Entusted "Two nasty "L" Words"

Vrs 1 “fall away”
Spirit says Matt 24 and Passages in Revelation

Paul is dealing with the believers in the church that are falling toward asceticism (Religion that is man centered and created)

Preference-I choose not to
Example: Watching shows that are about solving crimes.
But because I feel this way and my preference is that for me based on
Phil 4. I now have the liberty as a pastor to help you think about those things.

Questions: why do I watch this? How does it make me feel? If Jesus came over to hang out would I watch this with Him?

On the other hand if I were to say this is wrong…you should not do this because I do not do this.

Conviction-I feel like this is a sin for me. Romans 14 tells us who have a conviction like that not to pass it to others and those who do not have the conviction not to force those who do into something they feel is sin.

Absolute-This is biblically wrong

Why tell you this??? Because the two nasty “L” words hinge on the abuse of these concepts

The first nasty “L” word is Legalism
-Legalism is not keeping the law it is adding to the law.
The legalist thinks by adding to the law they are being more righteous and God is more pleased, they make preferences and convictions = absolutes
Jesus spoke out against these guys “twice the son of hell”

How to be a legalist…
-take verses out of context
-impose your preferences or convictions on others
-make your rules the ones you part company over
-try to convince others to agree (particularly the leadership of the church) organize a witch hunt (this person is always running around complain about what is wrong with everyone and everything.
-be the extra biblical rules police

*Problem is legalism causes non-Christians to retaliate in attacks considerhumanism.org

The next nasty “L” word is Liberalism
-Free from tradition or authority…no absolutes

This passage does not specifically teach about liberalism but I feel now is an appropriate time to bring this up. To be honest this group here at “The Five” does not struggle with legalism…there are maybe 3 of you who do and guess what you 3 won’t listen anyway because you think your right. I just taught the rest of the people here how to identify you.

Most of you here will struggle with liberalism…why? Because you were brought up in a society that says…abortion is a women’s choice, homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle, living together is a good trial before marriage, don’t trust anyone in authority, love is a feeling not a decision, you can do anything you put your mind to, play games without keeping score so everybody wins, there is no absolute truth, if it feels good do it, as long as it does not hurt anyone, and the list goes on.

And the permeating attitude is…”Who is God to tell me”
I say it to my kids “I am your father”
Romans 9:20 “But who are you O man to answer back to God”?

How to be a liberalist..
-take verses out of context (that does not mean that)
-there are no absolutes
-Part company with people who do have absolutes
-criticize those who believe absolutes
-be the outlaw that brings liberation to the people


What causes these warped views
-demons vrs1
liberalism and legalism they are both demonic and they are both a departure of biblical faith
The pendulum will swing back and forth and have a hard time landing on the truth of the Word because Satan is behind those bad doctrines and interpretations

-seared consciences (seared by lies) vrs 2 Conscience is messed up by the lies of the false teaching.
Liberalist example That is why taking the argument of abortion some can sit back and say “it just does not seem right that a women does not have the right to choose”

Legalist example they personally feel bad about doing something not put forth in the Word by for some odd reason they don’t feel bad in the least about judging others and slandering others for not following what think is correct

-incomplete view of God Vrs 3 God is the giver of good things
Demons are striking at the goodness of God. The created pleasures are designed to point us to God and to thank Him. But taking those things away detracts from praise.


-incomplete view of His creation Vrs 4 Creation is good for us to enjoy
Vrs 4 God’s creation is good but people will always try to use it for sin.

I can have people over and have conversation, eat food and drink wine to the glory of God or I can gossip and slander in conversation be a glutton and get drunk. So do a not have conversation because of gossip and slander do I not have food because of gluttony or have wine because of drunkenness. Is conversation, food and wine evil? No it is the abuse of it that is.

The legalist would say abstain from certain foods or sensual pleasure because it shows we are better.

-ignorance of His Word Vrs 5 Either don’t know His Word or know it but take things out of context.


-No relationship with Jesus (prayer) Vrs 5

This is exactly the reason why you do not recognize the god the legalist and the liberalist worships. That is not the Jesus that I know. 2 Cor. 11:1-7 “another Jesus”

The legalist’s and the liberalist’s god loves death… and our God has conquered death.
Do you hate death? The last few years have validated in my mind that I hate death. That’s why I fight for life the GOSPEL