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Legalism Legalism vs. vs.

The GospelThe GospelColossians 2:16-23Colossians 2:16-23

Legalism vs. The GospelLegalism vs. The Gospel• 16 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in Therefore no one is to act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, his fleshly mind,

Legalism vs. The GospelLegalism vs. The Gospel• 19 19 and not holding fast to the head, from and not holding fast to the head, from

whom the entire body, being supplied and whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. grows with a growth which is from God. 20 20 If If you have died with Christ to the elementary you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, decrees, such as, 21 21 “Do not handle, do not “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”taste, do not touch!”

Legalism vs. The GospelLegalism vs. The Gospel• 22 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish (which all refer to things destined to perish

with use)—in accordance with the with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? commandments and teachings of men? 23 23

These are matters which have, to be sure, the These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. indulgence. (Colossians 2:16-23)(Colossians 2:16-23)

Old Testament CeremoniesOld Testament Ceremonies• Therefore no one is to act as your judge in Therefore no one is to act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— (Colossians 2:16)(Colossians 2:16)

• But food will not commend us to God; we are But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. (1 Corinthians 8:8)better if we do eat. (1 Corinthians 8:8)

Old Testament CeremoniesOld Testament Ceremonies• 16 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in Therefore no one is to act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)(Colossians 2:16-17)

The SabbathThe Sabbath• 9 9 But now that you have come to know God, But now that you have come to know God,

or rather to be known by God, how is it that or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 10 You You observe days and months and seasons and observe days and months and seasons and years. years. 11 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. (Galatians 4:9-11)labored over you in vain. (Galatians 4:9-11)

The LawThe Law• 23 23 But before faith came, we were kept in But before faith came, we were kept in

custody under the Law, being shut up to the custody under the Law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. faith which was later to be revealed. 24 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. by faith. 25 25 But now that faith has come, we But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. are no longer under a tutor. 26 26 For you are all For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:23-26)(Galatians 3:23-26)

Reveals, but Can’t FixReveals, but Can’t Fix• … … by the works of the Law no flesh will be by the works of the Law no flesh will be

justified in His sight; for through the Law justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)comes the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)

Reveals, but Can’t FixReveals, but Can’t Fix• 7 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May

it never be! On the contrary, I would not have it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” COVET.” 8 8 But sin, taking opportunity through But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. (Romans 7:7-8)dead. (Romans 7:7-8)

Reveals, but Can’t FixReveals, but Can’t Fix

Reveals, but Can’t FixReveals, but Can’t Fix

Reveals, but Can’t FixReveals, but Can’t Fix• 19 19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so “For through the Law I died to the Law, so

that I might live to God. that I might live to God. 20 20 I have been I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. for me. 21 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:19-21)Christ died needlessly.” (Galatians 2:19-21)

The Spirit, Not the LawThe Spirit, Not the Law• 1 1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched

you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 2 This is the This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 3 Are you so Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3)(Galatians 3:1-3)

The Spirit, Not the LawThe Spirit, Not the Law• Therefore no one is to act as your judge in Therefore no one is to act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— (Colossians 2:16)(Colossians 2:16)

• And I testify again to every man who receives And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. (Galatians 5:3)keep the whole Law. (Galatians 5:3)

The Old and New CovenantThe Old and New Covenant• 21 21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on

an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. worse tear results. 22 22 No one puts new wine No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2:21-22)fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2:21-22)

The Old and New CovenantThe Old and New Covenant• Therefore no one is to act as your judge in Therefore no one is to act as your judge in

regard to food or drink or in respect to a regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—things which are a mere shadow of what is to things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)(Colossians 2:16-17)

• For sin shall not be master over you, for you For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)(Romans 6:14)

Free from the LawFree from the Law• Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die

to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. (Romans 7:4)God. (Romans 7:4)

• But now we have been released from the Law, But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)

Free from the LawFree from the Law• But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not

under the Law. (Galatians 5:18)under the Law. (Galatians 5:18)

• But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. (Romans 11:6)grace. (Romans 11:6)

• Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)flesh? (Galatians 3:3)

Set Free to Be FreeSet Free to Be Free• It was for freedom that Christ set us free; It was for freedom that Christ set us free;

therefore keep standing firm and do not be therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)(Galatians 5:1)

Legalism Legalism • Age-segregated ministryAge-segregated ministry• AlcoholAlcohol

• No longer drink water exclusively, but use a No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23)your frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23)

• And do not get drunk with wine, for that is And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)(Ephesians 5:18)

Legalism Legalism • Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and

whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)(Proverbs 20:1)

• But take care that this liberty of yours does But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)

Legalism Legalism • MusicalsMusicals

• Hymns vs. ChorusesHymns vs. Choruses

The Solution to LegalismThe Solution to Legalism• 17 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the

Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 18 But we But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)(2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

The Solution to LegalismThe Solution to Legalism• Therefore if you have been raised up with Therefore if you have been raised up with

Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)(Colossians 3:1)

The Solution to LegalismThe Solution to Legalism• It was for freedom that Christ set us free; It was for freedom that Christ set us free;

therefore keep standing firm and do not be therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) (Galatians 5:1)

The Solution to LegalismThe Solution to Legalism• 28 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-

laden, and I will give you rest. laden, and I will give you rest. 29 29 Take My yoke Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 30 For My yoke is easy For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Legalism Legalism vs. vs.

The GospelThe GospelColossians 2:16-23Colossians 2:16-23