GIFT OR REWARD? |
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan
Do you know that today, "the
most persistent, widespread and deadly error of all Bible history
is LEGALISM?" So writes
Dr. Roy Aldrich, Sr. in his wonderful little book entitled: "Holding
Fast to Grace." It matters not which church or denomination
you attend or belong to. Somewhere within the midst of the varying
people, there will be the taint of legalism flurrying around.
Yes, legalism, a religious term often misunderstood, which has
a deadly way of creeping into the lives of those who follow religious
faith. So on this account today, I want to talk plainly, about
what it means to be a believer in the Christian faith; And, how
it is so many people have been confused as to what is the real
requirement to satisfy the demands of God's Law upon all men.
We begin by asking,
Why is it this scourge of "legalism," won't go away
in religious circles, and now has become the deadliest error in
all the religious history of mankind? The answer may lie in the
fact that the natural mind, that is the mind unenlightened by
God's grace and truth has an affinity for legalism and a corresponding
dissatisfaction for what the Bible calls grace. Yes, the truth
is multitudes of religious people prefer to spend their treasures
and time in the vain attempt to merit what God declares can be
secured only "without money and without price."(Isa.
55:1,2). To help us understand this deadly dilemma, God has
given us the Bible, and especially the words of the apostle Paul
who wrote the most necessary epistle in the New Testament called
the Book of Galatians.
You see my friend, the Bible warn followers of Christ that it
is possible for even true believers to fall prey to the path of
deception that legalism can bring. In fact, the elect nation of
Israel, just before the time of their Messiah's Coming in the
first century, succumbed to this deadening deception. We read
in,
Romans 10:3 (NCV) "Because they
did not know the way that God makes people right with Him, they
tried to make themselves right in their own way. So they did not
accept God's way of making people right."
Indeed, there is "man's way" and "God's way"
of making people right with God and that is what we need to reassess
today.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians we are told that all of God's
people saved by grace, are in reality a "special creative"
entity called "His workmanship." We read,
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) "For we are
God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do."
This word "workmanship," in the Greek language means
a masterwork of God. His personal creative masterpiece, for His
glory and eternity. Now, in this text we are told we are created
for a purpose. That purpose being to "DO GOOD WORKS"
or deeds among men. It is precisely in this vain that many become
confused and sidetracked, and begin thinking that this desire
and purpose God has built into those who are recreated into the
image of Jesus Christ, is actually the means of becoming righteous
in God's sight. And the reason why this confusion seems to surface
frequently among the saints, is it is planned and programmed by
the enemy of God. For just as we, the church of Jesus Christ,
are God's masterpiece, Satan on the other hand is also a master
creator. However, his creation is rather a system of self-righteousness.
Again the Bible clearly tells us about Satan's masterpiece, as
we read in,
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NIV) "And
no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants
of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."
So we need to understand this crucial truth. Those who are saved
by grace in the Christian faith are not automatically delivered
from legalism. The old nature with its affinity for a merit system
still remains in our hearts. The Galatian Christians of Paul's
day had fallen prey to the wiles of Satan's false and deadly ploy
to trick them into thinking that man obtains a righteousness standing
in God's sight by observing religious laws or doing good deeds
and works! Listen to Paul's plea to the deceived believers in
the first century church of Galatia,
Galatians 3:3 (NIV) "Are you so
foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to
attain your goal [of righteousness] by human effort?"
Sadly we must admit it, because we still have our sin natures,
no believer in Christ is without some taint of legalism lurking
somewhere in our hearts. For legalism is in effect, the only way
we can justify that there is at least some goodness and righteousness
of our own.
With this in mind I want to help each and everyone of us to discern
and evaluate your religious experience and thinking. If you find
you fall short of God's truth concerning how to be righteous in
God's sight, then you need to change. Also, if we find we are
dabbling in subtle forms of legalism, let us cast off this bondage
and turn back to the glorious truths of grace alone.
Now let's tackle the issue. We do this first by defining the term
legalism. According to my understanding from Biblical teaching,
LEGALISM
is, "the practice of performing religious rites and ceremonies,
righteous acts, good deeds, and or the denial of pleasures, and
things thought to displease God- all for the purpose of obtaining
or maintaining a righteous standing before God."
Now if we apply this definition to religion today, even the faith
of Christianity, how far short of God's truth and grace do we
fall! Look around, ask yourself what does this or that religion
teach about obtaining or maintaining a righteous standing before
God? The answer is in some way, by the righteousness of sinful
man. Yet, the Bible teaches from cover to cover this is Satan's
damnable way that leads to death and the wrath of God!
For instance, all religious law keepers of any sort revere Abraham
in the Bible. Even more so, Moses the Law giver. Yet, Paul the
great apostle of the Lord reminds the Galatian believers who fell
into this trap, that they were to accept no substitutes for sin.
Zealous Jews had infiltrated the Church there, and began teaching
that one could only be saved and remain saved if they not only
believed in and upon Christ as their Savior, but also they had
to "keep," the Law.
But friend, the Law we find in the Bible was done away with when
Christ died. Listen to God's word on the matter for we read in,
Romans 3:24 (NIV) "[We] are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ
Jesus."
Romans 11:5-6 (NIV) "So too, at
the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if
by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would
no longer be grace."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) "For it is
by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no
one can boast."
The Bible presents the only way anyone can ever come into a right
standing with God, and remain that way. That way, my friend, is
by "grace through faith." The word GRACE means,
"to receive the kindness and blessings of another,
solely and simply based on their beneficent choice, without regard
to personal worthiness." This brings us to ask the
$ 64,000 question - "Is it by Gift or Reward?" The only
answer is by "gift!" Harry Ironside, a great preacher
of past years once said: "There are only two kinds of
religions in the world - the 'do' religion and the 'done' religion."
Yes, that sums it up. The more than 5000 religious faiths including
many sects of Christianity, all follow a system of works or performance
to be saved and to stay saved. These are the "do" religions
the Bible condemns. It is only true Christianity that says follow
Christ, who declared at the moment of His death -
"it is finished!" The Scripture
says it,
John 19:30 (NIV) "When he had received
the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that,
he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
Yes, those three words translated, "It is finished,"
are profound. In Roman times, receipts for taxes found in ancient
papyri have written across them this single Greek word, which
means "paid in full." The price for our redemption from
sin was paid in full by our Lord's death. So Paul could shout,
Romans 5:1 (NIV) "Therefore, since
we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ,"
The only cure for sin, the only way to God is through the Person
and Work of Jesus Christ who fulfilled the righteous demands of
God's perfect Law. His righteousness displayed and performed,
bought and paid for, in full, the right for us to stand guiltless
before God. For those who are trusting alone in and through Jesus
Christ to be saved from their sins, God "credits" to
them the full and final forgiveness of sins, the forever and present
gift of eternal life, and the promise of Heaven for all eternity.
In fact, this is how men were saved in the Old Testament as well
as the New Testament. We read about Abraham, who lived and died
hundreds of years before God gave the Law on Mount Sinai through
Moses,
Genesis 15:6 (NIV) "Abram believed
the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness."
What did Abraham believe that the Lord said to him? God said to
Abraham that He would send them a redeemer, a Messiah who would
become the final and forever sacrifice for their sins. Just as
Abraham had to painfully go through the motions of sacrificing
his only beloved son, so God told him and showed him that one
day far into the future, would come the deliverer of his people.
And, not only his people but the whole world! You see God promised
Abraham in His eternal covenant with him,
Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV) "The LORD
had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your
father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I
will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will
make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless
those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and
all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.""
So in the New Testament Paul the apostle could rightly says in,
Galatians 3:7 (NIV) "Understand,
then, that those who believe are children of Abraham."
Now, I know how hard it is to understand and accept these things.
You see in each and every one of us is the desperate desire to
justify our own goodness. Yet, the Bible says that all of us born
of Adam and Eve are sinners by nature, word and deed. The Bible
starkly declares,
Romans 3:9-10 (NIV) "What shall
we conclude then? Are we any better ? Not at all! We have already
made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even
one;"
As a result, God has planned to save all men who will come to
him by grace alone and…He has promised to keep us on the
same conditions. Now what does this say to the religionist who
declares, you must keep the LAW, or portions of the Law of God
as defined by Moses or even any cult leader today? God says, it
is finished, all that needs to be done is "believe God."
Believe God that He loves you enough to have provided a way to
be saved that even a little child could embrace it. Hear again
this wonderful life freeing truth,
Mark 1:15 (NIV) ""The time
has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent
and believe the good news!""
Acts 16:31 (NIV) "They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved--you and your household.""
Romans 10:10-13 (NIV) "For it is
with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is
with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture
says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same
Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.""
Friend, if you live by the law or the performance of any righteousness
as a means of obtaining God's favor, grace, forgiveness, blessing
or pardon - you are denying Christ! Law undermines grace. If it
is by the works of law, the Bible says "no flesh can be justified."
Spiritual merit for salvation or for fellowship with God is given
by grace and maintained by the same. If you have been living under
a religious system that teaches, you must perform, you most "do,"
then it is not Christianity no matter what it calls itself, no
matter how old the religion is! True Christianity is the belief-system
that lives and thrives only on faith and belief in the mercy and
goodness of God through Jesus Christ. Oh, I can't tell you how
wonderful it has been for me to live under the grace of God for
a quarter of a century. Before that, I had given up hope of ever
pleasing God. I knew my heart was black with sin. I knew that
nothing could ever wipe it clean. But when I found out God has
no intention of wiping it clean, but rather giving me a NEW HEART
that was clean throughout, I had hope. God promised even in the
Old Testament,
Ezekiel 18:31 (NIV) "Rid yourselves
[turn from] of all the offenses you have committed, and get a
new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?"
Since we are dead in our sins, Christ paid the ultimate price,
He gave His life for ours. He offers to God, His perfect righteousness
for our total lack of it, and He, Jesus Christ, the God/Man, gives
to all who receive Him by faith, a new heart and spirit made alive
to love, cherish, obey, follow, delight in, and enjoy the things
that please God.
So, where do "good works," we being God's masterpiece,
fit in? Well, we perform good deeds, we participate in ceremonies
that glorify God and picture His works among men, as a Post Script
to our faith, to simply say "thank you, Lord," And,
as that popular chorus we often sing says, Thank you, Lord
for saving my soul, thank you Lord for making me whole, thank
you Lord for giving to me thy great salvation so rich and free."
Is it by gift or by reward? Well my friend, that is up to you.
If you choose to face God one day by saying, I am at Heaven's
door with my baggage of good deeds and works, you will be very
sorry! Moreover, if you decide to stand at Heaven's door and say,
Lord I'm here by faith, but also by my obedience to the selective
laws I determined to follow, you too will be sorry! Jesus declares,
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) ""Not
everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and
perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never
knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
Those are serious words to consider. But words we have the ability
to heed. Today, make your faith the true faith of centuries, the
faith of true Christianity that says I believe, and that alone
is sufficient not only to save me, but keep me and satisfy me
till Jesus comes in glory! Accept no substitutes! It is by grace,
the pure, free and forever gift of God to all who believe, and
for Abraham and thousands of others down through the centuries
- it is enough to be counted unto us for righteousness sake. Friend
the Bible declares,
Hebrews 12:28 (NASB) "Therefore,
since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show
gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service
with reverence and awe;"
There you have it! Good works, deeds of kindness, performance
of certain rites and ceremonies the Bible approves all have a
place in the life of a Christian. But that place is not to obtain
a righteous standing or to keep one, but to show gratitude for
God's free gift of salvation from and forgiveness of sin. Therefore
serving the Lord becomes gladness and joy, and deep satisfaction
knowing God's pleasure in service of love for Him. May these truths
be a tangible part of your Christian experience, and if you haven't
experienced it, turn to Christ today. Trust Him alone for your
salvation and receive Christ into your heart and life as your
personal Savior and Lord.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please
write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),
or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/