Legalism and Demur

Did Jesus ever encounter legalism? Do you encounter legalism? Is legalism a set of rules that line up with a law of works? If legalism is – do this or else, what is demur? Demur is a legal word basically meaning yes I did that but I had a good reason, let me explain why I did that.

What is legalism? How does legalism start? Do parents exercise legalism with their children?

Do the cops and the courts practice legalism? Is there equal justice under the law?

Do governments practice legalism? Jesus encountered legalism from the religious people. I can relate. I have had more “issues” with professing believers than I have had with unbelievers.

Luke 14: 1-6 KJV And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

Here we see Jesus eating with “religious” people. This teaches us churches and religious people are legalistic. And Paul tells us, believers, ” All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12

Expedient – fit or suitable for the purpose. That which promotes or advances an outcome.

When believers tell people just say this prayer to get saved, that is trying to promote an outcome. It does not mean the person got saved. No where in the Bible are we told to say a prayer to get saved. We are told in scripture/the Bible to believe to have faith and our faith and believing is all on the Lord Jesus Christ and his blood shed on the criss to pay for our sin. And as many as receive him gave he the power to become the sons of God. 2 Corinthians 6:18 KJV — And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

What causes legalism? Did you ever ask where does legalism come from? We will look at this more. Until next time.

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Expectations

What are expectations and why do we have expectations?

Proverbs 13:12 KJV — Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Expectations is a strong belief that something will happen in the future. We go to bed at night expecting to wake up in the morning. We expect our family to work together to uplift and help one another. We expect if we work hard and learn we wil get a good education and a good job. But what do you expect from God?

You have 20, 30, 40 or more years so far and how much of your time have you given to the Lord? So do you expect God to take you to his house (heaven) when you die?

No, eternal life is not about works we do in this flesh it is about what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Jesus shed his perfect blood to pay for all the sin of this world.

This is about expectations and why do people expect things? Who gave you your expectations?

All the issues of life come from our heart. Proverbs 4:23 KJV — Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

So we get expectations (a strong belief something is going to happen in the future) set in our heart and when that expectations is deferred time and time again, it makes the heart sick. And when we are heart sick, we have issues in life.

People are human and make mistakes. If you are going to set expectations in life you are far better off setting them according to God’s word and not what people promise.

I would venture to say everyone reading this post expects to go to heaven when you die. What do you base that expectation on? God’s word clearly tells us we do not go to heaven if we are a good person. God does not base our going to heaven on our works. If he did none of us would go to heaven.

We only go to heaven if we believe on and receive the Lord Jesus Christ into our heart for salvation. Just like the thief on the cross, save me Lord Jesus, I believe. How to get saved is in our Menu above.

Friends, expectations can be happy and good or terrible once you realize you were wrong or the person let you down. Put your confidence and trust, your expectations, in the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s word. Until next time.