism

• False Doctrine

• Emotionalism

• Materialism

• Worldliness

• Apathy


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• To Define:To Define: ““the attempt to be justified strictly according to a the attempt to be justified strictly according to a

system of law, without God’s grace.”system of law, without God’s grace.”

• Could this be a danger today? Could this be a danger today? Yes!! – Some wish to return to the Law of Moses – Yes!! – Some wish to return to the Law of Moses –

(Romans & Galatians)(Romans & Galatians) Yes!! - Some want to make their own rules! – Yes!! - Some want to make their own rules! –

(Mat. 15:7-9)(Mat. 15:7-9) Yes!! – Some like to trust in their own goodness - Yes!! – Some like to trust in their own goodness -

(Luke 18:11,12, 21)(Luke 18:11,12, 21) Yes!! – Even the commands of Christ “Yes!! – Even the commands of Christ “can be”can be”

approached from a legalistic perspective . . . approached from a legalistic perspective . . .


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Legalism does not pertain to the Legalism does not pertain to the propriety of the practices themselves.propriety of the practices themselves.

God has ALWAYS condemned the God has ALWAYS condemned the person who is lifted up with pride person who is lifted up with pride because of his obedience, who trusts because of his obedience, who trusts in his own goodness, and who in his own goodness, and who expects to receive God’s favor on the expects to receive God’s favor on the BASISBASIS of those actions! (Luke 17:10) of those actions! (Luke 17:10)

Those of the liberal persuasion have Those of the liberal persuasion have redefined “legalism” in such a fashion redefined “legalism” in such a fashion as to shift the meaning from the as to shift the meaning from the attitude of being self righteous, to the attitude of being self righteous, to the ACTION of conscientious obedience to ACTION of conscientious obedience to all of God’s word.all of God’s word.


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Were the Pharisee’s guilty of Were the Pharisee’s guilty of legalism?legalism?

They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-7,25-28)7,25-28)

They gave attention to “SOME” of They gave attention to “SOME” of God’s law and overlooked other God’s law and overlooked other aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke 11:42)11:42)

They went about binding and They went about binding and enforcing human traditions, laws and enforcing human traditions, laws and doctrines beyond the actual doctrines beyond the actual teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; Mk 7:1-13)Mk 7:1-13)

They anticipated receiving God’s They anticipated receiving God’s favor BASED upon who they were and favor BASED upon who they were and The amount of Law they kept – (John The amount of Law they kept – (John 8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)


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Were the Pharisee’s guilty of Were the Pharisee’s guilty of legalism?legalism?

They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-7,25-28)7,25-28)

They gave attention to “SOME” of They gave attention to “SOME” of God’s law and overlooked other God’s law and overlooked other aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke 11:42)11:42)

They went about binding and They went about binding and enforcing human traditions, laws and enforcing human traditions, laws and doctrines beyond the actual doctrines beyond the actual teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; Mk 7:1-13)Mk 7:1-13)

They anticipated receiving God’s They anticipated receiving God’s favor BASED upon who they were and favor BASED upon who they were and The amount of Law they kept – (John The amount of Law they kept – (John 8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)

They were NEVER They were NEVER condemned because condemned because

they were too they were too zealous about strict zealous about strict obedience to God’s obedience to God’s

revealed will!!revealed will!!


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• Danger of Apostasy (1:6-9; 2 Jn Danger of Apostasy (1:6-9; 2 Jn 9-11).9-11).

• Public correction (2:11-21).Public correction (2:11-21).• Detailed Argument (3:16).Detailed Argument (3:16).• Application of Scripture (3:17-25: Application of Scripture (3:17-25:

4:21).4:21).• Necessity of Water Baptism Necessity of Water Baptism

(3:26-27).(3:26-27).• Stressing Complete Obedience Stressing Complete Obedience

(3:1; 5:7).(3:1; 5:7).• Condemnation of sin (5:16-21).Condemnation of sin (5:16-21).• Correction of sin privately (6:1, Correction of sin privately (6:1,

2).2).• Walk according to THIS rule – Walk according to THIS rule –

(6:16)(6:16)

“You Are A Legalist”

Conclusion


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• The desire –The desire – To (unscripturally) broaden the scope of To (unscripturally) broaden the scope of

fellowship! fellowship! To FEEL more spiritual!To FEEL more spiritual! To be liberated . . . (Jude 1:11)To be liberated . . . (Jude 1:11)

• The method - The method - The charge of legalism!The charge of legalism! Liberty by rejecting the pattern!Liberty by rejecting the pattern! Necessitates a new hermeneutic, Necessitates a new hermeneutic,

(a subjective standard)! (a subjective standard)!

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus


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Cecil Hooks – “Free As Sons” – Chapter 20, ACCORDING

TO THE PATTERN

Patternism is another facet of legalism, a seeking to find holy, sacramental rituals through which

we maintain righteousness and an official, mediatorial organization through which we work our righteousness, and by which we are kept in

controlled conformity. It encroaches on our individual freedom in serving God. It would make our individual relationship with God

dependent upon an organizational relationship. Disciples are parts of the community of believers, but that fellowship is not an

organization.


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Cecil Hooks – “Free As Sons” – Chapter 20, ACCORDING

TO THE PATTERN

Our participation in spiritual activities of a corporate group is for mutual upbuilding rather than for a high priestly function of the structure

through which we approach God. As I review my teaching in many years of my

ministry, I am dismayed to realize the emphasis which I put on following the correct pattern which actually took the focus off of Christ, his grace, and

our personal relationship with him. Endless discussion of supposed legal correctness of pattern has dimmed our view of him who saved us from

such a yoke of legalistic specifications.


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I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

"Because of our tie to the constitutional pattern approach

we have grown farther and farther away from the

intentions of the writers of the New Testament in our use of some of those writings...and

farther and farther away from the legitimate cry of today's

human heart."

(Randy Mayeau, Nashville 12/88)


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I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

(Bill Swetmon, Nashville 12/88)

"Over the years our position in churches of Christ has been that if we can restore the pattern of New Testament Christianity there will

be unity among our churches. Our basis for restoring that pattern has

centered around the three principles of Hermeneutics -

These three principles of Hermeneutics have led us into a

hard-line, patternistic formalism."


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– Direct Command or Statement.• Must Examine Context

– Approved Apostolic Example.• Observation of Approved

Activity of first Century Christians.

– Necessary Implication.• a logical and unavoidable

conclusion drawn from statements or propositions.

– Direct Command or Statement.• Must Examine Context

– Approved Apostolic Example.• Observation of Approved

Activity of first Century Christians.

– Necessary Implication.• a logical and unavoidable

conclusion drawn from statements or propositions.

Science of Science of Interpretation Interpretation


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This method is the compilation of all This method is the compilation of all references to the subject under references to the subject under consideration, including direct consideration, including direct

statements, approved actions, and statements, approved actions, and necessary implications. necessary implications.

When all the evidence is compiled When all the evidence is compiled and sifted through using the laws of and sifted through using the laws of

communication, including communication, including contextual considerations, then the contextual considerations, then the

true meaning and the current true meaning and the current application can be understood.application can be understood.

This method is the compilation of all This method is the compilation of all references to the subject under references to the subject under consideration, including direct consideration, including direct

statements, approved actions, and statements, approved actions, and necessary implications. necessary implications.

When all the evidence is compiled When all the evidence is compiled and sifted through using the laws of and sifted through using the laws of

communication, including communication, including contextual considerations, then the contextual considerations, then the

true meaning and the current true meaning and the current application can be understood.application can be understood.

The Inductive MethodThe Inductive Method



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– Rules of a game – Rules of a game –

– Establishing Legal Establishing Legal precedent – precedent –

– Blue Prints in Blue Prints in Construction – Construction –

– Text Books –Text Books –

– English –English –

– Science – Science –

– Mathematics -Mathematics -

– Rules of a game – Rules of a game –

– Establishing Legal Establishing Legal precedent – precedent –

– Blue Prints in Blue Prints in Construction – Construction –

– Text Books –Text Books –

– English –English –

– Science – Science –

– Mathematics -Mathematics -



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Do all things Do all things ACCORDING TO THE ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN (2 Tim. 1:13; PATTERN (2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 8:5)Heb. 8:5)

Do not GO BEYOND (1 Do not GO BEYOND (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9-11)Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9-11)

Do not ADD TO or Do not ADD TO or TAKE FROM (Pr. 30:5-TAKE FROM (Pr. 30:5-6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 22:18-19)22:18-19)


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The Consequences:The Consequences:

InstitutionalismInstitutionalism

Social Gospel (Recreation/ Social Gospel (Recreation/ Entertainment)Entertainment)

Gospel/ Doctrine Distinction – Gospel/ Doctrine Distinction – (To Broaden Fellowship) (To Broaden Fellowship)

Our Distinctiveness Ridiculed – Our Distinctiveness Ridiculed – (Designation/ Teaching/ Practice/ (Designation/ Teaching/ Practice/ Plea)Plea)

The Destruction of The Local The Destruction of The Local Church – Church –

Rejection of The Lord – (Col. 3:17)Rejection of The Lord – (Col. 3:17)

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus


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• Legalism ?

• Liberalism

• False Doctrine

• Emotionalism

• Materialism

• Worldliness

• Apathy


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What Can We Do?What Can We Do?

•Be Aware:Be Aware: Through Sound Through Sound

Preaching, & Teaching of Preaching, & Teaching of the Truth! (2 Tim 4:2-4; 2 the Truth! (2 Tim 4:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:17,18)Pet. 3:17,18)

•Be Prepared:Be Prepared: By Watching & Testing – By Watching & Testing –

(Mark 13:37; Acts 20:31; (Mark 13:37; Acts 20:31; 17:11)17:11)


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Don McClainW. 65th St. church of Christ - 5/8/2005 1.

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