Fables vs. Sound Doctrine: Legalism

Was anyone called while circumcised?

Let him not become uncircumcised.

Was anyone called while uncircumcised?

Let him not be circumcised.

Circumcision is nothing and

uncircumcision is nothing, but

keeping the commandments of God

is what matters.

1Corinthians 7:18–19

            In Acts chapter 15 we find recorded where Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and met with the apostles located there; this is called the Jerusalem council. The occasion was that there were certain men teaching that a person must be circumcised to be saved: “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (1Corinthians 15:1). There were some among them that held to the Law of Moses and its legal requirements and if not met, then salvation would be impossible. During this time and up to 135 A.D. when Rome under Hadrian (76 A.D.–138 A.D.) destroyed Jerusalem and it is estimated some 580,000 Jews were killed. This was due much to a man Bar Kochba who was the leader of the Jewish revolt against Rome between 132 and 135 A.D. Bar-Kochba united his army in Judea and led the Jews in battle. This rebellion later became known as the Bar-Kochba revolt. Another group that disappeared for all purposes were the Ebionites, Judean sect that and that they held in preference to adhere to Jewish customs. The Ebionites did emphasize the unity of God, His being the creator of the universe. The believed that the Jewish Law was still binding on man. Furthermore their beliefs held that Jesus was a man who became the Messiah by His virtuous life that led Him to complete and fulfill the Law. The Ebionites upheld the Gospel of Matthew but hated the writings of Paul. They insisted that the Gentiles who had converted to Christianity were bound to the Law of Moses. While the Ebionites ceased to have influence after 135 A.D., it does show that the Church had to fight against such teachings and insist on Scripture that taught that faith in Jesus Christ alone causes a person to be justified before God. A reading of the Scriptures, especially Paul’s writing will demonstrate how the Apostles had to fight this heresy of Judaism that attempted to subvert the teachings of Jesus Christ leading some in this heresy. It is legalism that abounded in that day, the day of the formation of the Christian Church and it is legalism that abounds in many of the present day Churches. I am not speaking of things of indifference; i.e., when to hold communion, once a week, month, year, or on Nissan 14, the day of Jesus Christ’s death that occurred after the Passover; nor am I speaking of what style of Church building, or carpet, or paint, etc., things which many Churches ever split over. NO! Only those things that are explicitly were outlined for Christians. Yet, many Churches today are so legalistic, don’t eat this, don’t do this, only wear your hair in this fashion, or no jewelry, or music, those things that cause much dissension in the Church. Yes, the 10 commandments are still in force today; i.e., we are told not to kill, not to covet, not to make carved images, you are not to take God’s name in vain, you are to honor your father and mother, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, and yet, so often one of the Ten Commandments is left out of our lives: “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 29:8). Mathew wrote: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”(Matthew 5:19).  Even today, there are those who will only accept Saturday as the proper Sabbath, but is this the teaching of the Bible and of the Ante–Nicene Fathers: No! In Acts we read: “Now on the first day of he week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7). Paul in writing to the Corinthian Church: “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up s he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1Corinthians 16:2). The apostle John adds: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet” (Revelation 1:10). Ignatius a student of Polycarp who was a student of the Apostle John wrote: “But on the Lords’ Day, gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, so that your sacrifice may be pure” (Didach, 80-140 A.D.). Justin Martyr wrote: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read….But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God…made the world. And Jesus Christ our savior rose from the dead on that same day” (Justin Martyr, 160 A.D.). As a finally additions: “We devote Sunday to rejoicing for a far different reason that sun worship” (Tertullian, 197 A.D.). Legalism was one of the first dissensions in the Christian Church and needed to be thwarted. We need to thwart legalism today and rid the Church from this heresy. But I must ask: “Do you keep the Sabbath?” If not why not? Have you swung so far afield that you do not prepare to worship this day, not just go to Church, but keep this day holy, no buying, no going out to eat, preparing in advance to spend this day with family, and friends at times, to read the Bible, to rest? This is not legalism! This is what the early Church teaches us, that we are to keep the Sabbath and for Christians our Sabbath is Sunday. Some people do have to work, Police, Nurses, doctors, military, emergency workers, this is prudent and wise, but we don’t push the ox into the ditch! Why is this not legalism? Because God commanded it, and a New Covenant was assigned to His people with the coming of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. We should live as Christians and this includes keeping Sunday holy, to not to do so is antinomian: we are not freed from the Law of God.

Now to Him who is able to do

            Exceedingly abundantly

Above all that we ask or think,

            According to the power

That works in us, to Him be

            Glory in the church by

Christ Jesus to all generations,

            Forever and ever. Amen.

                                    Ephesians 3:20–21

Walk in the truth: Blessing Follow

Richard L. Crumb