Claude T. Stauffer :: The Spirit Acts against Legalism – Acts 15

The Spirit Acts

The Spirit Acts against Legalism – Acts 15

Our stated study purpose is:

The Spirit of God using the word of God to make people of God and changing the people of God into Spirit-empowered, effective, edifying, disciples of Jesus Christ.

That is not something we can do on our own, in our own strength. To think that we can accomplish that in our own strength or to attempt to do so is called legalism.

We are surrounded by laws. Laws serve a very important societal purpose; they maintain order and are the basis of convicting and controlling criminals. But some people would have us disregard laws. They are anarchists or antinomians. It is true that when we try to micromanage life with laws, it can clutter our world and overly restrict our freedoms.

When people try to live by law, things can get pretty complicated and even comical. There are many ways in our own country that people have tried to live by laws and the results have been interesting to say the least. Here are a few laws (thanks to Neil and the Facty staff) on the books of local municipalities in the United States:²⁰⁴

• It’s illegal to get drunk in a bar in Alaska. In Alaska it’s also illegal to view moose from an airplane, pushing moose out of an airplane, waking a sleeping bear to take a photo of it, and bringing flamingoes into a barbershop.
• It’s illegal to mispronounce the name “Arkansas” in the State of Arkansas. The state name must be pronounced with all three syllables. It’s also illegal in Arkansas to keep alligators in your bathtub, getting a raise as a teacher after bobbing your hair, killing any living creature whatsoever, and honking your horn at a sandwich shop after 9 pm.
• In Connecticut, a pickle isn’t a pickle unless it bounces when dropped. This law was enacted to counter the selling of substandard pickles. It’s also illegal in Connecticut to keep town records where liquor is sold, biking over 65 miles per hour, walking backward after sunset, crossing the street while walking on your hands, educating dogs, or for a beautician to sing, hum, or whistle while attending to a customer.
• In Gainesville, Georgia it’s illegal to eat chicken with anything but your fingers. In 2009 a tourist was arrested for using a fork on their chicken. Also illegal in Georgia is carrying an ice cream in your rear pocket on Sundays, using profanity in front of a corpse at a funeral home, and it’s illegal to keep donkeys in bathtubs.
• In Fresh Lick Springs, Indiana, black cats are required to wear bells on their collars on Friday the 13th. It’s also illegal to receive money for holding a puppet show, catching a fish with your bare hands, standing in a bar if you are a man, and carrying cocktails from bar to table.
• In Maine it is illegal to advertise on tombstones. It’s also illegal to step out of a flying plane, having Christmas decorations up after January 14th, walking down the street playing a violin, or selling mercury thermometers.
• In Maryland it’s illegal to curse while you drive. Those caught cursing and driving face a $100 fine. It’s also illegal in Maryland to grow thistles in your yard, taking a lion to the movies, and wearing a sleeveless shirt in a public park.
• In Minnesota since 1971, it is illegal to grease a pig. (Pig greasing is apparently a big problem in Minnesota.) It’s also illegal in Minnesota to sleep naked, enter the state wearing a chicken or duck head, and it’s illegal to stand around a public building without having a reason to stand there.
• In New York uncut bagels are tax-exempt, but if the bagel has been “altered” in any way, such as toasted, or has cream cheese put on it, then it becomes taxable and increased in value by eight cents. It’s also illegal in New York to talk or look at anyone while in an elevator, wearing slippers after 10 pm, greeting someone by putting your thumb to your nose and wiggling your fingers, selling raw hamburgers, and eating while swimming in the ocean.
• In Wyoming it’s illegal to buy junk or scrap metal from someone under the influence of alcohol. It’s also illegal in Wyoming to be drunk in a mine, to take photos of a rabbit between January and April, shooting fish, failing to close a fence, and for women standing within five feet of a bar while drinking.

There’s humor in such laws. These are examples of laws run wild or the limits of the law.

The Law is Good, IF, You Use It Lawfully

Should we do away with the law? Should we de-fund the law? Should we live without any law (be an antinomian)? No, there is a place for law. The Bible states:

• 1 Timothy 1:8 – But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

The word “lawfully” here (Greek nomimos – adverb) means legitimately, properly, agreeable to law, agreeable to the rules. If we use the law the way God the Law-Giver originally intended the law to be used, then it is “good” (Greek kalos) or beautiful, good, valuable, virtuous, excellent, useful, precious, commendable, admirable.

What are the right applications of the law?

First, the law is used by God to maintain order societally. The Bible states of God:

• 1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
• 1 Corinthians 14:40 – Let all things be done decently and in order.

God created the universe and all things in an orderly manner (e.g., Genesis 1; Genesis 2). God ordered the seasons (Genesis 1:14-18; Psalm 104:19). God gave us the Law, the Ten Commandments, in a very orderly way (cf. Exodus 20 ff.; Leviticus). The Law is a tool used by God to maintain order in society.

There are laws put in place by God to govern behavior in society. God designed society to be an orderly and safe environment for people to live in. Therefore, He gave laws prohibiting parental abuse, murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, and coveting what others own. These laws serve as safeguards and guardrails to keep society in order and safe. Government was later put in place by God to help with enforcing His Laws of societal order (Romans 13). The Law serves a very important purpose: to maintain order in the world.

Second, the law is used ceremonially. God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle where He would meet with Moses and the people (Exodus 25:8). Then God instructed Moses giving him laws to follow regarding how the tabernacle would be used. This use of the Law is ceremonial. The ceremonial uses of the Law do not only prescribe a certain way to use the tabernacle or approach God, they paint a picture of God’s holiness and the sacrifice of Jesus (e.g., Leviticus 1-7; Leviticus 23; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19). This is a proper use of the Law.

Third, the law tells us we should love. There is a place for the law in society. Disregarding the law can lead to a very detrimental effect. Jesus pointed this out when He said about the last days:

• Matthew 24:12 – And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

When God’s law is set aside and disregarded, it leads to disorder and the proliferation of sin. When we disregard, for instance, the two greatest laws:

• Matthew 22:36-40 – ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” ³⁷ Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

When we disregard such law, Jesus said it leads to lovelessness. When we fail or refuse to love God and our neighbor, it leads to a much colder, heartless, hopeless, harsh world.

The Law of God and its many aspects is a tool He provides to help us govern our ways. Like any other tool, for it to be effective and useful, you must use it the way it was designed to be used. Let me illustrate.

When you wake up each day and prepare to go out, you attend to your body to make yourself presentable. The tools you use to prepare determine how well you are prepared to leave the house. What do I mean?

• You wouldn’t use a steel brush to brush your teeth, you’d use a toothbrush.
• You wouldn’t use Gorilla-glue to brush your teeth, you’d use toothpaste.
• You wouldn’t use a pair of pliers to pull out unwanted hairs, you’d use tweezers.
• You wouldn’t use a hatchet to hack off or trim your toenails, you’d use nail clippers.
• You wouldn’t use a saws-all to trim your nose hairs; you’d use a nose hair trimmer.

Are you getting the picture? For a tool to be useful, it must be matched to its intended use. Otherwise, it does more harm than good.

There is a place for law, but it’s important we use the law the way God intended it to be used. God is orderly (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Order is maintained by way of Law (Romans 13). But when laws and keeping them become a means to pleasing God, it’s no laughing situation.

The Spirit Acts Against Legalism, the Misuse of the Law

In the previous chapter (Acts 14) we saw how the snake Satan tries to poison seekers and the church itself with bitterness. We also saw how the grace of God provides an antidote to that poison and how the Holy Spirit strengthens the church. In Acts 15 we will see how the Holy Spirit handles the conflict which arose in the early church when believing Jews tried to add the requirement of keeping the Law to the gospel. When laws are added to the gospel and life in the Spirit, the result is legalism. The threat of legalism is something we see in the church even today, and it is a very serious threat because legalism can rob the disciple and the church of the joy of the Lord. What is legalism, and how does the Spirit act against the conflict that arises from those trying to impose legalism on the gospel of God’s grace in Christ?

The False Teaching of Legalism

• Acts 15:1-2 – ¹ “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.” ² Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.”

One of the greatest threats to the church is legalism, or requiring something, especially laws, in addition to faith alone in Christ alone to be saved (Acts 15:1). Here those from a religious Jewish background sought to impose Mosaic customs on Gentile believers. To make circumcision a requirement for salvation would have greatly hindered the spread of the gospel as well as adopted a gospel that is based on works rather than grace. Such a “gospel” is a false gospel, a teaching that is really no gospel at all (See Matthew 5:20; Galatians; Titus 3:3-8). Works do play an important part in the life of the disciple. But works follow salvation; they are by no means necessary to precede salvation (Ephesians 2:1-9, 10). Just like Paul and Barnabus, we should oppose all attempts to add requirements to the gospel of grace, i.e., legalism (Acts 15:2; Jude 1).

The Legalistic Mindset

The Jews had been taught and believed that keeping the law obediently saved a person. They believed that if a person tried hard enough, they could keep the law. This is the attitude of the legalist. What is legalism? Legalism is thinking, “I CAN BE RIGHTEOUS BY KEEPING LAWS/RULES IF I JUST TRY HARD ENOUGH; RIGHTEOUSNESS/HOLINESS DEPENDS ON WHAT I DO.” This, as we will see, is a very flawed and frustrating way of seeking God that is also doomed to failure.

Here are some examples of a Legalistic mindset:

• Sabbath Rules – 7th Day Adventists and some church denominations contend that Saturday is the only acceptable Sabbath. They contend that worshiping on Sunday is a work of the devil and is the mark of the beast. But Jesus said He was (and is still) Lord of the Sabbath, meaning you can worship the Lord on any day, and hopefully every day! (Mark 2:23-28).
• Holiness by Rule Keeping – Some try to bring the church under law by measuring righteousness by a set of rules, e.g., no dancing; no movies; no coffee; no smoking; etc. They gauge holiness by a rigid set of rules and standards. Holiness is viewed as something people do. But the Bible says any righteousness sought by people in their own strength is as a filthy rag to God and what He requires (Isaiah 64:6). The only righteousness we can have is something we receive by God’s grace through faith in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Righteous by Cause – Some inside the church copy the mentality of the unchurched by trying to attain righteousness by means of involvement in causes. When the Church discards biblical principles and truth, forsaking them for worldly trends and causes, it has not overcome the world, it has not even partnered with the world, it has been defeated by the world. When communists try to live by the Communist Manifesto, when people become self-proclaimed social justice warriors taking up the causes of people groups that have been presented as “oppressed,” when reality, facts, and evidence are purposely ignored and even ostracized and replaced by fantasy, absurdity, and falsehoods, all of this is an ill-conceived attempt to attain meaning and righteousness through legalistic means. This is especially true for a world that is increasingly anthropocentric or centered on self, on fallen humanity. Unfortunately, much of the Church is focused on self, not the Spirit.

No matter how “righteous” the cause or “holy” we perceive the Law to be, when we try to attain righteousness or satisfaction by doing it we will always end up dissatisfied, depressed, and despairing. This reality should not lead us to nihilism or hopelessness; it should lead us to Jesus and God’s grace. Humanity in their own strength, both inside and outside of the Church, will always “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). On our own, we always “fall short of the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15). On our own, we don’t measure up, and we will always have a gnawing sense of something missing, emptiness.

Legalism, such as the examples above, gets the focus off of God and onto the individual. That is like taking the plug from your computer out of the wall socket and putting it in your mouth as a source of electrical power. You just don’t have what it takes to power the life of Christ; only the Spirit has that power (as we have seen in our study of Acts thus far – Acts 1:8). When we try to live righteously in our own strength by our rules, (or even good rules we take out of the Bible) we are depending on a very limited and impotent source of power that is doomed to lead us to frustration and failure in our walk with the Lord and life in general.

The Light of God in the Law

Before we look at the flaws of trying to keep laws, we should first understand the purpose God gave the Law, the light He intended to shine by way of the Law. There are seven things we need to know about the Law of God if we are to receive the light He intended the Law to bring.

First, understand that the Law of God is holy, just, and good. The Law of God has the light of life in it. When God gave the Ten Commandments, His intent was to point His people toward the way of abundant life. The Flaw that developed was not the fault of the Law; it was the fault of those who began to worship the Law instead of God the Lawgiver. In Romans, Paul says:

• Romans 7:12 – “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.”

The flaw of the Law is not in the Law; it is in the misuse of the Law.

Second, the Law is used by God to expose our sinfulness and need of a Savior. In Romans again Paul is inspired to write:

• Romans 7:7 – “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

God created human beings with a conscience that enables them to discern right from wrong (Romans 2:12-16). But so that sin might be clearly and unmistakably exposed and revealed, God gave the Law as His holy standard by which all humanity would be impartially judged (Romans 2:11). We know without a doubt that coveting is a sin because God’s Law prohibits it (Exodus 20:17). If we look at the Ten Commandments we also know that God alone is to be our God (Exodus 20:1-3); that no image, carving, statue, or idol of God or anything in heaven or on earth is to be used by those who call themselves followers of God (Exodus 20:4-6; the Roman Catholic catechism has removed this stipulation from the Ten Commandments); God’s name is not to be misused (Exodus 20:7); the Sabbath of rest unto the Lord is to be kept (Exodus 20:8-11); Parents are to be honored (Exodus 20:12); you are not to murder others (Exodus 20:13); you are not to commit adultery (Exodus 20:14); you are not to steal (Exodus 20:15); you are not to bear false witness (Exodus 20:16); and you are not to covet (Exodus 20:17). The Law exposes humanity’s utter sinfulness.

Third, the Law of God brings guilt. The Law of God in exposing our utter sinfulness brings guilt to our conscience and shows us that we are lost; we are guilty before a Holy God who will judge all justly by His Law one day. Paul puts this well when he is inspired to write:

• Romans 3:9-20 – ⁹ “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:
  
  “There is none righteous, no, not one;
  ¹¹ There is none who understands;
  There is none who seeks after God.
  ¹² They have all turned aside;
  They have together become unprofitable;
  There is none who does good, no, not one.”
  ¹³ “Their throat is an open tomb;
  With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
  “The poison of asps is under their lips”;
  ¹⁴ “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
  ¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
  ¹⁶Destruction and misery are in their ways;
  ¹⁷ And the way of peace they have not known.”
  ¹⁸ “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
  
  ¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

The Law reveals to us that we are without excuse before God and stand condemned for breaking His Law.

Fourth, those who try to gain heaven by keeping the Law are required by God to keep all the Law. The Law is like a chain with links anchored in heaven with us on the other end. Break one link or Law, and you will plummet to the depths. If you are going to try to be righteous before God by keeping the Law; if, when you are asked how you will get to heaven, you respond by saying, “I will try to keep the Ten Commandments,” then you must do so flawlessly, perfectly. The Bible says this clearly in the following verses:

• Galatians 3:10-12 – ¹⁰ “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” ¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
• James 2:10 – “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”

This truth is what the Holy Spirit convicts the world about in His efforts to lead people to Christ (John 16:8-11).

Fifth, no one can be saved from his or her sin by keeping the Law of God. Paul writes in Galatians:

• Galatians 2:16 – “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

Keeping the Law was never meant by God to be the means of being saved from sin; faith in God is the means to be saved from sin (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4).

Sixth,trying to keep the Law leads to bondage. The only thing that results from trying to live by Law is bondage. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul rebukes those who are trying to be law-keepers, or legalists, telling them that it only leads to bondage. He states:

• Galatians 4:9-11 – ⁹ “But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.”

When you try to live by keeping laws you end up relying on your own very limited resources and that leads to a type of bondage of futility.

Seventh, the Law of God teaches us the futility and hopelessness of trying to be righteous by keeping the Law and leads us to Christ as our means of righteousness and fulfillment. Paul writes in Romans:

• Romans 7:13-25 – ¹³ Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶ If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. ¹⁷ But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God —through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

The outcome of seeking righteousness in our own strength by the Law is wretchedness. The word “wretched” (Greek talaiporos) means miserable, toilsome, afflicted, overwhelmed by troubles. Trying to keep the Law or do things to be righteous only leads to hard labor and will never fulfill.

Paul writes in Galatians:

• Galatians 3:22-24 – ²² “But the Scripture [i.e., the Law of God as a part of the Scripture] has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

By exposing our weakness and inability to keep the Law perfectly according to God’s standards, our mouths are shut, and we stand guilty before God, forced to search outside ourselves for a way to be saved from our sins.

Eight, those who are legalists or law-keepers are under the curse of God; Jesus provides the only redemption from that curse. The Bible says:

• Galatians 3:10-13 – ¹⁰ “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” ¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),”

Jesus died on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for the sins of the world (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus died in our place on the cross to pay our debt of sin and make a way for us to become righteous before God through our relationship with Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). God provides that righteousness, that forgiveness of our sin, that salvation from our sins by His grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:4-6). We don’t become righteous before God by working to keep the Law of God, but by acknowledging our sinfulness under God’s Law and putting our trust in Jesus as our Sin-bearer and Savior (John 1:12; John 3:16; John 5:24).

The FAITH that saved is a total and complete trust in Jesus as God’s sufficient means to atone for sin. Jesus did not pay for 99.9% of our sin, and then we have to work off the final 0.1%. Jesus paid it all; He said on the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). We can define saving faith with the following acronym: Forsaking – All – I – Trust – Him. Legalism is adding to the work of Jesus. We can only be righteous based on the work of Jesus, not our works. We see this in the following inspired words of Paul, who said:

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

When we trust in Jesus, we are freed from the bondage of the Law.

Ninth, when a person is saved by receiving Jesus as their Savior by faith, they are filled with the Holy Spirit who gives them spiritual life and love that fulfills the Law of God. The Bible says that when a person is saved from their sin through faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters them. Without the Holy Spirit within, a person is not saved from their sin. We see this in the following verses:

• John 3:3, 5-7 – ³ “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”… ⁵ Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
• Romans 8:9b – “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:12 – “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – ¹⁹ “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
• 1 John 4:13 – “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.”

When a person receives Jesus as their Savior, they begin a new life in the Spirit.

When the Spirit comes to reside in a person at salvation, He pours out love into their hearts. This is what the Bible tells us in the following words:

• Romans 5:5 – “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

When the Spirit pours out this love into our hearts, it completely changes the way we look at others and live.

Living in the love of the Spirit leads to the fulfilling of the Law of God in and through us. The Bible tells us:

• Romans 13:10 – “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
• Galatians 5:14 – “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Here we see God’s enabling power that brings about the fulfillment of the Law in us. When the love of the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 13 and Galatians 5:22-25) fills us, and we walk in the Spirit of that love, we first love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Then His love compels us in all that we do so that we no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). This affects us in every facet of our lives. When you love in the power of the Spirit, God becomes your Lord, your master passion, you not only have no other gods before Him, but you do not allow anything else to challenge His place in your heart and life (Exodus 20:1-3). When the love of the Spirit is working in and through you, you will sense the presence of Jesus in you and won’t need to make images or idols, not only because God has told you not to, but because you won’t need to (Exodus 20:4-6). When the love of the Spirit is in you, Jesus will be Lord of the Sabbath to you, and you can live and walk in His presence worshiping Him all the time (Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 8:20; Mark 2:28). With the love of the Spirit in you, you will have a greater appreciation and love for your parents and a desire to see them come to the Lord as Savior too (Exodus 20:12). With the love of the Spirit in you, you won’t murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness or covet others’ things, because to do so would be to contradict the love of the Spirit that is in you. Do you see how the love of the Spirit fulfills the Law in your life? Just remember, it is the Lord who is working in you to bring this to pass. Rely on His strength, not your own (Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13)

Tenth, law-keeping or legalism is contrary to life in the Spirit. Paul rebuked the Galatians for reverting to trying to live by keeping the law. Paul tells them to be a law-keeper is to be foolish. And in light of all we’ve seen about the law, we can certainly understand that. He says:

• Galatians 3:1-3 – ¹ “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? ² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”

We aren’t saved by keeping the Law because trying to keep the law in our own strength is futile; we are just not capable of doing it. Indeed, Paul writes to the Romans that when we come to Christ as our Savior, we die to the Law in that we stop trying to be righteous by keeping the Law and now depend on Christ in a new way to make us righteous before God. He says:

• Romans 7:6 – “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”

Legalism and law-keeping are contrary to the new life in the Spirit provided by God’s grace through faith in Jesus.

Eleventh, those who reject Christ will be judged by God on the basis of His Law. The Bible states:

• 1 Timothy 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 un-Godly 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.”

The only way out from under the weight of God’s holy and just Law is through “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” which the Bible reveals to us from God.

That is the light of God in the Law, His purpose for giving the Law. What happens when the Law is misused? When the Law is misused and its original God–intended purpose misunderstood, we see the flaw of trying to keep the Law.

The Flaw of Trying to Keep the Law

Legalism, (law-keeping; trying to be righteous before God by keeping a set of rules or His Law) leads to frustration and is not an acceptable way to attain righteousness before God. Legalism leads to many problems in an individual’s walk with the Lord as well as for the body of Christ. There is a flaw in trying to keep the law to be saved. Here are just a few of those flaws.

First, legalism leads to self-righteousness. Any righteousness dependent upon what I do is self-righteousness. It depends on what I do, not what Christ has done.

Second, legalism leads to pride. People who are legalists gauge their righteousness on how they measure up to other people and how other people measure up to them. If your righteousness is based on what you do, then when you do something good, you’re going to have a boast in it. I’m going to boast about how much of the Bible I’ve read, how long I prayed today, how many souls I’ve won, how long I’ve fasted, how I wouldn’t think of drinking coffee or coke which would defile my body, etc. This is exactly what the Jews demonstrated – Romans 2:17, 23. Remember, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).

Third, legalism leads to judging. If righteousness is based on what I do, then I am going to measure others by my standard of what I think they should also do. If I can live by my standard, and you can’t, I’m going to look down at you. Those who can’t live like you are lesser than you. We see this in the Jews as well (Romans 2:1).

Fourth, legalism leads to frustration. Since legalism makes righteousness dependent upon what I do, when I inevitably fall short, I will become frustrated. If I keep the law for a day, a week, a month, a year, and then slip up, my righteousness is lost. I might think, “From now on I’m going to change.” Perhaps you will last for a period of time, but eventually you will fall. When we factor in that our thoughts as well as our actions are considered in determining righteousness by works, then we realize the impossibility of legalism. I can never be good enough in my own strength. Righteousness is not based on resolutions; it is based on God’s righteousness in Christ.

Later in this chapter, Peter explains the inevitable frustration that legalism leads to based on the past experience and history of Israel when he is inspired to say:

• Acts 15:10 – “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”

Legalism brings a burden a yoke of slavery. Peter tells them in no uncertain terms that the blessing and salvation they have all experienced has not been attained by keeping the law legalistically, but it has come by the grace of God. He says:

• Acts 15:11 – “But we believe that through the grace of the L ord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Legalism must be exposed by the gospel of God’s grace (Romans 1-8; Galatians; Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:4-6).

Furthermore, have you ever told a child not to do something? They may have never even considered doing what you tell them not to do, until you tell them not to do it, and then they have to do it. The sinful fleshly nature is such that the Law incites it to disobey. The flesh is against the Spirit, against God. All you have to do to rile up the flesh is tell it God doesn’t want it to do something. When the unsaved Spiritless person tries to be righteous before God by keeping the Law, their flesh will flame up, frustrate, and lead to failure.

Fifth, legalism is impersonal; faith is personal in establishing a relationship with God in Christ. God’s law was written on stone tablets. His desire is to write them on a person’s heart. Keeping laws puts a wedge between the law-keeper and the Lawgiver, because keeping law is a work and creates a situation whereby, if the law-keeper keeps the law, the Lawgiver owes the law-keeper wages. Law short circuits God’s grace when it is not used as God intended it to be used. Legalism puts the focus on “me,” what “I,” need to do, rather than on what Jesus has done and wants to do in and through me.

Sixth,legalism is not only unspiritual, it is anti-spiritual. Paul wrote to the Galatians that you do not live by the law after your conversion:

• Galatians 3:1-3 – ¹ “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? ² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”

The one who works legalistically crowds out the Spirit. Legalism focuses upon what a person must do rather than what the Spirit wants to do in and through them.

Seventh, legalism robs a person of assurance of salvation. If salvation depends upon something we must do, and if salvation depends upon something we must keep doing, and not the completed work of Christ, then when will we have done enough to know we are saved? Yes, there is to be fruit born from the conversion experience (2 Corinthians 5:17), but our salvation is not based on our works, it is Christ working in and through us to produce the fruit (Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:12-13). If we say that Jesus has done 99% of the work of salvation and 1% is up to us to do, we are still left with the dilemma of not knowing how much is enough or when what we do will be enough to be saved. This is the plight of works righteousness religious systems. You never know how much is enough. Such systems lead to guilt and serving the Lord out of a sense of obligation rather than love (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). But when we realize that our salvation is based on the finished work of Jesus who said on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), that on the cross He provided the once and for all sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:27-28; Hebrews 10:10, 14, 18), and that through faith alone in Him alone we can receive God’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), then and only then can we have an assurance of our salvation based on the work of Jesus.

Legalism is not God’s plan for us. God doesn’t want us to be self-righteous, spiritually proud, judgmental, frustrated, and unsure of our salvation relationship with Him. Therefore, God has provided by His grace a way in which we are righteous through Jesus, which is spiritually humbling. This leads to loving others, is effective, and provides certainty of our standing with Him. God rejects the self-effort of legalism as a means to attain righteousness before Him.

Christian Science

There is a cult called Christian Science founded by Mary Baker Eddy, but that is not the Christian Science I am referring to here. Let me explain. Science is the study of the natural universe and trying to explain it by way of formulas. Physics studies how energy produces movement; chemistry formulates how the building blocks of matter are composed. But when Christians try to explain spiritual things by way of formulas, they reduce life in the Spirit to a scientific study. That isn’t what God planned, and it isn’t the way God works. God is orderly (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40), but you cannot reduce the work of the Spirit to formulas and principles. When we try to understand the way God works by saying, when “A” is followed by “B”, then “C” always results, then we are formulizing our walk with God and that is like trying to put God in a box.

We might exemplify this by what we have seen in our study of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. We have said that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is an empowering work of the Spirit received subsequent to conversion. The disciples at Pentecost received the Holy Spirit (John 20:22) and were subsequently empowered by the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5, 8 and Acts 2:1-4). If we formulize this by saying this is the only way God works, we will have a problem when we come to Acts 10 where the Holy Spirit comes upon the believers as they heard the word preached to them by Peter (Acts 10:44-45). In Acts 10 it appears that the conversion and infilling of the believers with the Spirit is concurrent to their also being baptized with the Holy Spirit; the two works of the Spirit seem to be simultaneous. Now, if we are rigidly adherent to the initial formula of conversion and then baptism with the Spirit, then we have to explain our way around what the Spirit did. That’s not necessary when we understand that the Spirit is free to work as He pleases.

The Spirit will never contradict His word of Scripture, but He will work in ways we do not expect or ways that go beyond our limiting formulas. You can’t reduce the work of the Spirit to a science where you can map out how He will work by a set of formulas and principles. Yes, when a person repents and puts their faith in Jesus, they will be saved, but conversion happens in many ways. You don’t always have to go through the Four Spiritual Laws for a person to be saved. Sometimes a convicted criminal will simply ask the Lord to remember him, and the Lord will say, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). Other times, a person will receive the Lord by being told they merely have to give Him all their heart (Acts 8:37). We need to leave room for the Spirit to work. The LORD knows the heart, we do not. The Spirit works in many ways, and He is the One who determines how and when someone is saved from their sin or empowered for service.

When I received Christ as my Savior, I was in college in my room by myself one evening and had just made the long wintry trek to college. My sister had witnessed to me about my need of salvation. Up until then, I had been a religious person who chose to avoid religious conversations under the façade that religion was “private” and I didn’t want to talk about it. But the word that had been spoken to me convicted me and what I saw in my sister and her friends showed me unmistakably that I was missing something they had. On the long journey to school I had plenty of time to ponder the word of God that had been shared with me. You see, I usually had a full car of school chums but for some reason they had all canceled out on me this time, (the Spirit knew why!) When I got to my college dorm room, I shut the door and laid down on my bed. Then as I pondered and thought, it was as though the Lord told me, “Why not now, why don’t you receive Me now?” So on my bed I reached my hands to the ceiling and prayed, “Lord, if You’re real, forgive my sins, come into my heart. I want to give my life to you.” You know what? God saved my soul that evening of January 16th, 1977. Jesus changed my life completely. And I didn’t even pray the Four Spiritual Laws. All of a sudden, the word of God came alive to me (my sister had given me a Living Bible). All of a sudden, I didn’t curse anymore, (and I had previously had a real gutter mouth). I didn’t want to party anymore. No one told me it was wrong. I just knew in my heart it was not what Jesus wanted for me; the Spirit conveyed that to me. The Spirit works in ways that transcend formulas. The Spirit works in ways we don’t expect or can’t even figure out. What I have found in my walk with the Lord all these years is that most of the time all I can say to the work of the Spirit is, “Wow!” I have learned to be alert to His hand in my life and the lives of others and I pray for ears to hear Him and a heart to submit to His will.

There’s nothing wrong with taking notes and trying to order what you learn about the Lord by putting things down in an orderly fashion. But when we restrict the possibilities of how the Spirit might work according to our rigid set of formulas or rules, that is Christian Science and that is not a realistic or true way to walk in the Spirit. The Spirit works in ways we can’t even comprehend, let alone codify (John 3:8). We need to remain open and alert to the work of the Spirit and not limit Him with formulas.

Legalism Quenches Joy

• Acts 15:3-5 – ³ “So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. ⁴ And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. ⁵ But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

The apostles didn’t let legalistic opposition rob them of the joy of what God was doing (Acts 15:3). But sometimes, opposition follows you (Acts 15:4-5). In fact, here we see the contrast between the true gospel and legalism. The Gospel of grace leads to joy; the false gospel of legalism leads to conflict. Joy is that assurance that you are in the will of God and at peace with Him, no matter the circumstances or state you are in. If you seek God based on the works of legalism, you can never have that full assurance of joy in the Spirit because you are resting on your own limited powers rather than the strength and truth of God in Christ.

The Spirit Acts to Handle Opposition in the Church

• Acts 15:6-21 – ⁶ “Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. ⁷ And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸ “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, ⁹ “and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” ¹² Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: ¹⁴ “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. ¹⁵ “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
  
  ¹⁶ ‘After this I will return
  And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
  I will rebuild its ruins,
  And I will set it up;
  ¹⁷ So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD,
  Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
  Says the LORD who does all these things.’
  
  ¹⁸ “Known to God from eternity are all His works. ¹⁹ “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. ²¹ “For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

How does the Spirit resolve disputes in the church? There are five things we see done here to orchestrate the resolution of this problem, and we know it is the Spirit at work here because of the joyful conclusion that results. What are these steps to resolution?

First, He gathers the leadership (Acts 15:6). The leaders had to be willing to come together to talk and discuss the issues and differences of opinion at hand. This shows a willingness to find the heart of God in this situation. No one pouted or tried to rally a faction to their particular side of the issue.

Second, the leaders speak openly and freely about the issue at hand. Peter shared the facts (Acts 15:7-9). There was open communication. They did not speak politically or with an aim to manipulate opposition to their side, they genuinely sought the heart of God here. They began their open communication with Peter, sharing the facts of the situation.

Third, Peter contrasts God’s grace with legalism (Acts 15:10-11). Peter reminds them of the history of Israel and how they were unable to follow God legalistically. He contrasts legalism with the grace that is found in Jesus Christ, their Lord that saved them. Resolution always begins with the grace of God.

Fourth, they inspected the fruit. Barnabus and Paul shared what God had been doing through them. The blessing of God could not be denied (Acts 15:12). Jesus said that you would know His true work by the fruit it bore(Matthew 7:20; John 15:5, 8).

Fifth, they discussed the issues in an orderly manner (Acts 15:12). This was not a riot, but an orderly discussion. When the apostles stood up to testify, the others were silent and listened. God is not a God of disorder but order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). The presence of order is an indication that the Spirit was at work here.

Sixth, they prayed (Acts 15:13). Silence preceded a decision by James, who applied the word of God to the situation. It is safe to assume that that silence before the decision was handed down was a silence pregnant with prayer. They knew that this was a big decision that could determine the future of the church. So they prayed.

Seventh, they relied on the word of God (Acts 15:14-18). Notice James is the apostle in the highest position of authority here, not Peter. But more importantly, the decision that is arrived at through prayer is one based on the word of God. As they prayed, the Spirit must have brought a portion of Scripture to James’ mind and as he shared it, the solution to the issue at hand seemed clear. James quotes Amos 9:11-12, showing that God’s intent was to reach out to the Gentiles and so their decision must be one that would be in line with God’s desire to reach the Gentiles. That is exactly what James and the apostle decided, that Gentiles are not under the Law, but only asked to abstain from idolatry, immorality, and those dietary foods that were offensive to Jews out of respect to them (Acts 15:19-20).

Notice that this was not a democratic decision set out before the entire congregation of believers. The Spirit worked through those He had called to be leaders and then finally resolved the matter by inspiring James to make a final decision. By the time the leaders had discussed the matter, the Spirit apparently had made the final decision clear to them all (Acts 15:13-21, 28).

The Decision of the Leaders was Shared With Those it Pertained to

• Acts 15:22-29 – ²² “Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. ²³ They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. ²⁴ Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— ²⁵ it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

The decision reached in the Spirit “pleased” all those who in the Spirit sought out the will of God (Acts 15:22). Then the decision arrived at in the Spirit was communicated clearly and concisely without gray areas or vacillating to those most affected by it. They wrote the decision out in a letter, so no mistake would be made by merely using word of mouth. It is always good to put things down in writing so that there can be no mistakes or manipulation of what has been decided (Acts 15:23-26). In fact, they used the written word and word of mouth (Acts 15:27) to make things clear.

The phrase, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us,….” is not a statement pronounced with pontifical authority, but is a relaying of the decision they arrived at prayerfully in the Spirit and passed on to the Gentiles. The Gentiles received it gladly as such, and when two parties are genuinely seeking the will of God in the Spirit, the decision arrived at will be abided by (Acts 15:28, 31). When those who disagree sincerely seek the Lord’s will in the Spirit and trust their spiritual leadership, the solution brings joy and a peaceful solution.

As far as the prohibitions they did pass on to the Gentiles in the Spirit, you might ask, “Aren’t those ‘Laws’ they passed on?” Rather than seeing these as laws, they seem to be more instructions to enhance the relationships between Jewish and Gentile believers. You see, if a Gentile believer invited a Jewish believer to dinner and the meat prepared was bloody or not prepared in somewhat of a kosher way, it would probably strain the conscience of the Jewish brother in the Lord and hinder fellowship. The decision is really aimed at uniting the two groups and enhancing fellowship. One commentator states:

By not attending temple banquets, or being involved in fornication, or eating meat with blood in it, the Gentile Christians would be maintaining high moral standards and would keep from offending their Jewish brothers. There were Jews in every city who would be offended by Christians not following these strictures. These Israelites were well acquainted with these moral issues.²⁰⁵

But apostolic instruction goes beyond courtesy towards Jewish believers too. What the apostles in the Spirit seemed to have decided was to instruct the Gentiles to avoid things that were closely linked to pagan idolatrous practices. In pagan religious practices, animal sacrifices were offered and usually with the blood having been strangled. Sexual immorality was a very common practice in pagan rituals such as temple prostitution. These things should not be a part of those calling themselves disciples of Jesus. They should refrain from such things as Paul would later instruct the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:11-18).

The Decision Reached in the Spirit Produced Joy

• Acts 15:30-35 – ³⁰ “So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. ³² Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. ³³ And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. ³⁴ However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. ³⁵ Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”

Resolution that comes from the Spirit leads to further effective ministry. When the Spirit is sought and allowed to lead in a time of disagreement or problems, the solution leads to rejoicing on both sides of the issue.

Even Spirit-Empowered Leaders Can Dispute Among Themselves

• Acts 15:36-41 – ³⁶ “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”

The second missionary journey starts here, but it starts with a dispute. John Mark had apparently left Paul and Barnabus prematurely during the first missionary journey (Acts 13:13). Now Paul was not ready to put ministry at risk with one who had proved unfaithful before. Barnabus was more open to giving John Mark another chance to prove himself faithful. The ministry does not seem to have been hindered in any way by this falling out between Paul and Barnabus. Two teams came from one. The Spirit actually seems to have used the situation for good. What this reveals is that Paul and Barnabus are human, and struggled at times with their flesh.

Why this disagreement? Sometimes the Spirit can use such differences. Pastor Chuck Smith makes the following insightful comment on this passage:

Now we see an interesting thing in that here are two powerful church leaders, getting in an argument, so severe that they split company. How is it that [these] men of God cannot agree? Is it possible that God wanted two missionary teams instead of one [in order to] cover twice the territory?…Because that was the net result of the contention. Barnabas took Mark and they headed off to Cypress. Paul then took Silas. They then headed off to Cilicia and…went all the way over into Europe on this journey. But God now had two teams instead of one and thus the effect of it, the overall effect of it was good, as far as the church was concerned, because it broadened their whole missionary endeavor. Now it is interesting to note that when Paul is in the final year of his life, he is writing to Timothy. He is in prison in Rome, things are not looking good. He will soon be facing Nero. And Nero is determined to persecute the Christians. Paul realizes his departure is at hand. He writes to Timothy and he says, my departure is at hand. I’ve fought a good fight and I have finished the course. I have come to the end. And I have kept the faith. But then he said to Timothy, come quickly and bring Mark with you because he will be beneficial to the ministry. So where earlier Paul had this contention because of Mark, now he is calling for Mark to come because of his benefit that he would be to Paul. Also when Paul wrote to Philemon, as he speaks of those that are with him, bringing their greetings to Philemon, he also mentions Marcus as one who was there with him, sending his greeting. So the differences that did exist were ultimately patched up. God still had the two missionary teams instead of one. So God can sometimes use differences of opinion, disputes, He can use them to further the overall work of the gospel, as was the case here.²⁰⁶

The Spirit can even use our deficiencies to further His work.

Conclusion

Below are some more laws that were either once on the books of local municipalities or still are on the books of municipalities throughout the country.

• In Waterloo, Nebraska, barbers are forbidden to eat onions between seven a.m. and seven p.m.
• In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts it is against the law to eat peanuts in church or to use tomatoes in making clam chowder.
• In Kansas, an old law states that you cannot eat snakes on Sunday or rattlesnake meat in public.
• In Los Angeles you cannot bathe two babies in the same tub at the same time.
• In Zion, Illinois, it is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats and other domesticated animals kept as pets.
• In Carmel, N.Y., a man can't go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match.
• In Gary, Indiana, persons are prohibited from attending a movie house or other theater and from riding a public streetcar within four hours of eating garlic.
• In Nicholas County, W. Virginia, no member of the clergy is allowed to tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during a church service.
• In Carrizozo, New Mexico, it's forbidden for a female to appear unshaven in public (includes legs and face).
• In New Jersey, a person can be arrested for slurping soup in a public restaurant.
• A citizen may not carry a lunch pail on the public streets in Riverside, Calif.
• In Oklahoma you cannot take a bite of another person's hamburger.
• In Green, N.Y., you cannot eat peanuts and walk backwards on the sidewalks while a concert is on.
• In Houston, Texas, the law stipulates that you cannot buy rye bread, goose liver or Limburger cheese on Sunday, and if you do, you cannot take it out.
• A Lynn, Massachusetts, ordinance states babies may not be given coffee to drink.
• In Winona Lake, Indiana, it is illegal to eat ice cream at a counter on Sunday.
• It is against the law for Nebraska tavern owners to sell beer unless they have a kettle of soup brewing.
• According to an old Detroit law, banana peels are not to be thrown in the streets for fear of injury to horses.
• In Corvallis, Oregon, young ladies are not allowed to drink coffee after six o'clock in the evening.
• In Lehigh Nebraska, it is against the law to sell doughnut holes. 
• In Baltimore, Maryland, "Only pure unadulterated, unsophisticated and wholesome milk" may be sold.²⁰⁷

Now all of these laws may have seemed important at the time they were first made, but now they have lost all serious value (except maybe for the barbers not eating onions between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.!) and have become obsolete and even comical. We laugh at such laws but don’t we do the same thing when we bring legalism into the church? Do you really think you will make a person holy or righteous by trying to impose on them the outside laws and rules? The Bible tells us it just won’t work. Wouldn’t a better strategy be to encourage life in the Spirit where living in the love of the Spirit by the grace of God is encouraged?

If you have the Spirit and His love is in you, you just may be more conscious of not offending others with your bad breath if you are a barber. Now I don’t know if having the love of the Spirit in you will prevent you from carrying ice cream in your pocket or eating peanuts in church, or washing two babies in the same tub at the same time, or giving cigars to cats and dogs, or making sure your clothes match before you go outside, or stop you from taking a lion to the movies or walking across the street on your hands, or refraining from the other things mentioned above. With the Spirit in you, you just may want to break that Oklahoma law that says you can’t share your hamburger, or you may even be moved to buy some doughnut holes! A pastor like me might even be moved to use a bit of humor in his message. But one thing I am sure of: with the Spirit in you and His love, you will fulfill His Law by His grace the way He intended it to be fulfilled. That’s the most important way to see the light of God in the Law.

204 Insane US Laws You Won’t Believe Exist by Neil, Facty Staff, April 21, 2020 – https://facty.com/network/answers/culture/insane-us-laws-you-wont-believe-exist/3/

205 John F. Walvoord, and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

206 Chuck Smith, Word For Today audiotape #8104 (P.O. Box 8000, Costa Mesa CA 92628)

207 Campus Life, March, 1973.