The Ways of the Heart
Frank Allnutt

Section 8: The Ways of Law vs. The Ways of Grace

Page 3: Misconceptions of New Covenant Law

God’s law has been a controversial subject from the time God told Adam not to eat the forbidden fruit. But make no mistake about it: God intended for Adam to obey or suffer the consequences. Today, many Christians have misconceptions about God’s law and their relationship with it. This in turn causes them to wrongly respond to the law. Those wrong responses generally fall into three categories:

1. Legalism

2. Antinomianism

3. Libertinism

Now, let’s discuss what those terms mean.

• It is through self-discipline to obey the law that a person can become righteous, the rewards of which are God’s acceptance, forgiveness, and grace.
  
  
• To maintain salvation demands total obedience to God’s law.

While legalists are concerned with obeying the letter of the law, they often neglect the spirit of the law, which is love-motivated obedience.

Quite often the legalist is preoccupied with adhering to man’s laws and religious customs and traditions. And it is not uncommon for him to operate out of a legalistic performance-based acceptance or rejection system. Under this system, he accepts or rejects others as well as himself on the basis of performance. When certain standards are met, there is acceptance, and when behavior does not meet expectations, there is rejection.

1. A lack of love toward God, self, and others. (Matthew 23:23)
   
   
2. Spiritual pride—stemming from a self-righteous misperception. (Luke 18:11, 12; Matthew 6:1, 2, 5, 16; 23:5-7; Luke 16:15; Romans 10:3)
   
   
3. Formalism—or ritualism, in which they honor God with their “lips” but not with their “hearts.” (Isaiah 29:13; Mark 7:6)
   
   
4. Attraction to man-made laws as a basis for living—including both secular and religious rules, standards, codes, expectations, customs, traditions, etc. (Isaiah 29:13; Mark 7:7, 8)
   
   
5. Hypocrisy—operating out of a motive to give the appearance of righteousness (formalism), though they lack love-motivated righteousness. Such a person follows the letter of the law as a substitute for loving conscientiousness, which is the spirit of the law. (Matthew 23:27, 28; 1 Samuel 15:19-22; Matthew 15:3-9; 23:25, 26; John 7:19)
   
   
6. Spiritual blindness—this person does not perceive the true role of obedience under grace. (John 9:16)

Legalism places an impossible burden to bear on the legalistic believer (Acts 15:10; Psalms 130:3; James 2:10).

The roots of legalism
Legalism is rooted in the corruption that developed during the Mosaic economy. Somewhere along the way, a false concept of the law and its purpose developed. Over time a loving, faithful, and obedient relationship with God gave way to the notion that man, out of his own resources, was to obey God’s law, and through obedience would attain self-righteousness, please God, and merit His favor. And out of this, the Jewish religious leaders added many of their own laws to God’s law. This system came to be known as Torah, Torah Law, or Mosaic Law. Through obedience to those laws, they expected to become righteous and acceptable to God, and thereby attain salvation. This false teaching and practice is called “works of law” and “works righteousness.”

Legalism eventually wormed its way into the early Church through Jewish Christians who would not let go of Torah Law and embrace grace.

It became a stumbling block to certain Jewish Christians. Paul gives this account of the matter: “But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them [Gentile believers], and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses’” (Acts 15:5). Paul encountered such legalism throughout his ministry, and sought to correct the error in his letters to the churches.

Today, legalism continues to thrive in some denominations and local churches. But works under the law do not make a person righteous or earn him God’s forgiveness and salvation. Scripture makes it clear that man is saved by faith and grace through Jesus Christ—not by works under the law (see Ephesians 2:8, 9).

The legalistic Christian may believe he must earn or, at least, maintain his salvation or acceptance by God. But this false concept denies the work of Christ at the cross and through His resurrection, and the believer’s crucifixion and resurrection with Him.

For some legalistic believers, law is substituted for the conscience. They obey the letter of the law, but do not conduct themselves in the loving spirit of the law. Quite often, they do only what they believe is legally required of them, and no more.

Other legalistic believers are “traditionalists.” This is to say they regard church and religious traditions as having authority and truth on par with Scripture. “Traditions,” in this sense, are a form of man-made law.

Jesus addressed some traditionalists of His day: “And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?... And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:3, 6. See also Mark 7:8, 9, 13).

Paul was just as critical of traditionalists:

For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions (Galatians 1:13, 14).

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ (Colossians 2:8).

Legalistic Christians are functionally enslaved to the legal system they have bought in to. In this sense, they make the law a false or illegitimate master, and themselves its slaves. Because their false legal system is a false master over them, they commit spiritual adultery with it. And such sin divides their soul from their spirit and renders them functionally half-hearted or fleshly (Figure 8-2).

Figure 8-2: With the Half-Hearted Christian, a wrong response to God’s law can contribute to the functional division of his soul from his spirit.

Antinomianism and Libertinism similarly divide the heart, functionally, and believers who practice any of these wrong responses to God’s law do not experience the full grace of His fellowship, but rather place themselves “under the law” in a functional sense (See Figure 8-3). Furthermore, they attempt to place others under law by imposing on them legalistic expectations, standards, rules, and so forth.

Figure 8-3: The Half-Hearted Christian who walks in wrong response to God’s law does not fully experience the full grace of His fellowship.

2. Antinomianism
Antinomianism is a form of apostasy by which the believer rejects God’s law (including the commandments of Jesus and other New Covenant law) as having no relevance in his life, whether as teacher or judge, because he misunderstands what it means to have died to the law. Backlash against legalism has swelled the ranks of antinomianism.

Antinomians believe that, because their forgiveness and salvation are secure and irrevocable, and are under grace, they are above the law. They believe that any sense of obligation to the law is to embrace legalism, “works righteousness,” or “salvation by works.”

Antinomians cherish autonomy, and, if at all possible, will not submit to anyone else’s authority, unless it is in their perceived best interest to do so. In the business world they are often found as entrepreneurs (although not all Christian entrepreneurs are antiauthoritarian). In ministry, they are pastors who surround themselves with board members who are yes-men that rubber-stamp their approval to everything the pastor wishes. Others may be founders of, and preside over, “their own” ministries, and their board members are not uncommonly overly submissive family members or yes-men who, in practice, exercise no authority over them. In a political sense, antinomianism may take on the forms of antarchism and anarchism.

Some antinomians are licentious in that they lack moral discipline or ignore legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct, but more generally that they have no regard for accepted rules or standards.

Antinomians are quick to speak out against the law and law righteousness, but have little of substance to say about grace beyond salvation—other than, in their wrong way of thinking, grace releases them from obligation to even the New Covenant commandments of Christ Jesus, which are the basis of Christian personal conduct in fellowship (not relationship) with God and others.

Paul’s teaching that Christians have died to the law was misunderstood by some in his day to be antinomian. His critics were legalistic Christian Jews —and those who dared not stand up to them—who insisted that circumcision, certain dietary laws and other tenets of the Torah must be observed. Paul went to great length in attempting to open their minds to the truth: that they were no longer under the Mosaic Law, but were under grace. By contrast, Paul fully embraced New Covenant Law, and even passed on to his readers numerous commandments received from the Lord. Paul reveres God’s law and teaches that we should keep New Covenant law out of love for God, and because holiness, as defined by God’s law, is God’s will for us. “Do we nullify the Law through faith?” Paul asks, “May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law” (Romans 3:31). Paul actually commends the Roman Christians, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed...” (Romans 6:17).

3. Libertinism
“Libertine” is the English transliteration of the Latin term libertinos, which is translated from the Greek term apeleutheros. “Libertine” appears in the American Standard Bible, in but one verse—Acts 6:9. In the NAS and NIV, the Greek term apeleutheros is translated as “Freedmen.” (“Liberal” has the same etymology.)

The term refers to those who worshiped at the Synagogue of Freedmen—actually, freed slaves.

The Freedmen rejected the Gospel and its message of grace as taught by Stephen, and “they secretly induced men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God'” (Acts 6:11).

In Stephen’s defence of the Word of God, the hypocrisy of the Freedmen was exposed: “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51a).

Soon afterward, the Freedmen stoned Stephen to death. And as they did, their robes were held by “a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58). And it was Saul, later named Paul, who carried on the ministry begun by Stephen.

Libertinism among Christians
The Freedmen mentality or Libertinism is not confined to “stiff-necked,” old-hearted Jews; it is also present among some new-hearted, though functionally Half-Hearted Christians.

Christians, of course, can behave in the ways of the flesh, as if they still had uncircumcised hearts. Because of their divided hearts they quench the Spirit and thus resist the Holy Spirit.

In cautioning against such Half-Heartedness, Paul wrote: “Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances” (1 Thessalonians 5:19, 20).

The Libertine Christian
With regard to sin and law, some Libertines reason that the so-called “power of indwelling sin” is the “doer” of sin in their lives, not themselves (Romans 7:17) and that God’s law therefore does not apply to them. If that were true, then it would seem that God would hold “indwelling sin” accountable and not the one who commits that sin.

Being neither Legalists nor Antinomianists, Libertines live by their own laws.
The libertine Christian believes that since he is no longer “under the law,” he should only obey God’s laws if those laws do not conflict with his own, unique set of laws. So he views New Covenant law and the commandments of Christ not as obligatory but as optional suggestions, ideals, or philosophies, and not as commandments.

So did Jesus give us philosophies, options, and suggestions? Did Jesus say, “If you feel like it, go into all the world and preach the gospel”? Did Jesus say, “If you feel like it, love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love others as yourself”? Did Jesus say, “If you feel like it, go and sin no more?”

Libertinism among Christians is a form of narcissistic abuse of God’s grace, the nature and intent of His laws, and the believer’s freedom in Christ.
The Libertine believes free will trumps any and all laws. The only laws he willingly submits to are those that support and do not infringe upon his free will.

Libertinism is rooted in the humanistic doctrine that all men are born sovereign or free—which, in turn, is rooted in Satan’s big lie to Adam that he is free and that he can only experience his sovereignty and the fulness of his freedom through independence, even from God.

The Libertine may hold to the philosophy that “the ends justify the means.” However, this is contrary to Paul’s teaching that “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). In other words, Paul would never exercise his freedoim in a way that would place himself in bondage to any person or thing.

The Libertine also ignores Paul’s warning: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

What the libertine fails to see is that Jesus, who was “full of grace,” did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it through love (Matthew 5:17-20). And we have been enabled and commanded to do the same. I’ll be blunt about it: If a believer is not motivated out of love to obey Christ, he can only be motivated by sinful fleshliness to disobey.

The dangers of libertinism are many: a lack of love toward God, others, and self; spiritual pride; sinfulness; self-centeredness; missed blessings by not doing God’s will; and division of the heart—all of which result in quenching the Spirit and interrupting one’s fellowship with Him.

We are to obey out of love for Jesus, not necessarily out of love for doing what we are commanded to do. Jesus is an example of one who encountered a situation calling for obedience that He did not relish. He prayed, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42). Even so, He was obedient out of love for His Father in Heaven. On other occasions, Jesus insisted that He did not come to do His own will, but rather the will of His Father who sent Him. Jesus was obedient to His Father because He loved Him.

Other examples of those who were obedient out of love are the faithful witnesses of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Covenant. And history is filled with stories of other believers who were obedient to God out of love for Him—even when it meant persecution or martyrdom.

Passivity
Passivity is a form of libertinism. The distinctions are this: Generally speaking, the active libertinist abuses his freedom in Christ by what he does (“sins of commission”), and the passive libertinist abuses his freedom by what he does not do (“sins of omission”).

Passivity can be disguised as Christian virtue—such as false humility, resting in God, or loving God and others as myself.

Let’s consider these, beginning with counterfeit humility.

Passivity and humility are in opposition to one another. Passivity is rooted in prideful self-will that ignores obedience to the will of God. Humility, on the other hand, is rooted in humble, faithful, loving obedience to the will of God.

Passivity that attempts to pass itself off as “resting in God,” is actually the biblical sin of idleness, apathy or indifference to doing the will of God.

“Resting in God” is sometimes used deceptively to conceal the fact that a person is actually resting in their little comfort zone. And to be obedient to God might actually cause some sort of discomfort. So don’t rock the boat. Don’t upset the apple cart. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

James gives this warning about passivity: “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

One convenient copout for a passive Christian is to attempt to give the impression that they fulfill the two Greatest Commandments: they love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39). Therefore, they assume that their professed “love” fulfills the law (verse 40) and they are not responsible for any further obedience to the law.

But that is a perversion of the two Greatest Commandments.

Such a person does not actually demonstrate love for God and others. For Godly love is not passive, but is active. Truly resting in God is altogether compatible with dynamically loving God and others.

The blessings of loving obedience
Peter writes, “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments” (2 John 6a). Truly resting in God is the blessing of peace, joy and satisfaction that the Whole-Hearted Christian experiences in fellowship with the Spirit of Christ, but which the passive Christian does not experience because he is out of step with the Spirit, quenches the Spirit, and grieves the Spirit.

Passivity closes the door to grace. Paul reminds us that “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5b).

Christ’s attitude toward passivity is disclosed to us in our Lord’s message to the church at Laodicea—a message to passive Christians. He told them, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15).

Interpreting this requires some understanding of Laodicea. This Roman city was a commercial center, known for its medicinal eyesalve and textiles. It had one major problem: There was no local water supply. Water had to be brought in by aqueduct from neighboring hot springs. By the time the water flowed into the city, it was lukewarm. Beyond the city it was cold

So when our Lord spoke to the Laodiceans in terms of contrasting water temperatures, they immediately drew the connection. “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,” He went on to admonish them, “I will spit [literally vomit] you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16).

“Lukewarm” believers are passive. The passive person may simply be regarded as one who is laid back, under motivated, or a slow starter. But the Bible indicates that passivity is a serious, fleshly condition of the divided heart.

People can be passive toward almost anything, but here we will focus on passivity to the law of God. James writes, “But someone may well say, ‘you have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works’” (James 2:18). And, in verse 26, James concludes: “faith without works is dead.” To restate that in positive terms, “faith with works is alive”!

The passive Christian has a poor “works ethic.” He might try to convince others that to focus on obedience to the law places him in danger of being legalistic. But, the truth be known, he simply wants to do his own thing, without being encumbered by obedience to God’s law.

The passive Christian may seek refuge in giving lip-service to holy living, the deeper life, the Spirit-filled life, the exchanged life, the consecrated life, resting in God, or total surrender and the yielded life. His fleshliness is skilled at counterfeiting true consecration.

Let’s consider, for example, total surrender and the yielded life. To begin, we must define “surrender.” Dictionaries carry two definitions of surrender that are integral to our discussion. First, surrender means to “give up, abandon, or relinquish.” Though every true believer has been crucified and resurrected with Christ, many do not understand this or are reluctant to intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally surrender their prideful self-centered life, old ways of living, and old desires which often are perceived as “rights.”

Now, let’s look at the other definition of surrender: “to yield (something) to the possession or power of another.” In this sense, a Christian who totally surrenders or yields himself to Christ discontinues to present himself as a slave for obedience to the flesh, Satan, sin, the world, legalism or lawlessness.

Now, how does a Christian surrender and yield? It might be initiated in the form of a prayer of surrender and yielding to God. But true surrender and yielding can only be validated by the evidence of loving obedience. Paul writes that we are to be obedient, “not by way of eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6).

The believer’s freedom does not biblically translate into independence. There is no “middle ground” between bondage in Adam and freedom in Christ—not positionally, relationally, ontologically, conditionally, functionally, or behaviorally. There is no true freedom outside of Jesus and the will of God.

Libertinism is the quest for independence; the quest for independence is really a prideful quest for self-sufficiency; and the quest for self-sufficiency is no less than a fleshly quest to become autonomous like God. The Bible speaks of a realm of darkness and slavery, as well as a realm of light and freedom; but the scriptures make no mention of a third realm in which a person is independent, autonomous, or truly self-sufficient. Satan sought such middle ground and discovered it did not exist. And then Adam and Eve made the same fatal mistake and discovery.

Freedom, in the sense of being that fantasy middle-ground of self-sufficiency and autonomy, is a false idol, with which a believer can carry on a spiritually adulterous affair.

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