A Legalistic Use of the Law?

We have to be careful in how we use the law before God's people.

1 Tim 1:8-11 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. NKJV

I recently listened to a sermon at the MLJ Trust on (Eph. 4:28), while I "agree" with the great Doctor on the majority of his doctrine, we should strive to not to be lazy in our approach of preaching God's law to believers, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Tim 2:15 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NKJV

Only taking a legalistic approach to God's law may show our favoritism upon rich and harsh taskmasters.

1 Peter 2:18-19 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. NKJV Eph 6:9 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. NKJV

For example one of the illustrations of stealing he gave was "evangelizing" on your employer's time. This is a legalistic use of the law, because you are exalting one law above another.

Rom 13:10 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. NKJV Gal 5:14 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." NKJV Gal 5:22-26 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. NKJV

Thankfully, the good Doctor ends the sermon with a positive spin to do good in the Gospel, but we should also include the Christian's liberty that comes from the motivation to love another in the power of walking by the Spirit. I myself am employed and have experienced different masters who were in charge over me. I have had good and gentle, and also the harsh and hard masters, who simply wanted to exercise their authority. Over all, I can only say that in my experience of working for a master, that I can only express thanksgiving and graditude; because my masters have done everything in their power to treat me with respect and honor, and to provide for my needs in the work place. But not everyone can have this testimony. Harsh taskmasters need to remember that they are on God's time and they too are able to steal from their employees who are pursuing righteousness in Christ.

Eph 6:4 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. NKJV Eph 6:9 9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. NKJV Matt 6:33-34 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

James 5:1-6 Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged 5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. NKJV

Slaves labor for The Lord and not "only" for men.

Luke 10:41-42 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." NKJV

Rom 6:20-23 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV

1 Cor 7:22-23 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. NKJV

Slaves are called to make good use of The Lord's time.

Col 4:1-6 4 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Christian Graces 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. NKJV

Eph 5:15-17 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. NKJV

While slaves are not to steal from their master, they are also to preach the Gospel to every creature in every place.

Mark 16:15-16 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. NKJV

The Gospel gives us the freedom to practice and fulfill that mission. There must be a balanced use of God's law for Christ is full of grace and truth.

1 Peter 2:18-25 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. NKJV 1 Tim 6:1-2 6 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. NKJV Matt 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. NKJV John 1:14-18 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said,'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. NKJV