BibleVersity

   Holiness and legalism are two terms that are often thrown around, at least in the Christian circles that I find myself. So, sometime back I asked my Facebook friends about their insights pertaining to legalism, and liberty, and the Mosaic Law. My purpose was to gain some feedback in comparing the two. Several thoughts came shining through, one of which being that there is no consensus among bible-believering Christians on how God addresses these. One thing I learned, along with some biblical insight, is that there is a fine line that separates legalism and holiness. That line is a  crucial one.       Paul is clear that justification, the state of "being right" before God, is a result of the work of Christ and NOT human effort. He wrote,  "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not ...

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved." (1 Corinthians 10:31-33, NASB)    Two weeks ago I read an article by a notable Christian magazine which presented the idea that Christians are free to use marijuana, but they should not. Although I cannot speak directly for Paul, I'm pretty sure that this was not what he meant when speaking of liberty. Usually, any discussion of questionable behavior eventually devolves into a legalism-vs-liberty debate, with supporters on each side brining in "other" topics, which clouds the issue. Christ has given us freedom: freedom from sin, not freedom to sin; freedom to live and serve, not freedom to indulge.    My heart and spirit is deeply disturbed by the willingness of some within the c...