Legalism - the mother of self-righteousness and ungodliness

Grace - the mother of godliness and good works

Titus 3:4-8

Many years ago a preacher wrote of his ministry as a lost religionist, “I preached morality until there was scarcely a moral person left in the parish. I preached righteousness and goodness until I could hardly find a decent, honest man anywhere around me.” Then God saved him. He began preaching Christ crucified and salvation by the free grace of God in him, and things changed. Sinners hearing the message of God’s free and saving grace in Christ, believing the gospel of the grace of God, began to live graciously.

This is exactly what Paul told us would happen if we would just preach the gospel (Tit. 3:4-8). The preaching of works, exalting man, always results in reprobate behavior (Rom. 1:22-32). It is the gospel of the grace of God, in which the righteousness of God is revealed, that is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16-17). The gospel, not the law, is the power of godliness (2 Tim. 3:5).

I do not preach sabbath keeping, because God forbids it (Col. 2:16). Believers do not keep a carnal sabbath day; but we do truly keep the sabbath. CHRIST IS OUR SABBATH! We rest in him (Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:4-11).

I do not preach circumcision, because our Lord forbids it (Gal. 5:1-4). Believers do not observe the carnal ordinance of circumcision for the same reason we do not observe a carnal sabbath, or a day of atonement. Christ fulfilled all the law for us; and we are free from the law in him. But we are the circumcision (Phil 3:3). GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS CIRCUMCISED OUR HEARTS! That circumcision made without hands is the regenerating work of God the Holy Spirit by which the covenant of grace and all its blessings are sealed to us (Col. 2:11-14; Eph. 1:13-14).

I do not preach tithing, because God plainly forbids us taking anything from anyone by constraint of law (2 Cor. 9:7). “God loveth a cheerful giver!” The church and kingdom of God is not maintained in this world by a carnal religious tax (tithe) imposed upon men by law, but by the free gifts of sinners whose hearts have been conquered and are overwhelmed by the grace of God. Saved sinners give willingly, cheerfully, and bountifully. WE GIVE OURSELVES, ALL OF OURSELVES, TO CHRIST. It is by our giving that we prove the sincerity of our love for him, just as he proved the sincerity of his love for us by giving himself for us (2 Cor. 8:1-9; 9:15).

Wherever law is preached bondage reigns. Those prison houses (churches) keep their inmates (members) under control by setting up guards (discipline committees), who keep constant watch over the prisons and report to the wardens (pastors and elders) in infraction of the rules. The warden gives speeches, one, two, or three times a week, in which he explains that the prison is really a house of great love, and that the reason for compliance with his rules and regulations is really love. Then he threatens the prisoners with loss of supper (the Lord’s Supper) or even solitary confinement (church discipline) for any infraction of the rules; and promises peace and happiness to all who obey. Yet, knowing they are never really obedient, the prisoners always exist in terror.

Don Fortner