Legalism in the Church, Identifying False Teachers and False Prophets in the Last Days
False Teachers and False Prophets Exalt Themselves
One thing that is common among all the false teachers is that they exalt themselves highly above other believers. They think and even declare that they are better than others. They claim that they have some special anointing that takes them to higher levels of Spirituality. They want fans and followers who admire them rather than God. They do not give a hundred per cent glory to God.
John 7:18
Philippians 3
Legalism in the Church: False Teachers do not believe in “Salvation by Faith Alone”
Many false preachers preach that salvation is not by faith alone, but has to be earned by good works of some sort. This is legalism.
They teach that people can make in make it to Heaven by following a set of rules, while the Bible is clear that no amount of self-righteousness can earn us the Salvation which Christ has purchased for us. Do you think that Jesus came to die just because we do not have enough lambs to kill every time we sin and repent? Some false teachers teach that whenever Christian sins, the Holy Spirit goes away from the believer until he or she repents and turn back to God. What they are essentially saying is that if you die without repenting for the last sin that you committed, you will go to hell, but if you're lucky enough to know that you are going to die soon and you get God's forgiveness before dying, then you will make it to heaven. How foolish it is!
These people cannot accept that salvation is by faith alone. They look down on other true believers and consider themselves better than others.
Romans 3:20
“Therefore by the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
The gospels are filled with passages where Jesus rebukes the self-righteous Pharisees for thinking that they are better than others. He points out that they are not righteous and that they did not keep all the laws and commandments. He explained this by telling them that being angry is a sin just like murder and lusting is a sin just like adultery and so on. Since they believed that they are righteous by keeping the law, Jesus showed them that there they are incapable of keeping the law and that they are in desperate need of a Savior. One sin is enough to send a person to everlasting hell.
Many false teachers of today preach without proper understanding of the Gospel message, interpret the scriptures wrongly just as they wish and make people believe lies. As a result, many think that they are saved, but are really not. They are simply religious and legalistic. The devil has got them to believe in lies and remain unforgiven. Many who think that they are born again, don't know the true gospel. All they know is that Jesus is God and God's son and he died for the sins of people, but they don't believe that he alone is capable of saving a soul from hell.
They still work hard in the flesh without the spirit, to keep the law. Christians are those who are led by the spirit. The spirit doesn't come to people through the keeping of the law, but by trusting in Jesus Christ alone as Savior. The heretical false teachings of today cannot be ignored. The Bible instructs us to stand against false prophecies and first teachings. We cannot tolerate such things and live as if nothing wrong is happening.
Legalism is a Religion of Rules and Laws
Christianity is not just a religion. Jesus did not die so that we can have a form of religion in His name. He died so that we can have life eternal. He died so that we can have abundant life on earth, which is a life of joy, peace and purpose that comes only through our relationship with Him.
The world chases after building wealth, fame, popularity etc. Christians should live for a different reason, that is, God's glory. We will not glorify God if we walk in the flesh or rely on our own strength. We are supposed to rely on the Spirit of God for everything. Holy Spirit indwelling is not a special gift to certain believers but to everyone who realizes their sinful nature and truly accepts Jesus as their Savior.
Be very careful when people claim that they receive special revelations and anointing from God, interact directly with God face to face, visit heaven frequently, see golden rains, speak to angels etc. Most probably, those people are unsaved false prophets and false preachers.
A true believer glorifies God, not himself.
This Post: Legalism in the Church
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