•The Bible Alone

Mormon

Baptist

Methodist

Christian

“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)“The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11)

Denominationalism necessitates different seeds!

•Bible + Methodist Discipline

•Bible + Baptist Manual

•Bible + Book of Mormon

• Deception – Mat. Deception – Mat. 24:4…24:4…

• Persecution – Mark Persecution – Mark 13:9…13:9…

• Overconfidence – Overconfidence – 1 Cor. 10:12… 1 Cor. 10:12…

• Drifting away from the Drifting away from the truth – Heb. 2:1; Gal. truth – Heb. 2:1; Gal. 1:6-9…1:6-9…

• Carnality – 1 Cor. 1:10-Carnality – 1 Cor. 1:10-13…13…

• Bitterness – Heb Bitterness – Heb 12:15…12:15…

• Legalism ?Legalism ?

• Liberalism

• False Doctrine

• Emotionalism

• Materialism

• Worldliness

• Apathy

• To Define: To Define: ““the attempt to be justified strictly according to a system of the attempt to be justified strictly according to a system of

law, without God’s grace.”law, without God’s grace.”

• Could this be a danger today? Could this be a danger today? Yes!! – Some wish to return to the Law of Moses – (Romans Yes!! – Some wish to return to the Law of Moses – (Romans

& Galatians)& Galatians) Yes!! - Some want to make their own rules! – (Mat. 15:7-9)Yes!! - Some want to make their own rules! – (Mat. 15:7-9) Yes!! – Some like to trust in their own goodness - (Luke Yes!! – Some like to trust in their own goodness - (Luke

18:11,12, 21)18:11,12, 21) Yes!! – Even the commands of Christ “Yes!! – Even the commands of Christ “can be”can be” approached approached

from a legalistic perspective . . . from a legalistic perspective . . .

Legalism does not pertain to the propriety of the Legalism does not pertain to the propriety of the practices themselves.practices themselves.

God has ALWAYS condemned the person who is God has ALWAYS condemned the person who is lifted up with pride because of his obedience, lifted up with pride because of his obedience, who trusts in his own goodness, and who who trusts in his own goodness, and who expects to receive God’s favor on the expects to receive God’s favor on the BASISBASIS of of those actions! (Luke 17:10)those actions! (Luke 17:10)

Those of the liberal persuasion have redefined Those of the liberal persuasion have redefined “legalism” in such a fashion as to shift the “legalism” in such a fashion as to shift the meaning from the attitude of being self meaning from the attitude of being self righteous, to the ACTION of conscientious righteous, to the ACTION of conscientious obedience to all of God’s word.obedience to all of God’s word.

Were the Pharisee’s guilty of legalism?Were the Pharisee’s guilty of legalism? They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-7,25-28)They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-7,25-28) They gave attention to “SOME” of God’s law They gave attention to “SOME” of God’s law

and overlooked other aspects of it – (Mat. and overlooked other aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke 11:42)23:23,24; Luke 11:42)

They went about binding and enforcing human They went about binding and enforcing human traditions, laws and doctrines beyond the traditions, laws and doctrines beyond the actual teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; Mk actual teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; Mk 7:1-13)7:1-13)

They anticipated receiving God’s favor BASED They anticipated receiving God’s favor BASED upon who they were and The amount of Law upon who they were and The amount of Law they kept – (John 8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)they kept – (John 8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)

Were the Pharisee’s guilty of Were the Pharisee’s guilty of legalism?legalism? They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-They were hypocrites – (Mat. 23:4-

7,25-28)7,25-28) They gave attention to “SOME” of They gave attention to “SOME” of

God’s law and overlooked other God’s law and overlooked other aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke aspects of it – (Mat. 23:23,24; Luke 11:42)11:42)

They went about binding and They went about binding and enforcing human traditions, laws enforcing human traditions, laws and doctrines beyond the actual and doctrines beyond the actual teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; teachings of the Law – (Mat. 15:7-9; Mk 7:1-13)Mk 7:1-13)

They anticipated receiving God’s They anticipated receiving God’s favor BASED upon who they were favor BASED upon who they were and The amount of Law they kept – and The amount of Law they kept – (John 8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)(John 8:33; Gal. 2:16; 3:10,11)

They were NEVER They were NEVER condemned because condemned because

they were too they were too zealous about strict zealous about strict obedience to God’s obedience to God’s

revealed will!!revealed will!!

• Danger of Apostasy (1:6-9; 2 Jn Danger of Apostasy (1:6-9; 2 Jn 9-11).9-11).

• Public correction (2:11-21).Public correction (2:11-21).• Detailed Argument (3:16).Detailed Argument (3:16).• Application of Scripture (3:17-25: Application of Scripture (3:17-25:

4:21).4:21).• Necessity of Water Baptism Necessity of Water Baptism

(3:26-27).(3:26-27).• Stressing Complete Obedience Stressing Complete Obedience

(3:1; 5:7).(3:1; 5:7).• Condemnation of sin (5:16-21).Condemnation of sin (5:16-21).• Correction of sin privately (6:1, Correction of sin privately (6:1,

2).2).• Walk according to THIS rule – Walk according to THIS rule –

(6:16)(6:16)

““You Are A Legalist”You Are A Legalist”

• The desire –The desire – To (unscripturally) broaden the scope To (unscripturally) broaden the scope

of fellowship! of fellowship! To FEEL more spiritual!To FEEL more spiritual! To be liberated . . (Jude 1:11)To be liberated . . (Jude 1:11)

• The method - The method - The charge of legalism!The charge of legalism! Liberty by rejecting the pattern!Liberty by rejecting the pattern! Necessitates a new hermeneutic, Necessitates a new hermeneutic,

(a subjective standard)! (a subjective standard)!

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

Cecil Hooks – “Free As Sons” – Chapter 20, ACCORDING

TO THE PATTERN

Patternism is another facet of legalism, a seeking to find holy, sacramental rituals

through which we maintain righteousness and an official, mediatorial organization through

which we work our righteousness, and by which we are kept in controlled conformity. It

encroaches on our individual freedom in serving God. It would make our individual relationship with God dependent upon an

organizational relationship. Disciples are parts of the community of believers, but that

fellowship is not an organization.

Cecil Hooks – “Free As Sons” – Chapter 20, ACCORDING

TO THE PATTERN

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

(Randy Mayeau, Nashville 12/88)

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

(Bill Swetmon, Nashville 12/88)

– Direct Command or Statement.• Must Examine Context

– Approved Apostolic Example.• Observation of Approved Activity

of first Century Christians.

– Necessary Implication.• a logical and unavoidable

conclusion drawn from statements or propositions.

– Direct Command or Statement.• Must Examine Context

– Approved Apostolic Example.• Observation of Approved Activity

of first Century Christians.

– Necessary Implication.• a logical and unavoidable

conclusion drawn from statements or propositions.

Science of Science of Interpretation Interpretation

This method is the compilation of all references to the subject under consideration, including direct

statements, approved actions, and necessary implications.

When all the evidence is compiled and sifted through using the laws

of communication, including contextual considerations, then

the true meaning and the current application can be understood.

This method is the compilation of all references to the subject under consideration, including direct

statements, approved actions, and necessary implications.

When all the evidence is compiled and sifted through using the laws

of communication, including contextual considerations, then

the true meaning and the current application can be understood.

The Inductive MethodThe Inductive Method

Science of Science of Interpretation Interpretation

Do all things Do all things ACCORDING TO THE ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN (2 Tim. PATTERN (2 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 8:5)1:13; Heb. 8:5)

Do not GO BEYOND (1 Do not GO BEYOND (1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9-11)Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9-11)

Do not ADD TO or Do not ADD TO or TAKE FROM (Pr. 30:5-TAKE FROM (Pr. 30:5-6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 6; Gal. 3:15; Rev. 22:18-19)22:18-19)

The Consequences:The Consequences:

InstitutionalismInstitutionalism

Social Gospel (Recreation/ Social Gospel (Recreation/ Entertainment)Entertainment)

Gospel/ Doctrine Distinction – Gospel/ Doctrine Distinction – (To Broaden Fellowship) (To Broaden Fellowship)

Our Distinctiveness Ridiculed – Our Distinctiveness Ridiculed – (Designation/ Teaching/ Practice/ (Designation/ Teaching/ Practice/ Plea)Plea)

The Destruction of The Local The Destruction of The Local Church – Church –

Rejection of The Lord – (Col. Rejection of The Lord – (Col. 3:17)3:17)

I I Love Love Jesus

Jesus

• Legalism ?

• Liberalism

• False Doctrine

• Emotionalism

• Materialism

• Worldliness

• Apathy

What Can We Do?What Can We Do?

•Be Aware:Be Aware: Through Sound Preaching, Through Sound Preaching,

& Teaching of the Truth! (2 & Teaching of the Truth! (2 Tim 4:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:17,18)Tim 4:2-4; 2 Pet. 3:17,18)

•Be Prepared:Be Prepared: By Watching & Testing – By Watching & Testing –

(Mark 13:37; Acts 20:31; (Mark 13:37; Acts 20:31; 17:11)17:11)