Faith Avenue: Christianity and Legalism - The Distinction Of Awareness
Faith Avenue: Christianity and Legalism by Apostle E.K Thulare
Welcome back to our Best Sermons of 2025 series as we End the Year with a bang. We've been taught so much, equipped with wisdom and an awareness of identity we operate from a point of power and a firm faith knowing the authority we've been given is unmatched.
Grace Encounter Church
March 9th 2025 Sunday Service
Title: Christianity and Legalism
Legalism is the law.
The Apostle opened up with clarifying the difference between Legalism and Christianity and how we'll see they operate in the church, among Christians. The application and characterization.
We dove right into this scripture to kick things off:
John 8:3-11 GNTD
[3] The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery, and they made her stand before them all. [4] “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. [5] In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?” [6] They said this to trap Jesus, so that they could accuse him. But he bent over and wrote on the ground with his finger. [7] As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them, “Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her.” [8] Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground. [9] When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first. Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. [10] He straightened up and said to her, “Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?” [11] “No one, sir,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”]
How did the teachers of the law and the Pharisees find her committing adultery ? A very valid and important question, it only leads to them being involved, looking at the situation and sin, it's a private matter, they declared it in a public place to condemn her.
How else would a witness testify about what happened at the crime scene if they weren't there?
Christianity is when someone has received the Lord Jesus in his life, being saved. We become Christians once we become saved,
the grace of God is active in our lives after receiving the Lord Jesus as Lord & Savior,
Washing us clean of all sin
We take up a new Behavioral pattern that goes in line with being a believer/Christian not the church.
Looking at the Christian life we walk in love, forgiveness, truth and Faith.
We trust only in the Lord. God needs no assistance. When we become believers we do not seek man's approval. It's a personal relationship with God.
Legalism - The laws of the church and what is expected of the believer.
Following these laws doesn't mean we are Christians, it means we are part of a specific church.
We see most people following after Christ yet not loving, not being merciful. The Pharisees followed the law of Moses not of Christ.
It is wrong to apply the law without being a believer.
Because If I go to church people think I'm a believer as I put on an act of kindness, sincerity while the heart is unclean.
All churches have their laws and systems set in place but they don't lead to Heaven.
There are Godly ways that lead to Heaven, applying the word and seeking God, when you become a Christian you know the God you serve, you know who God really is.
Legalism on the other hand makes us trust in spiritual leaders;
The Apostle is teaching us to solely trust in God. Not rely on Man for God's intervention in our lives. Which He emphasizes when addressing the congregation.
The church today - legalism goes hand in hand with church politics
Earthly matters being brought into the church portrayed to appear as if they are Holy/Godly. We end up thinking it's scriptural, we aren't reading our Bibles instead we depend on our feelings and our own way of thinking, we shouldn't seek the truth of God in others but in God.
God is a God of Love and Peace.
Scenario: In every setting there are laws, Christianity has spiritual laws, there those set in place by man and by God.
If we fast, this must happen: Heaven must open.
Those are laws set in place, if you're doing it with determination
You'll start accessing things based on how committed you are, that's how we tap into spiritual things
Legalism - makes us do what's compulsory - difference is the one who knows God receives answers and the other receives nothing because one isn't led by God but by the church.
There are laws that are set by Christians. There's been much criticism towards the conversation of polygamy but when you read the Bible, God didn't leave David because of the number of wives he had. We aren't permitted to misinterpret this teaching and go living recklessly, this is more of us being made aware. In the New testament Apostle Thulare clarified that it's Husband & Wife. Not Husband & Husband or Wife & Wife.
Pro tip: What is the trick? It's to know Jesus! You need to have a relationship with Him.
Our race is to receive eternal life through Christ. The woman was found by legalists and they found her committing adultery and she was the only one put on the hot seat, the married man was nowhere to be seen.
Accountability is required, you have to give an answer to God. That's the difference. It's not man we answer to as Christians.
The Pharisees weren't wrong because they saw the sin committed. Every action we have engaged in we have to account for in the long run.
Their sin was to condemn her.
Jesus Christ came for the sinners
We can't just be in a circle of believers and leave out sinners, they need the gospel, so they can renew their lives.
The Apostle shared that there were laws about women not permitted to wear trousers, preferring they cover up. That it makes you look presentable but not to appear as a believer. We can be seen as good among men and not be before God.
It's more about the inside than the outside. We should set our minds right, most chrustians look good on the outside but are filfthy on the inside. It does not good to worship and dance, yet our hearts aren't in the right with God. It is futile.
What the Pharisees and teachers of the law failed to show is mercy,
Churches are empty because most people aren't given mercy, they're condemned or demoted.
Those people who were found guilty got exposed infront of the church then removed from their seat as part of the church board or any involvement in church matters. No longer participating,will they reinstate you in front of the crowd? It makes no sense to condemn the person.
There is a huge difference between us and those who aren't saved, people who aren't saved show more mercy because we want to walk on the truth yet we do not follow it.
The woman sinned, it was a huge sin, the Bible condemns adultery, to sleep with another man's wife, a married man! She knew he was married yet went ahead with it. She was in the wrong but deserved mercy from the elders, they're supposed to represent Christianity.
It doesn't matter how wrong we are, we have to show mercy to those who have sinned, it is not our responsibility to judge, it's our responsibility to show mercy. We don't stand with them but with the Faith.
We don't approve of theft but we are able to pardon. If they had stoned her, they would've been called killers. It doesn't matter what they did but you have to show Love. Christ forgave those who crucified Him.
We shouldn't hold on to earthly matters such as grudges, hold nothing against anyone
Signs of Christianity
1. Forgiveness
2. Love
3. Mercy
The Lord Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, to forgive as we forgive others. But we don't forgive anyone; forgive everyone who mocks you and wrongs you for they know not what they do.
We can't declare death upon our enemies, we forgive them.
Instruction: Forgive those who've Wronged You.
There are those who aren't pleased with us. Legalism makes us step into pretence, being involved in the ministry yet we aren't forgiving, we cause people so much heartache.
A Christian is not part timer. We don't act the part of the Christian only in church, Wherever you go show that representation of being a believer. There are things that may seem small but they may cost us our place in Heaven. Is God proud of you? That's a question we should consider.
There's one who doesn't sleep, who sees everything and are you trustworthy before Him who is God? Showing mercy?
The Pharisees hadn't received the Faith, They were still focused on the law of Moses. The purpose of the law brought order. That we may not live contradictory lives, it doesn't save us. Yet serves as a guideline for us, a distinction between right and wrong.
Reminder: Back then when He wasn't ordained as a Minister
A man terrorised his father over a car crash, one day that man crossed paths with them, His parents were going on a trip to Capetown and he had a confrontation with the man who was wearing a church badge. He was a feared man around town who antagonized his father, Apostle Thulare gave him a few lessons and the man became aggressive and finally the man surrendered, from that day he was no longer feared. It all changed.
Our Christian faith isn't just an outfit we put on to look the part. It's how we live, every minute.
Being a Christian is showing mercy where none should be given..we should be forgiving.
Learn/come to forgive.
If we fail to forgive we might find ourselves in hell because of our heart being in the wrong.
When we walk in the faith, God works out a renewal.
There are people we didn't think we'd make peace with yet God's love and our Christian faith is able to change our situations
Don't hold grudges. God will promote and elevate you
God will take you to higher ground. Look at Joseph, God worked wonders for Him.
He trusted himself solely to God.
Going to church doesn't mean you're a believer.
When the devil fights you
He doesn't use what has recently happened, he uses the past.
People don't judge you based what they hear, they'll express how they how they feel about you even if it's inconsistent. Limit the information you give out to people because they will spread the information.
INSTEAD
Tell Jesus everything. He can be trusted.
When you have a relationship with God, it'll minimize church hurt because you can trust someone and they appear to be understanding and sincere only to leak the news.
Once the church knows something about someone and they get promoted it becomes difficult to embrace the person because they see the flaws and can't see anything past that.
A church goer has no reward, what pays off is being a Christian.
Stop trying to please the Pastor
Seek God instead.
Be led by God and complete your salvation!
Breakaway from the attachments in your heart. God is watching you, you can be loved by the Pastor and you'll be given duties based on your coming to church but what about your spiritual level? Are you growing? Developing?
You can be made a treasurer because you give not because you're saved.
Scenario: A lady from another church was very generous that one day she went missing and they sought out for her, even contacting the Apostle about her whereabouts, because of her deep pockets.
You're not doing the Pastor any favours. if you aren't saved and are trying to please him. We need to reflect on how we live, work out our salvation. We should be led to the truth instead of condemned to death. Speak the truth that gives Life.You being in church doesn't mean you're saved, you need to receive the Lord Jesus Christ.
So overall there's the rude awakening that filling up church seats yet our hearts being far from God is something that hinders us and keeps us from experiencing God's Love. Following the law doesn't save us, receiving Jesus does. Living as Christians that God will be proud to call His own children representing Him on earth.
Thank You.
God Bless
GEC
2025
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