Struggling with the Spirit of Legalism

The point: Recognize and avoid the particular ways in which the enemy of our souls will seek to gain an advantage over us.

Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 2:11 about not being ignorant of Satan's devices are used to illustrate the principle that spiritual leaders must anticipate and warn the people of God about the enemy's stratagems, rather than reacting after the damage is done.

In Jesus' name, Amen. In 2 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 11, the Apostle Paul wrote these words, For we are not ignorant of his, that is, Satan's, devices. And in the context of those words, Paul was referring to those devices, those stratagems of the devil, which he feared would be operative in the church at times, if he did not do what he was doing in that particular section of the letter. And those words contain a most vital principle

3:36 - 4:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize and avoid the particular ways in which the enemy of our souls will seek to gain an advantage over us.

The concept of the 'second generation' is defined as those whose primary molding influence has been parents and pastors within the church, shaping their views on life, marriage, and the world.

and then pray for grace that we might learn the lesson of the devil's stratagems on the heels of sorting out the wreckage. And it is the pressure of this principle of responsible spiritual leadership that has constrained me to preach this relatively brief series of messages which I have entitled The Privileges and Blessings, Liabilities and Dangers of the Second Generation. First of all, by way of brief review, let me say a word about what I mean by the second or the third or the fourth generation.

5:06 - 5:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray for a 'baptism' of meticulous obedience to God's Word, if that is what others label as legalism.

Martin recounts a story of someone repenting for having initially labeled Trinity Baptist Church as 'legalistic' due to its commitment to biblical worship and serious preaching, highlighting the common misuse of the term.

we want to feel chucked under the chair but a church that says no when we're doing church we're going to do God's church and we're going to do it so far as God gives us light every particular that's a legalistic church I had to smile recently when someone didn't know what they were saying and I didn't check them up on it but they were repenting of the fact that they had tried us out some years ago and left and then came back and looked at us a little different and said you know, when I first came I felt you folks were very legalistic I knew what he was saying preachers didn't come up here hand...

17:20 - 18:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He explains how a biblically framed nurture, while good, can make individuals liable to legalism regarding initial acceptance with God. Children are taught to please God through…

This extended analogy describes a wheelbarrow filled with all one's inherited privileges and good performances. While these are 'gold nuggets' for living life in the world, they become 'manure' when presented to God as a basis for acceptance, emphasizing that only Christ can be the ground of salvation.

nothing in my hands I bring simply to thy cross I cling now here as I speak now very pointedly by way of application to you of the second and third generation here you are surrounded by this godly nurture and all of its benefits marvelous here I am a 68 year old man reaping to this day the benefits of such a nurture that's why I called it unspeakable privilege and I want you to think in terms of the image of a wheel barrel I said Lord help me to come up with something that will make it click and this is the best I came up with

29:45 - 30:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: but until you're ready to call all the gold of your privilege and performance derived from your godly nurture until you're ready to call it manure you'll never have Christ you'll never have Christ

A story about a little girl who overcame lying because she found the process of confession and making things right 'wasn't worth it' is used to illustrate how children learn compliance, which can then be mistakenly relied upon for acceptance with God.

alright you got a wheel barrel and in that wheel barrel you put all of the things that you have because of your privileges and your performance you've not stiff armed the pressure of that nurture you have sought to be compliant and you've learned you've actually learned how to be kind be a brother and sister amazing three more spankings about being snobby one worth it you're like the little girl that my wife dealt with years ago in the camp and she came to her she was Aunt Mickey and I was Uncle Al and said Aunt Mickey I've got a problem with lying so my wife dealt with her told her now

30:28 - 31:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not allow your performance to shove Christ aside as the sole and constant ground of your acceptance with God.

Martin contrasts the hypothetical scenario of a child born to a prostitute in a crack house, dealing drugs and pimping, with a child raised in Christian nurture. This stark comparison is used to challenge the 'second generation' to recognize that their privileges offer no more basis for acceptance with God than the most depraved life.

through the lamb purchased blessings and we'll know they're coming from him how much more when we're still stained with our sins let me ask you sitting here today suppose you who've had the benefit of this kind of nurture suppose instead you were the son or the daughter of a prostitute and you were born in a crack house and as you grew older you learned before you were 10 years old how to deal drugs on the street you were a young man and before you're 15 you're pimping your 13 year old sister

51:36 - 52:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Be a Christ-obsessed, loving generation rather than nice, proper, formal believers who trust in their 'wheelbarrow of gold'.

He contrasts a 'Christ-obsessed, loving generation' with 'nice, proper, formal believing bunch of young people' who trust in their 'wheelbarrow of gold,' to highlight the difference between true faith and legalism.

loving generation rather than a nice proper formal believing bunch of young people who say they're in Christ but in their heart of hearts they're trusting in their wheelbarrow of gold never recognizing that it's a wheelbarrow of dung when it comes to their acceptance with God I have one other imagery to press before you I pressed it on myself picture with me that God gives you the privilege

53:48 - 54:32 Read in full sermon

The point: Live in the faith of Christ himself and Christ alone, both as the ground of your initial acceptance and continuous acceptance before God.

This illustration asks what one would present to God on their deathbed – their privileges and performance, or Christ alone – to underscore the ultimate futility of legalism and the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation.

of not being cut off suddenly unexpectedly but you know you're on the death bed and God's allowed you the privilege of still having your consciousness you're not all doped up to ease pain your brain is not off in la la land you're fully conscious but the doctors have told you and the nurses the end is near your soul is going to leave that body in the language of the hymn writer it's going to wing its flight to worlds unknown and you're going to stand before God what would you tell yourself in a few moments a couple of hours my soul will enter the blistering

54:32 - 55:16 Read in full sermon