Letter of the law or the spirit of the law?

Acts 21:25 NKJV

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

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Paul was being questioned by the Church because he wasnt requiring certain aspects of the law - particularly dealing with circumcision. The Gentiles were not being made to do so and the Jews thought they should be.

We wrestle with same issues today. Not in its specific form, but we are still trying to define lines for people. Im just not sure more lines are helping. Paul's argument was simple - they came to faith through Jesus not circumcision. Jesus cam in and cut away the dead part of our heart, setting us free.

Its not easy to wait for people to become holy. So we want to help the process along. We want to create "standards" that people have to meet. While i dont disagree with calling people to a higher level, pulling out the potential that is within them - i do feel we create lines that have little to do with heart and more to do with our attempt to control others.

I want live free from control of man. I want to help others grow in God, not grow is legalism. There is a difference between obeying the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. Both are important, but our heart is what codemns us and causes life. If we focus on the heart, life aligns itself correctly. Sure letter of the law can help shape our hearts at times...but we must br careful not to place a "law" in front of people in order to play God in their life. Its harder to teach people to walk in the spirit, by faith, and through grace than it is to create a list of lines and rules they have to follow. But if we want to see people free from their sin not fulfilling their fleshly desires, then the only way is to help people walk in the spirit.

Father, thanks for setting me free. Help me not be a slave creator or legalistic. I want to walk in the spirit today. amen.

Created 7 months ago