Grace Opposed To Legalism

The Gospel of John  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

This Lord’s Day we are making our way forward in the account of the healing of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda here in John chapter 5. As we talked about the last time we were here, Jesus displays His compassion and mercy in this story even on one who doesn’t believe in Him, have faith in Him, let alone know who He even is.
And as we will see today with this man who was healed, when confronted by the Jews, by Judaism, by legalistic religion, this man who was healed by the grace of God, denies God’s grace and even turns on Jesus and tells the Jews who healed them in an act of shielding himself against shame and ridicule at the hands of the Jews. This is the power of religion.
What is legalism?
The word “legalism” does not occur in the Bible. It is a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. Doctrinally, it is a position essentially opposed to grace. Those who hold a legalistic position often fail to see the real purpose for law, especially the purpose of the Old Testament law of Moses, which is to be our “schoolmaster” or “tutor” to bring us to Christ (). © Copyright 2002-2017 Got Questions Ministries
We know that this man doesn’t believe
If you have eyes to see, have you seen what Jesus was doing up to this point? If you have ears to hear, have you heard what He has been saying in all these accounts here in John’s gospel? He has done miracles, signs that were meant to point to His Messianic identity. This is the Son of God, the Word become flesh, God dwelling amongst men, God amongst the creation of His own hand. Jesus does that which is contrary to human abilities, He heals the sick and creates wine from water. Signs, to to show His true identity.
Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel, came to Jesus by night in awe of His miraculous ability and is told the truth how a man must be saved, and in who he must believe in to have eternal life, not the signs but Jesus. The woman at the well, the Samaritan woman when told about the living water that only Christ could give, that gift of God, and she looks to water from Jacob’s well, and she is told what water to receive, to drink, not the water of Jacob’s well but of Him, the source of living water. The nobleman asks Jesus to come to his home to heal his son, Jesus tells Him, “unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Jesus doesn’t go but says “go your way, your son lives.” Not the sign, but faith. And even here with this paralyzed man looking to make it into the stirred waters, Jesus says in this miracle, not the water but Me! Solus Christus! In Christ alone!
The nobleman asks Jesus to come to his home to heal his son, Jesus tells Him, “unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Jesus doesn’t go but says “go your way, your son lives.” Not the sign, but faith. And even here
What does all this tell us? The natural tendency in man is to look to things and place our trust in things, created things as if they can do what Jesus can do, rosaries, scapulars, crucifixes, self-help books, drugs and alcohol, vain repetitive prayers, prayer with some kind of technique to get God to move at your command, anointed oils and anointed handkerchiefs blessed by men and not of God, philosophies. We can be so idolatrous, looking to created things and and not the Creator. We even look to religion as if it in and of itself saves. Religion does not save! Jesus does! Coming to church does not save, Jesus does!

The Reaction of False Religion

The Reaction Of Religion

The Reaction Of False Religion

The Reaction Of False Religion
The Reaction Of False Religio

And that day was the Sabbath.

Why is this important? What is the Sabbath?

2 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

After creating the heavens and the earth Genesis says:

2 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

We see God’s commandment of it in better known to us as the 4th Commandment.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

But it’s in where we see the meaning of it’s use for Israel.

15 And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

If we really sit and meditate on what this is actually means, the Israelites were released from their bondage of slavery and forced labor by God’s mighty hand and given rest and a land of rest, a land of milk and honey, a land prepared for them where all they had to do was occupy and live, but God told them rest from their daily labors and observe the Sabbath in remembrance of what God did for them. This was a day set aside for the worship of the One True God who gave His people rest.
But again I ask, why is this important? It’s important because the Jews perverted what God intended to be used for good. Jesus, the Word become flesh opposes that perversion by healing a man from sin who was going to run to the religious establishment which kick starts the hostility of a legalistic and and perverted religion.
How was it perverted? Let me give you an example:
The Mishnah Shabbat

7:2 A The generative categories of acts of labor [prohibited on the Sabbath] are forty less one:

B (1) he who sews, (2) ploughs, (3) reaps, (4) binds sheaves, (5) threshes, (6) winnows, (7) selects [fit from unfit produce or crops], (8) grinds, (9) sifts, (10) kneads, (11) bakes;

C (12) he who shears wool, (13) washes it, (14) beats it, (15) dyes it;

D (16) spins, (17) weaves,

E (18) makes two loops, (19) weaves two threads, (20) separates two threads;

F (21) ties, (22) unties,

G (23) sews two stitches, (24) tears in order to sew two stitches;

H (25) he who traps a deer, (26) slaughters it, (27) flays it, (28) salts it, (29) cures its hide, (30) scrapes it, and (31) cuts it up;

I (32) he who writes two letters, (33) erases two letters in order to write two letters;

J (34) he who builds, (35) tears down;

K (36) he who puts out a fire, (37) kindles a fire;

L (38) he who hits with a hammer; (39) he who transports an object from one domain to another—

M lo, these are the forty generative acts of labor less one.

The Mishnah Shabbat

7:2 A The generative categories of acts of labor [prohibited on the Sabbath] are forty less one:

B (1) he who sews, (2) ploughs, (3) reaps, (4) binds sheaves, (5) threshes, (6) winnows, (7) selects [fit from unfit produce or crops], (8) grinds, (9) sifts, (10) kneads, (11) bakes;

C (12) he who shears wool, (13) washes it, (14) beats it, (15) dyes it;

D (16) spins, (17) weaves,

E (18) makes two loops, (19) weaves two threads, (20) separates two threads;

F (21) ties, (22) unties,

G (23) sews two stitches, (24) tears in order to sew two stitches;

H (25) he who traps a deer, (26) slaughters it, (27) flays it, (28) salts it, (29) cures its hide, (30) scrapes it, and (31) cuts it up;

I (32) he who writes two letters, (33) erases two letters in order to write two letters;

J (34) he who builds, (35) tears down;

K (36) he who puts out a fire, (37) kindles a fire;

L (38) he who hits with a hammer; (39) he who transports an object from one domain to another—

M lo, these are the forty generative acts of labor less one.

This is the type of legalism Jesus opposed. God only meant for them to cease from their daily work throughout their week and rest in observance of God’s Commandment so that remember and worship but this is what they turned it into.
Let’s see it in action:

Matt. 15:1–20

7 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

7 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
Jesus opposes this type perversion by healing a man who by sin’s grip was held in paralysis. Why do I say this? As we will see shortly in verse 14 Jesus tells him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” But Jesus releases this man from that bondage and gives Him rest on the Sabbath”
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitch
Jesus did what was right on the Sabbath, but this kick starts the hostility of a legalistic and and perverted religion. The religion of men.
9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

Instead of seeing the grace of God in this man being cured from his illness and praising God with Joy, all they could do was look to their rules and to why they were being violated. They could care less about this mans well being. There was no good in their supposed outward obedience to the Law. Jesus says of them in Matthew 23:27-
Instead of seeing the grace of God in this man being cured from his illness and praising God with Joy, all they could do was look to their rules and to why they were being violated. They could care less about this mans well being. There was no good in their supposed outward obedience to the Law.

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Instead of seeing the grace of God in this man being cured from his illness and praising God with Joy, all they could
This is the best that outward religion can produce in a person. Hypocrisy! Even if you are a man or woman who holds to morality, if that morality is Godless your morality is only self-righteousness. It turns into something like this, “well I’m not like that person, I don’t do what he does” I love the Bible because it destroys that attitude and mode. I’ve seen this especially in the attitudes of drug dealers and drug addicts. The drug dealers looks down on the one addicted as if he is more righteous than the one addicted, as bad as that is. The Word of God levels the playing field and says that the crack dealer is just as bad if not worse than the crack head. I know the addicted attitude and the pain, guilt, and shame and when I was forgiven of all I’ve done and forever changed in my heart by Him I look to Scripture like this when Jesus says, to the self-righteous Jewish establishment:

Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

And I am given rest in my heart. Don’t tell me that God doesn’t forgive when His word says He does. But the self righteous will put themselves out of the kingdom of God.

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

In the face of this giant called Judaism, the man folds and shifts the blame on Christ, the one who made Him well. This man begins show his ingratitude for Jesus. This is a far different than the attitude of the man born blind in John chapter 9.
John An Unwilling Witness

He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk’ ” (v. 11). In essence, the man was saying: “It wasn’t my idea. Somebody came along and told me to pick up my bed and walk for the first time in thirty-eight years, so what was I supposed to do? I only did what He told me to do. If you have a problem with that, go talk to Him.”

John An Unwilling Witness

In essence, the man was saying: “It wasn’t my idea. Somebody came along and told me to pick up my bed and walk for the first time in thirty-eight years, so what was I supposed to do? I only did what He told me to do. If you have a problem with that, go talk to Him.”

John An Unwilling Witness

In essence, the man was saying: “It wasn’t my idea. Somebody came along and told me to pick up my bed and walk for the first time in thirty-eight years, so what was I supposed to do? I only did what He told me to do. If you have a problem with that, go talk to Him.”

John An Unwilling Witness

In essence, the man was saying: “It wasn’t my idea. Somebody came along and told me to pick up my bed and walk for the first time in thirty-eight years, so what was I supposed to do? I only did what He told me to do. If you have a problem with that, go talk to Him.”

He’s not doing anything different than playing the blame game that Adam and Even did in Genesis. How could this be? 38 years and by the power of the Son of God he is healed instantaneously and he denies Him before men. Do you remember what says?

8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

Their looking for the one who violated the tradition of the Rabbi’s and pressing this man with intimidation. That’s their only concern.
In the face of this giant called Judaism, the man folds and shifts the blame on Christ, the one who made Him well. Their looking for the one who violated the tradition of the Rabbi’s and pressing this man with intimidation.
Their looking for the one who violated the tradition of the Rabbi’s and pressing this man with intimidation.
But it was they who were in violation of the Laws of God. Jesus says to them in Matthew 23:

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

Out of all the sick that was there, Jesus walks up to this man without any mention as to who He was and heals him. So the One who healed him was an unknown stranger to Him.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

We know that as a result of the fall, sickness and death are part of that fall. But Illness is not always the result of personal sin. Look at Job. What he went through had nothing to do with any type of sinfulness but had everything to do with his faithfulness.
But Jesus says to Him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more...” In this case, this man’s illness was a direct result of his sin. We know that it can happen even to the disobedience in believers. We just read it in .
In this case, this man’s illness was a direct result of his sinfulness and we know that it can happen even to the disobedience in believers. We just read it in .
and we know that it can happen even to the disobedience in believers. We just read it in .

30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

“Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” But what does Jesus mean by “lest a worse thing come upon you?” If this man persisted in unrepentant sin the consequences would be way worse than a 38 year illness, they would eternal as in eternal punishment in hell.

15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Isn’t it amazing that he would go back to the same religion that pressed him with intimidation and had no care for him that he would again deny Jesus and tell them exactly who it was that cured him. He didn’t want to look like He was the Sabbath breaker and so he, again throws it on Jesus. His loyalty was not to Jesus but to the system. What ingratitude and unbelief! Who would do this? With all the evidences provided in Holy Scripture, sources outside of Holy Scripture, a world that has been so impacted by this Jesus we preach, this is nothing but blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This man took the healing and ran with it. Knowing and even taking what He freely gives with love just to give in return the Judas kiss.
But people do it everyday. How much more do you need before you allow Jesus into your life. Are you guilty of doing the same thing? Repent, and beg Him into your life! “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
Don’t you see, just being a good person on the outside is not enough. As a matter of fact you are no better than when you were at your worst. What is a form of morality without God? It is to willingly reject God altogether and you are no better for it but more worse off. Repent, and beg Him into your life! “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

This wasn’t the last time Jesus would do His Father’s work on the Sabbath. This was all done with a plan and a purpose. It was all done for the glory of God. Even though it might look grim this the beginning our journey with Jesus to the cross, to the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Messiah and King, our Lord and our God Jesus Christ.
Even though it might look grim this the beginning our journey with Jesus to the cross, to the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Messiah and King, our Lord and our God Jesus Christ.
This wasn’t the last time Jesus would do His Father’s work on the Sabbath. This was all done with a plan and a purpose. It was all done for the glory of God. Even though it might look grim this the beginning our journey with Jesus to the cross, to the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Messiah and King, our Lord and our God Jesus Christ.
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