False teachings and lawlessness

The Fine Balance between the Law, Legalism and the Grace of God

The danger of the current age

Jesus pointed out the danger of the current age – lawlessness in his prophecy of the end of the age in matt 24:12.

Matthew 24:11-12 NASB

[11] Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. [12] Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

It is a fair assessment to say we are at the end of the age- because this warning is being fulfilled before our eyes today - the end of the age will be marked by teachings which promote lawlessness. It is so now. What then is lawlessness?

If we were to look at the scripture, Lawlessness in part is a form of teaching which attempts to rationalize away the need for the 10 commandments.

Freed from the Law by grace?

There is a teaching prevalent currently which states that believers are freed from all moral obligations because the forgiveness of the Blood of Jesus and the grace of God and the obedience of Jesus which covers and acts as a substitute for the believer in Christ. Therefore there is no more need to be obliged to live by any moral standard as all has been fulfilled by and through Christ.

The teaching is in part correct, that we are not saved by self effort to be on our best behaviour. We are saved only by Jesus perfect forgiveness and grace, and the Righteousness of Jesus – His morally perfect and completely God honouring life has acted as a substitute to speak for the believer when we stand before God and put faith in His finished work for us.

Good beginning bad conclusion

The conclusion of this teaching however, is erroneous- that we are freed therefore from every moral obligation to keep the law. This error falls into what the scriptures call licentiousness or lawlessness. Licentiousness means giving free pardon and approval for a sinful lifestyle. Lawlessness achieves its result through removing the word of the law and its requirements from the heart of the believer. 

Such false teachings produces licentiousness. One is the cause of the other. Going back to the core scripture of matt 24- it is the massive emergence of flase Teachers, producing false teachings which produce lawlessness not in the world, but in the church- the church has lost its testimony becaus it has lost Gods word which preserves Godliness.

Consider this scripture in which Jesus asserts the importance of the Law, the 10 commandments in the heart of God and its relevance to the believer.

Matthew 5:17-20American Standard Version (ASV)

17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Pharisees had legalistic behaviour – outward obedience and compliance towards God but their inner lives were sinful – greed, lust, the hunger for power and influence and position. Most glaringly they did not love God or love others. 

The Pharisees condemned outwardly sins like adultery, prostitution and were careful that they were not guilty of these, however their pride, arrogance, and corrupted hearts which could not see their own wrong were an abomination to God. Probably a greater abomination than outward lust because these sins prevented them from coming to Jesus.

Jesus New covenant teachings gives some recognition to what the Pharisees did well – outward obedience and Behavioural conformity- however what it lacked was a true change of heart or the exercise of true love.

Jesus added on to the standard for believers – our righteousness must exceed the Pharisees to qualify to enter into God’s Kingdom fully.

What does this mean?

#1 Legalism is out!

Jesus is not advocating devotion and adherence to the law as a means for heart transformation. The Law and devotion to it and the worship of human effort to keep the Law was the Pharisees’ way which only produced death. 

Men do not receive the grace of transformation by trying harder to be good. Legalism – depending on the law and your effort to be good is out!

#2 Intimacy and transformation through faith

By faith, in a relationship of depending on God, Jesus is saying that the Holy Spirit when He comes and lives in the heart of the believer, when God is welcome when the work of the spirit to change and transform is embraced, in intimate and whole dependence on the part of the believer on God - produces the Christ-birthed and Spirit-sustained life. This is the path to Godliness, which leads away from lawlessness. It is also different from the false teachings today that do not require any life or heart transformation as evidence of a life touched by Gods grace and changed by encountering His presence. 

#3 the completeness and beauty of the God born life

#3 This Christ-birthed life not only outwardly conforms to the laws of God – in terms of outward behaviour - it does not envy, it does not commit adultery, does not murder because if one is truly full of the generous love of God and blessings of God’s fellowship, sinful desires will be stopped. 

And we are gradually changed by God’s impulse to bless, build up, to serve  and love others. 

"I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it" matt 5:17

The Christian life as outlined in Matt 5:17 keeps the outward standard of the law in behavior and exceeds it by #1 providing pure heart intentions which are the good and pure desires of love and #2 it has works of blessing and love to others. When Christ comes into your heart, it is not our power that keeps the law, it is the presence of Christ that fulfills the law through us.

Be wary of teachings which strive to either place the law as important – "be good! Strive to keep the law, strive to have better behavior by your own effort." This is legalism – it ignores the grace of God, and the fact that men cannot change except by the power of God. These teachings are not about Jesus and the power and work he comes to do in our hearts.

Truth in the middle of extremes.

Also be wary of teachings that minimize the importance of the law – that we are freed from all the demands of the 10 commandments.

Wise bible teachers all say that truth is found in balance – the Law is important – yet do not major on it and fall into legalism – We are free from legalism, but also be wary of going too far so as to declare that the Law is irrelevant, because if you do, you will create lawlessness. 

Stay in the middle path between all stay clear of the drains and ditches on either side of the road, focus on the Love of God, on building up a relationship with God above all, and he will transform you and you will be kept safe from both legalism (self effort and striving) and lawlessness (a destructive sinful lifestyle).