“Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” Deut. 5:32

LegalismLegalism = bind - make laws Right

Liberal Liberal = loosen or go beyond Left

““And I will give unto thee the keys And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Mt.16:19Mt.16:19

Forbid Forbid where God where God

has not has not

Allow where Allow where God has notGod has not

Legalism Liberalism

I. Compare Legalism and LiberalismI. Compare Legalism and Liberalism

• Restrain

• Overdoes

• God looks mean

• Loose

• Distort

• God is indulgent

LegalistsLegalists LiberalsLiberals

II. Liberalism Defines things in a II. Liberalism Defines things in a special wayspecial way

• Believe in God, but not the God of the Bible

• Believe in Christ, but not the Christ of the Bible

• Believe in inspiration, but not what the Bible claims

• Low view of inspiration and authority

• Denies plenary inspiration

• Denies miraculous elements

Basic error of liberalismBasic error of liberalism

• Liberal may say “I believe that the Bible contains the word of God”.

• Difference in saying that the Bible contains the word of God and in saying that the Bible is the word of God.

Basic error of liberalismBasic error of liberalism

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.”

“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Gal. 1:11-12Gal. 1:11-12

Liberalism is that philosophy that Liberalism is that philosophy that

seeks to escape the restrictions seeks to escape the restrictions

of the Bible by releasing men of the Bible by releasing men

from it’s guidelines. The Bible from it’s guidelines. The Bible

is not the final authority for is not the final authority for

liberals.liberals.

LiberalismLiberalism

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• 1. Baptism1. Baptism

–Change in Emphasis

–Some deny teaching on baptism

–God accepts individual

–Ought not be dogmatic

–Faith more important

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• 2. Worship2. Worship

–Calling for instrumental music

–Say it is a matter of opinion

–Some use them nowLiberalism calls for

Worship to beentertainment

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• 3. Role of Women3. Role of Women

–Disregard 1 Tim. 2:11-12

–Want women to lead in worship

–Some allow women preachers

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• 4. Fellowship with others4. Fellowship with others

–Join with denominations

–Misapply Romans 14

–Fellowship extended to all

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• 5. Change of plea5. Change of plea

–Abandon restoration plea

–Join with denominations

–“One among many”

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• 6. Change Salvation by Grace6. Change Salvation by Grace

–Grace covers all differences

–Cannot know the truth

–Do not know who is right

III. The Liberal AgendaIII. The Liberal Agenda

• ......many others such as.........many others such as...

• Divorce and RemarriageDivorce and Remarriage

• Lord’s Supper on weeknightsLord’s Supper on weeknights

• Tongue speakingTongue speaking

• Deny Virgin BirthDeny Virgin Birth

These are examples of liberalismOr Modernism!!!

IV. Never Imagined these...IV. Never Imagined these...

• Radio – pray a sinner’s prayerRadio – pray a sinner’s prayer• No wrong in women eldersNo wrong in women elders• Faithful Christians in allFaithful Christians in all• Women preachersWomen preachers• Open fellowshipOpen fellowship• Salvation by “grace alone”Salvation by “grace alone”• Instrumental musicInstrumental music

• Goes to the left

• Allows where God does not

• Does not accept inspiration

• The other extreme of legalism

Going to the Right Making laws where God has not

made a law Just as wrong to make a law as it

is to break a law We are not law makers

• Fails to recognize the difference between matters of faith and matters of opinion.

• Treat matters of faith as matters of opinion.

• “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

• Truth is understandable –Eph.5:17

• Truth is attainable – 1 Tim.2:3-4

““Be ye therefore very courageous Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;”the right hand or to the left;”

Josh.23:6

LegalismLegalismLiberalismLiberalism

• By Arthur PigmanBy Arthur Pigman• Evans Church of ChristEvans Church of Christ• Evans, GeorgiaEvans, Georgia• Sunday Evening – 12 December 2004Sunday Evening – 12 December 2004