Is It Legalism?
Q: In
focusing on the need of peculiarity, is there not a danger of losing sight of
Jesus, and relying on our own good works?
A: Attempting righteousness by our own works is a trap that can be fallen into from many angles. With any Bible truth that requires obedience, one may try to rely on his own good works of obedience, rather than trusting in the saving power of Jesus. This is a danger that we must earnestly pray to avoid. Satan leads individuals to praise themselves for their own good deeds, concealing from them the fact that in reality they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Thus one may continue on unprepared, yet insensible of his great danger.
The Pharisees were an example of those who hoped to gain merit by means of their own righteous living, as they perceived it.
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Luke 18:11, 12.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matthew 23:25, 26.
Thus Jesus warned of the danger in a religion based on outward works,
cleaning up those things visible to man, but having a heart unsurrendered to
God. All of this outward cleansing, though appearing good to others, was
nothing more than human effort. It had no connection with the saving power of
God. Rather, Jesus said that if the Pharisees allowed Him to cleanse their inner lives, righteous living would
naturally follow.
The same
danger as the Pharisees fell into is real today. None of us can save ourselves
by good works, even by obedience, any more than could the Pharisees. But does
this then mean that obedience is unimportant? In earnestly seeking to escape
the pit of self-righteousness, shall we jump into the pit of carelessness and
disobedience?
“Woe unto
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and
cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and
faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matt.
23:23. It was right that they pay a faithful tithe, but along with this, they
should have allowed God to do a mighty heart work within them. This could only
happen if they would humbly surrender to Jesus, allowing Him to save them from
their sins.
“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:6. In everyone who surrenders to Jesus and experiences true conversion and salvation from sin through the power of God, there will be a response of loving obedience to all known truth. This includes obedience to God’s command to be peculiar, holy people. This is not salvation by works. Far from it! It is a response of love. Just as it is a pleasure to please those we love on earth, it is a joy for every truly converted Christian to obey his Heavenly Father.