Legalism vs. License

If you are able to drive a vehicle, have you ever gone off the road, past the rumble strips, and even, let’s admit it, end up in the ditch? It can be embarrassing, and dangerous. sometimes it’s because of snow/ice/road conditions; sometimes, let’s admit it, it’s because we are distracted.

One of the biggest temptations when you are starting to veer off the road, is to over-correct, and then either spin out of control or end up in the other ditch in a worse situation.

And I want to relate that today to our relationship with Jesus and the Christian life to driving a car. There are 2 big ditches that we can crash into or take us off course if we are not vigilant and staying focused on the main thing - that is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus.

2 ditches that I think all of us struggle with at least one—sometimes one or the other as we over-correct.

Please turn to Jude 3-4. Jude 3-4.

We are in the last sermon on the book of Jude. Let’s examine the first ditch.

Jude 3–4 NIV

3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

2 Ditches:

Ditch #1: Licentiousness

One of those ditches is Licentious-ness. We see the word license. vs. 4 gets at this...ungodly people have crept into the church that Jude is writing to—they are perverting or twisting the grace of God into a license for immorality.

Licentiousness is this idea that “God’s grace means I can live however I want.” I have a license to sin.

and so Jude spends the next several verses warning them, pleading with them...don’t go into that ditch. You will fall of course and even fall away. Their very salvation is at stake. if we continue down this ditch and never back on the road—we can fall away from Jesus. Our very salvation is at stake. because Jesus may be our Savior but He is not our Lord or king—or sovereign.

but there is another ditch as well.

Jude’s calling reminds me that most of the New Testament letters warn against false teaching. If licentiousness is one ditch...the other is legalism.

The Apostle Paul confronts this:

Galatians 1:6–9 NIV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Galatians 2:15–16 NIV

15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Paul was writing to a church that said “yeah believe in Jesus—but you have to work for your salvation and forgiveness, too. It’s Jesus PLUS following the OT law. and Paul says when you add to the Gospel, you don’t dilute, you delete the Gospel.

so the 2nd ditch besides licentiousness is

2. Legalism: “I must work for my salvation.” I must earn it; I must follow the rules to earn God’s favor.

so licentiousness is 1 ditch

legalism is another

as we drive on the Christian road...

Another way to say this:

Licentiousness - “God loves you and accepts you just the way you are.”

Legalism: “You must live right and obey for God to love you.”

Some other names for these is not just

Licentiousness vs. legalism but also:

Relativism vs. Moralism

Irreligion vs. Religion

Church Father - Tertullian is reputed to have said “Just as Jesus was crucified between 2 thieves, so the gospel is ever crucified between these 2 errors.”

and if you want to read more NT books of the Bible on this:

to study licentiousness—-Certainly read Jude, but also read 1 Corinthians—they majorly struggled with this. They were divided, worldly, sleeping with temple prostitutes—Paul challenges them to live up to their calling from God.

to study legalism - Galatians confronts legalism, and if you want to read another book in the Bible that confronts it read Colossians and Romans.

The reason I am confronting this today—is I believe Jude brings up licentiousness. but also because spiritually—if we veer of the Christian road—and go into one of these ditches—there is a lot at stake.

The ditch of licentiousness in Jude—read verse 5 and following. Basically verse 5-16 are warnings from Jude reminding them that our God is not afraid to judge. not because He is willy nilly throwing lightning bolts b/c He is in a bad mood...but because He is holy, beautifully holy, just, righteous....and the God of the universe will render HIs perfect judgment to those who don’t follow Him. so wake up—Jude says.

the ditch of legalism—is dangerous too! Galatians says if we follow this ditch—it is no gospel—no good news at all. a legalistic gospel is not a gospel—it doesn’t save.

both licentiousness and legalism are spiritually dangerous for your soul for eternity,

and I would argue are no way to fully live the abundant life God has for you RIGHT NOW.

so it’s very important that we don’t drive into these ditches but stay on the main road with Jesus.

let me give you some signs you might be veering towards one or the other.

some signs you are hitting the rumble strips...

It’s kind of like—years ago, Comedian Jeff Foxworthy was famous because he said “you might be redneck if...”

You might be a redneck if you ever cut your grass and find a car, you might be a redneck.

You might be a redneck if You think the last words to the Star Spangled Banner are "Gentlemen, start your engines."

You might be a redneck if you think Taking your wife on a cruise means circling the Dairy Queen.

....you think a woman who is out of your league bowls on a different night...

last time I mentioned these—Cal Clouser here said “Pastor Rick, I felt like you were looking right at me!” I don’t know if that is encouragement or conviction.

You might veer towards licentiousness if… “I can do whatever I want...God will forgive me” maybe you are not there fully...at least hitting the rumbles trips:

you never experience guilt/or healthy conviction when you sin. (you think all guilt is bad) You kind of just shrug off sin’, don’t care. Always justifying your behavior. Sin is not that big of a deal. You always find an excuse rather than just admitting it—confessing it—before God.

you might veer towards licentiousness if you just don’t think about or care about God’s holiness or being holy. The idea of holiness is not emphasized in your life—doesn’t even cross your mind. This is a big deal b/c Hebrews says “without holiness no one will ever see the Lord.” The Bible says God is holy.

another sign....

you think the biggest problem that is wrong with Christians are legalists. sometimes former legalists over-correct and drift into licentiousness. and each side looks down on the other—so ironically even though you might not say you are not a legalist—you can look down on legalists and compare yourself to them “I thank God at least I am not like that.” so you can be legalistic in your licentiousness towards other legalists.

another sign you might veer towards licentiousness—I was reading an article by a man named Costi Hinn, nephew to Benny Hinn—the famous TV evangelist who promoted what is called the prosperity gospel—that if I have enough faith and fill up my faith meter, God has to bless me with blessings, especially material and financial blessings. but Costi, growing up in this environment, seeing the insides of the ministry, grew disillusioned with it and saw the harm it was causing people, and left it. and a couple years ago he wrote an article called “The Licentiousness of False Teachers...” and he writes about Jude 4—-he says “false teachers don’t only go too far with their doctrine, they ALWAYS go too far with their deeds. they are marked by self-love—Paul warned Timothy in the last days that men will be lovers of self (2 Tim. 3:2) Costi talks about some of the sins he saw among the highest levels of leadership in the prosperity gospel....

immorality - especially sleeping around and sexual immorality of all kinds. They felt they had a license to do whatever they wanted sexually… (Jude warns about that, too!)

a lack of self-control. if the fruit of the Spirit is self-control—those in the licentious camp—struggle with self-control in so many areas.

greed - a lust for constantly more and more...materialism, consumerism—you might be a licentious person or veering towards it if your life is characterized by all these things.

one more sign of licentousness...you might veer towards this...

big focus on freedom. You define freedom as doing what I want when I want.

part of this is verse 4 Jude—denying Jesus as sovereign and Lord. Jesus is your Savior but He is not your Lord.

another part of this is a mistaken understanding of freedom. we often define freedom an absence of any constraint or rules. but this is mistaken—and we know this. Tim Keller - If I wanted to become an awesome piano player—I would have to practice, practice, and practice. you could be doing many other things, but if you have the talent and the discipline to practice, it opens up all kinds of avenues and opportunities and freedom all because you limited yourself and practiced. of course, if I decided today, I am quitting pastoral ministry and trying out for the NFL b/c I want to be a defensive lineman—you would laugh. I can practice my heart out but will never make the NFL. freedom is not just about the absence of restrictions—but finding the right ones. the liberating restrictions. If God made me, and He owns me, then He knows what is best for me. He knows if I live however I want (sin), it is like a cancer that will destroy me, but if I surrender to His lordship—only then, will it produce joy and peace—b/c I was made for relationship with Him.

so ironically when we choose to live however we want, even justifying it by God’s grace—i think it can be pretty enslaving...

but if we come under the lordship of Christ, it may sound restricting—but it’s freeing b/c God made us for Himself.

You might veer towards legalism if… “I got to work for my salvation.”

your relationship with God is marked by deep shame. You confess your sin, (maybe multiple times—) but you always carry this deep sense of shame that you are never good enough and can never shake it.

another sign...of legalish...

No intimacy with Jesus -

prayer life is all requests; there is no praising God, no just enjoying God for who He is...often a lack of joy...we don’t simply enjoy God or His Son Jesus in relationship for who He is

Life with God is marked by duty, duty, duty—-do, do, do

all this pressure—this weightiness this burden to always be performing for God.

my devotional life is just a check list rather than time with the Creator God

Judgmentalism - looking down or up on others—life with God is measured by your performance, so if I am doing well, I look down on others, but if I am not doing well compared to others, I feel insecurity and fear

suffering knocks us off course...either we:

focus on ourselves— “What am I doing wrong? I must deserve this—b/c I am suffering. I must have sinned.”

or focus on God—mad at Him—”God owes me—I put in the time—-” this is a very transactional approach to God...

So Application:

Diagnose yourself.… do I tend to veer towards the license ditch (I can live however I want) or the legalism ditch (I must obey God to earn his favor) which one and why? be honest with yourself. All of us have a tendency we veer towards. I know growing up here in a small town—I can veer towards the legalism ditch. which one are you veering towards and why? (let’s all shout out which one we veer towards)

Ask someone to diagnose you....preferably a close friend or spouse or your kids. because they probably know you better than yourself.

Realize both are similar but not equal.

how are both similar? both are focused on self—self love - Sinclair Ferguson, a Scottish Preacher, said that legalism and licentiousness (he called it antionominism) are nonidentical twins from the same womb. nonidentical twins from the same womb. The legalist and the lawbreaker alike are in thrall to poison that started in the Garden of Eden. when Satan slithered in and tempted Adam and Eve with the lie that God cannot be trusted. “He doesn’t love you. He doesn’t have your best interest at heart. God’s holding out on you.” so the licentious person looks for freedom in doing whatever they want, but the legalist person looks to control or manipulate God—almost like to get the upper hand on God and then God can’t hold out on me. “God has to bless me b/c I am doing all this good.” “God owes me.”

but though they are similar they are not equal. In fact, i would argue that of the 2 — which is more dangerous? probably legalism

yes both are wrong—both can end up in not following Christ. both can mean eternity away from God.

but legalism is more dangerous - why? b/c the legalist at least looks like or convinces themselves that they are following God because on the outside they are following all the rules. They look like a religious person.

the legalist has a hard time being convinced that they are doing anything wrong. they are blind to their condition...just like when Jesus in the Gospels when he confronted the religious leaders, he would challenge them boldly, i imagine Jesus pleading with them, trying to wake them up.

for the licentiousness person—their rebellion against God is more obvious. It is obvious that they may be living for themselves or not obeying for the sake of holiness.

Ask yourself— “What do I really believe about God?” both legalism and licentiousness are distortions about who God is.

I remember going to King’s Island as a kid and Cedar Point to ride roller coasters. and both places had along the side an artist who would draw a comic picture of you—what’s called a caricature...that would emphasize and distort some of your most prominent features. so for me, if the artist would have drawn me my kids would say they would probably feature my big forehead or nose or small ears—kids are great for humbling you. or if they did Donald Trump—they would show his hair — waving! they take one or 2 features and emphasize those more than anything else.

for the legalist—they often distort and over-emphasize God’s justice. God’s holiness. God’s righteousness. God said “Be holy because I am holy.” but they do this forgetting or under-emphasizing God’s grace; God’s mercy; God’s love.

for the licentious person they often distort and over-emphasize the opposite. “God is a god of love. of grace. of mercy.’ forgetting that God is also holy, righteous, and just.

both are important.

and at the cross—we see both the justice of God and the grace of Christ coming together perfectly—that’s why the cross is so amazing

so as you and are driving along the road of Christianity—we need to make sure we are getting to know God well. accurately. rightly.

and the way we do this—it’s no surprise is through God’s Word.

I have known my wife Jamie since 2003 when we started dating. and how did I get to know her—by spending regular time with her. I know her so well that wherever I go, even if I am not with her, I know how she would respond in whatever situation I find myself. It’s like I have her voice in my head (in a good way), another wise counselor with me. Do we know God that well—who He is that in the situations we find ourselves in—we know how He would respond?

am I regularly in God’s Word...do I fight to make sure that every day at some level, I am reading or listening to God’s Word? I mentioned a couple of weeks ago—that when we read God’s Word—we have to remember that God is the main character. The Bible is not primarily a book about us—but about God. and who He is.

one of the ways this comes out is I start seeing Jesus as the hero of every story in the Bible. for instance, when I read a command in Scripture not to lust - Jesus said that in the sermon on the Mount—-I am first of all reminded that Jesus never sinned, He never lusted, even in thought or desire—and that is amazing! When I read a command to forgive those who feel unforgiveable—I remember that Jesus is the hero—who even on the cross was saying “Father forgive them—for they not know what they do.”

when I read the OT—(It’s hard to find Jesus there) one of the ways we see Jesus even there is by comparing and contrasting Jesus to all the characters we see.

Tim Keller:

Tim Keller on the Christian Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel Jesus, the True and Better

Jesus is the true and better Adam, who passed the test in the garden (of Gethsemane) and whose obedience is imputed to us. …

Jesus is the true and better Abel, who, though innocently slain, has blood that cries out for our acquittal, not our condemnation. …

Jesus is the true and better Abraham, who answered the call of God to leave the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void, “not knowing whither he went,” to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac, who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us all. God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from me.” [So] we can say to God, “Now we know that you love us, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob, who wrestled with God and took the blow of justice we deserved so that we, like Jacob, receive only the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph, who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses, who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant. …

Jesus is the true and better rock of Moses, who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job—the truly innocent sufferer—who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends. …

Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther, who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost the ultimate heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life but gave his life—to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah, who was cast out into the storm so we could be brought in.28

Jesus is the hero—that keeps me on the road.

5. Remember—Jesus is not just your Savior and Lord but also gloriously beautiful.

The legalistic person says “you are your own Savior. and feel the weight of Jesus being Lord—so I have to somehow save myself or cooperate with Jesus on this self-salvation project.)

The licentious person says “yes Jesus is my Savior, I prayed a prayer—but I am my own Lord.”

but the person who is driving well—-sees Jesus a both Savior and Lord and gloriously beautiful.

You see experiencing beauty is life-transforming.

You and I are on a constant quest for this—this is why I think sometimes addictions form—we are looking for something beautiful that will deal with all the pain, trauma, inadequacy, hard things of life, and we think that addiction, or pornography, or gambling will be that beautiful thing that will complete us. but it leaves us empty and enslaved.

we see this quest for beauty in every music and rock concert we go to. We will spend lots of money to have incredible musical experiences because they are just beautiful. my wife and I went to see the musical Wicked this past summer in Indianapolis—and if you have ever watched Wicked, Elphaba, the wicked witch of the West has this incredibly moving song right before transmission called Defying Gravity—and it’s powerful—because she is taking a stand for justice, going against the Wizard, even her friend—the music is incredible. and that’s the last song right before intermission. and as that song ended and we got up to stretch out legs, everyone is bawling...why? beauty...

how much more so with Jesus and His beauty!

you see—seeing Jesus as beautiful—confronts the legalist who is very dutiful. Jesus was glad to die for me. the Gospel is good news not advice. advice I must do. Gospel is done—because of my sin—my casting off God’s rule—and putting myself in place of God...I deserve the Bible says—death. eternity away from God.

yet—the gospel—the good news is that God initiated a rescue plan for us—by sending His Son, Jesus Christ from heaven to earth.

Jesus lived and died for me on the cross on my behalf to pay my penalty and debt for my sin, so I could be wonderfully forgiven, made new, and beautiful in God’s sight. and I simply receive this gift by faith (not works) as a gift.

this confronts my legalism!

it is by grace you have been saved through faith—it is the gift of God. this brings freedom—my chains are gone my heart was free! I rose henceforth and followed theee

seeing Jesus as beautiful confronts the licentious person. Jesus had to die for me. it took the blood, the precious blood of Jesus to forgive me. Jesus moved heaven and earth to come to me, so why I would not submit and surrender to a beautiful God like that—who would do that for me? amazing love how can it be that you my kind would die for me? amazing love I know it’s true now it’s my joy to honor you. so as I believe in faith, I confess my sin and repent—coming under the beautiful lordship of Jesus.

the song amazing grace expresses that tension “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved...”

when we see Jesus—He is not just Savior, example, and Lord, He is our treasure. our worth. the beautiful one. that only one that can truly satisfy our souls—living water, the bread of life. tasting and seeing that He is good—do you have that kind of relationship with Jesus?