The Amish Voice 4
1.
The person in the flesh consciously or subconsciously is trying to
secure credit, recognition, esteem, approval, acceptance, and praise
from God—all by his own energy and effort. Therefore, he mocks,
ridicules, and persecutes the believer who says that self-effort and self
-
righteousness are not enough and will not make a person acceptable
to God.
2.
The person in the flesh has to confess human weakness and
inadequacy—that he cannot make himself acceptable to God because
he is…
The person in the flesh refuses to accept this fact. He wants to think
highly of himself and place himself on a level close to God.
Therefore, when a believer comes along and says that a person has to
be born again by the Spirit of God, the natural man reacts. He refuses
to accept the fact that his flesh, his own energy and effort, is unable to
earn, win, and merit God’s approval.
“
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake” (Mt.5:11).
ILLUSTRATION:
There are few things sadder in life than that of a Christian believer
who has been bound up by legalism. Charles Simpson, in
Pastoral
Renewal
,
writes:
I met a young man not long ago who dives for exotic fish for
aquariums. He said one of the most popular aquarium fish is the
shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it,
it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium. Sharks can be six
inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the
ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet.
That also happens to some Christians. I’ve seen the cutest little six
-
inch Christians who swim around in a little puddle. But if you put
them into a larger arena—into the whole of creation—only then
can they become great.”
Where are you swimming...in the tank of legalism or in the joyful sea
of freedom?
5.
LEGALISM IS TO BE CAST OUT—RECEIVE NO
INHERITANCE (v.30).
The law cannot co-exist with the grace of God. The son of Hagar, the
law, shall not be heir with the son of Sarah, that is, grace. The fact of
coming judgment could not be illustrated any clearer: Ishmael was
cast out so that he would not share in the inheritance with Isaac
(
Ge.21:10f).
God never will accept anyone who approaches Him by law or by
works. Why? Because the person has to stand before God saying,
“
God, here are
my
works,
my
goodness,
my
righteousness, a list of
laws
I
have kept, a list of
my
contributions.” Such a claim is merely
deceptive boasting. Such a profession presents to God only human
effort and energy, works and deeds. God is perfect; therefore, only
perfection can exist with Him. No matter how much good and how
many good works a person presents to God, they are not enough, for
they do not make him perfect. Therefore, he must be cast from God’s
presence. But not the person of promise. The person of promise
approaches God saying:
Father, you are my Savior and Lord. You have loved me so much
that you sent your Son to die for me. I believe with all my heart
that Christ died for me, and I surrender all I am and have into His
keeping. I cast myself totally upon His righteousness and His
death for my sins.
God has promised that the person who sincerely believes in His Son
shall never perish but shall have everlasting life. He shall inherit the
promise of God. God will accept his belief, counting it as
righteousness, and the man shall inherit the promise.
“
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world,
was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith” (Ro.4:13).
6.
LEGALISM HAS NO CLAIM UPON THE CHILDREN OF
GRACE (v.31).
Believers are the children of grace, not of law. The fact is clearly seen
in all that has been stated above. Believers— all men if they would
only accept the fact—have so much for which to thank God. God has
loved the world and demonstrated His love beyond anything any
person could ever ask.
“
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life” (Jn.3:16).
ILLUSTRATION:
God gives each one of His children an eternal assurance of His care
for them. Legalism cannot have us anymore—we are now children of
too sinful
too short of God’s glory
too unrighteous
too unholy
too polluted
too hopeless
too helpless
too undeserving
QUESTIONS
:
1.
Why are believers persecuted?
2.
Why does a person who lives by the flesh persecute
believers?
3.
What motivates a person who lives by the flesh?
4.
What barriers does a person who lives by the flesh have to
overcome?
5.
What can you do to earn God’s approval?
QUESTIONS
:
1.
Why can grace and law not co-exist together? Have you ever
tried to mix them together? If so, what happened?
2.
Did God have a right to cast out Ishmael? Why?
3.
Exactly what is it that qualifies you to inherit the promise of
God?
