Kingdom Principle: There is no life in a strict adherence to man-made exactions of the law of God. Life is found in Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers. Trusting in him brings the transformation of soul that produces righteous behavior.
Two Monumental Problems with Legalism:
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___________ Works will Never Cleanse ____________ Motivations
Luke 11:39 (ESV) – 39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
The legalist sets a standard that is outside the law and commandments of God, one that is often attainable, in order that they might appear righteous and feel superior. And they apply that man-made standard to everyone else. But you cannot change inward motivations by adherence to a code of conduct, especially a made up one.
1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV) — 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
You cannot change your internal problem by addressing external conditions. Those external behaviors can serve as a gauge as to what is going on under the hood, but addressing the gauge does not address the underlying problem.
Purpose of Tithing:
Numbers 18:21 (ESV) — 21 “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,
Numbers 18:28 (ESV) — 28 So you (Levites) shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord’s contribution to Aaron the priest.
Deuteronomy 14:22–23 (ESV) — 22 “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. 23 And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.
Deuteronomy 14:28–29 (ESV) — 28 “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
The express purpose of tithing in the Old Testament was to provide for those who could not provide for themselves, whether it be the priests or the less fortunate. The Pharisees tithed because they were required to, but they didn’t tithe out of a generous heart to provide for others.
Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV) — 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
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________ Adherence is Impossible without ________ Transformation
Luke 11:46 (ESV) — 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
If the first part is true, if the inward man is wholly corrupt, and beyond renovation by outward means, then this makes the second part true, no one will ever be able to bear the burden of the law themselves. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus has transformed our inner man so that we no longer relate to the law as an external code, but as an internal compulsion, by the Holy Spirit that lives within us.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (ESV) — 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
