Part 1: Ready For Every Good Work - a Study in Titus
An interim article while I work on my first God's promises article.
(All scripture quotations are from the BSB unless otherwise noted.)
First, life has simply been crazy, both in my personal and work life. I have been working on several articles for awhile, but wrapping them up has proven difficult. I have not given up on finishing out the faith promises articles, I promise (pun intended).
In the meantime, I did not want to pass up this discovery in the book of Titus though I still had to divide it into parts. I believe these are some valuable perspectives and I hope they inspire you to keep reading and be open to come to your own conclusions about this scripture. Truth is truth - and that discovery is always an adventure. Entertaining alternative perspectives is literally repentance and how we grow. If everything you believe about God is right - you can never repent!
Law vs. Grace - The Epic Battle of the Ages
My first coming “faith promises” article is about how there are no requirements - beyond faith - to receive all of God's gifts. That is a new covenant promise. The gospel message is that God offers everything freely and without obligation. These gifts or promises are wrapped up in ‘salvation’; but, the list is numerous. He does this purely because He is kind and loves us. The true gift is Himself - Christ offers Himself to us with all the gifts contained in His life. The best word picture of the gift of Christ is the fruit of the Spirit - particularly love. Only a mindset of continually “receiving a gift” will enable us to bear His fruit.
This is the new covenant gospel of grace - it is good news because it does not depend on our performance! There are no conditions - like behaviors - added to this covenant. It is the polar opposite of the old covenant - scripture portrays the two covenants as being in opposition. My next article will show details from scripture how adding conditions - treating the new like the old - will ruin the effectiveness of the new. The only condition is “receiving the gift” of Christ - which is faith.
Walking by faith means that we learn what Christ offered when He made us a new creation and then we we grow in trusting that inner work. There continues to be no conditions - beyond faith - after salvation. The covenant doesn't suddenly change once we receive it! Paul is clear: in the same way we received Christ, so we walk in Him. (Colossians 2:6)
The Key to Faith
Our faith must be rooted in a “no conditions” mindset. We have all of Christ - all the time - period! We are a new creation - nothing can change that status. When we sin, Christ is there within; thus, we are a new creation choosing the wages of sin over the gift of life (Romans 6:23). Yet, no matter how often or how long we struggle - our status with God never changes. Faith in this status cannot be compromised! Legalism or earning compromises this truth in big and small ways - the epic enemy of faith.
Legalism adds conditions - beyond faith - to participate in the gospel promises of God. You must do XYZ so that God will do XYZ. It may be for salvation itself or the many post-salvation obligations the legalists come up with like: staying in God's will; staying close to God; earning God’s blessings; etc. But, it is all part of this epic battle between Law and grace - earning vs. gift. There is no more important topic to discuss. Paul's calling was to fight this battle.
Only Two Belief Systems
There are only two types of belief systems. There is the earning (law) based belief system or there is the gift (love/grace) based belief system. The gospel is the story of the love and grace based system. All other philosophies are based in the earning system - an earthly, fleshly system. Within an earthly context, it works. An earthly worker should receive wages - that is the way earth works. That is why earthly religions like Judaism work to some degree within the earthly system to help manage society.
But that is not the way the Kingdom of God works. Mixing in this fleshly earning mentality messes up faith. It is the root of every corrupt Christian concept. My calling is to help free others from this corrosive mindset, just as I am breaking free myself.
The way of the Kingdom does influence earth; but, do not mix the two systems.
Problems occur when mixing these two systems. Consider in history when folks tried to create a utopian society based on making everything free. It does not end well - it ends in utter destruction of society. The gift system will never work on earth until Christ returns with a new earth no longer infected by sin. Even the early church tried this and failed! Let history be a lesson to us. On earth, unlike Heaven, we must operate under an earning system - the earth’s system. To be clear, doing well using the earth's system is not legalism. Scripture even advocates for that! The book of Proverbs is full of God's wisdom for doing well in the earthly system.
Yet, consider when we try to make the Kingdom of God an earning system - it is the root of every religion and false teaching out there. Mixing earning into the gospel message in any form corrupts it. The earthly way of earning is not of faith and does not work in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God runs on the gift system (love). God has everything good and He freely offers it all to humanity. We must rid our minds of the earning system - and simply receive - to operate well in the Kingdom.
God’s Perfect Earning System
Didn't God Himself give the Hebrews an earning system - the Mosaic Law? There is a reason He did, and I will cover that in detail in my next set of articles. Not everything God gave or Christ taught is a Kingdom way. Sometimes God gives us something only to show us that it is a failure. The Law is God showing us how mixing the systems is a failure! Much of the old testament is the story of how badly it failed! As Paul rightly indicates, the Law was good and perfect. The Law itself did not fail, but it will never work for humanity within the earth system. We will get into this in much more detail in my next set of articles.
Don't try to spiritually keep one foot on the law or earning path, and one foot on the gift or grace path. That only leaves you stuck.
We are stubborn creatures, seeking our own way. God gave us the Law to show the perfect “earning” standard. The Law stands in place as a dare to humanity: show off your ability to earn life in the Kingdom of God using the earthly earning system. And every human, except Christ, fails miserably. Thus, the gospel answer is to utterly abandon that way and go the grace way. Don't try to keep a foot on the earning path and a foot on the gift path - that only stalls your spiritual growth. We must root out all earning mindsets towards Christ and His gifts. You earn your paycheck; but, not the fruit of the Spirit.
This epic earning vs. gift struggle is the main struggle of humanity. Don't mix the two kingdoms. But, again, scripture has much earthly wisdom too! It is not legalistic to act wisely within the earthly kingdom. Scripture can say in Proverbs that it is stupid to be lazy on earth - a person should earn his keep. And yet scripture offers all of the gifts of the Kingdom of God for free. And some of those gifts help us to not be lazy within the earthly system! I'm not saying Heaven doesn't impact earth. But the systems are still vastly different.
Scripture says that we should submit to earthly rulers and abide by their laws. As believers, this should be a no brainer - God's Kingdom law of love compels us to be at peace with all people. Yet, following laws is the currency of earth, not Heaven. On earth, you break certain laws you earn imprisonment. Yet, we were the very enemy of God; disconnected from His life; connected to the power of sin; and still He makes a way for us to become His heirs with Christ by faith. Nothing required but to accept the amazing gift of Himself and His life. That is God's gift system - proclaimed as the good news or gospel.
Let the Kingdom of God system influence the world through you; but, still, don't confuse the two systems.
Let's be practical. God is not dropping manna on your doorstep every morning for your daily bread. As scripture says, we are “in this world but not of it”. Being “in” the world means that we participate in its system. I go to work to earn a wage to be able to support my family. This is the earth's system.
Scripture is full of how to participate well in the earth’s system. “If a person does not work, they should not eat; if you do not care for your own family, you are worse than an infidel; do your work as unto Christ.” We interact in a physical world - physically! Nothing wrong with that - that is not legalism. Christians should interact within the earthly system even better than unbelievers because we are new creations.
Again, as a people who are spiritually located in the Kingdom of God, that system does influence us as we interact within the earth system. Yet, the two systems are still vastly different. Holy Spirit fruit may inspire us to be a hard worker; but His fruit is free, while the wages we earn are not. Again, do not confuse the two systems. And especially don't confuse God's perfect earthly earning system - the Mosaic Law - with the gospel. No matter what anyone says, the Law and the gospel are mortal enemies. That is God's choice, not mine.
Relationships: Where God's Kingdom Interacts with Earth
The main interaction on earth where God's system reveals itself is relationships. Consider marriage - do you have an earning mindset towards your spouse - tit for tat? If they mistreat you in some way, does it cause you to hold back? If so, how is that working out? The high percentage of divorce portrays the folly of an earning system in relationships. When we measure each other and barter “love” - it ruins relationships. Yet, this is the natural system of earth - a fleshly system.
Being a new creation in Christ is an intimate connection with our Creator. Can you see how this mindset of earning will ruin our perception of our relationship with Christ? There is one vast difference - unlike human relationships, God always acts towards us using the heavenly system. We may try to interact with Him using the earthly system, but He never does. His essence is unconditional love. Thus, He cannot ever act outside of His system. If He could, He would not be the God of scripture. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)
Legalism is trying to interact with God using the fleshly system of earning.
Working on this introduction to Titus has caused a profound realization. I knew that the gospel portrays a gift mindset towards God and His promises, but it was not as clear to me the battle lines of history between the earning vs. gift systems. If you carefully examine scripture you will see these battle lines epicly depicted. The language of the gospel depicts the gift system: Christ, Spirit, love, grace, mercy, kindness, faith, hope, generosity, gentleness, freedom, blessing, etc. The other side is: Adam, Law, curse, bondage, sin, flesh, powers, hate, cursing, etc. The battle lines are clear.
This is the battle of the ages and it is our daily battle. How are we going to interact with Christ? Do we use an earning system where we feel dirty and distant from Him when we stumble? Do we feel inadequate if we haven't done some list of “spiritual” activities or spent enough time doing them? Are we doing certain things, or trying to avoid other things, in order to get closer to God; stay in His will; be blessed by Him; or stay in fellowship with Him? These ideas are all based on the fleshly legalistic earning mindset. Scripture passages are twisted to push this mindset; but, it is not of the Kingdom of God - faith and love.
Welcome to the Battlefield
This is a battle of the mind as all of our spiritual battles are. It often feels like a battle the enemy is winning. Vast swaths of people in churches have bought into earning from God. Some for salvation; but, if the enemy cannot get us to try and earn salvation itself, he tries to get us to earn its benefits. We take the Mosaic Law - an earning system - and try to mix it with the gospel at varying levels. Most teaching I have heard pushes this mindset and ignores or minimizes the revelation of the gospel in the epistles! This earning mindset produces stress, anxiety, and other destructive mindsets and emotions because our perception of God is muddled.
This is a battle the apostle Paul was well equipped for. As a former professional legalist, he knew all the tricks. And if we simply listen to what he has to say, including the book of Titus, it will help us in this battle. The gift mindset is the key to the Kingdom system and I want to make the battle lines clear. Legalism is not just a bad habit or those weird people over in the corner - is is a primary enemy tactic.
Do you choose a gift or earning mindset towards God? Do you choose a gift mindset for getting into Heaven, but an earning mindset for the rest of God's promises? How have you learned the gospel and Christ? Only a gift mindset is faith, everything else is flesh. But, let's dive into Titus and see how Paul faces down legalism heads on. This study has renewed my furvor for this epic battle. We must learn to root out every tendril of this flesh based philosophy from our thinking.
Titus - A Trusted Partner in the Gospel
The epistle to Titus from Paul is a treasure trove of gospel tidbits and has led to some interesting places. My primary focus is how Paul describes “good works” or deeds, but there are many connecting ideas. Titus is quite a treatise against legalism, much like most of Paul's writing. Since Paul calls his former legalistic life ‘dung’, this is not surprising. (Philippians 3:1-10)
NOTE: That Greek word some translate as ‘dung’ is fascinating. In other ancient Greek texts it is used for everything from animal excrement to table scraps. So, Paul considered his good works under the Law to be like the nasty used cat litter I throw in the trash every week. If only we would hold the same revulsion for these legalistic mindsets today!
Titus was a traveling evangelist like Paul, though he did not write even one letter published as scripture! However, clearly he was considered just as valuable to the body of Christ by Paul as Paul himself. This should be an example that we must not compare and contrast ourselves in the body. As we will soon see, Christ provides our calling and our good works. Our only responsibility is to walk in them, not measure them and see how they stack up with other believers. Measuring is a product of earning or legalism, not the gospel.
Paul frequently mentions Titus.
We see Titus mentioned by Paul in his epistles to the Corinthians, Galatians, and of course his personal letter to Titus himself. He mentions in this letter that Titus was on the island of Crete appointing elders or leaders to the different Christian groups that had sprung up on the island. Paul emphasizes the importance of leaders who stick to the pure gospel.
Clearly Titus was a trusted partner. In 2 Corinthians 12:18b Paul says this about him: “Did we not walk in the same spirit and follow in the same footsteps?” Titus was a close friend of Paul and someone he trusted to stick to the purity of the gospel without compromise - though he still encourages him to be bold. Even those who understand the gospel well need reminders to be confident and not give in to anti-gospel legalistic ideas.
Titus also traveled with Paul to Jerusalem for the big council over the Mosaic Law (Acts 15). Paul later goes against some of the items in which he compromised with the council! The council recommended that the Gentile believers not eat food sacrificed to idols, yet Paul clearly says later that this does not matter. (Except sometimes it does - if you or someone else thinks it does. See Romans 14 and welcome to the adventure of God's love!)
Patience and love for the immature is important.
Paul was not being disingenuous - he recognized the need for church unity over matters that are not important in the scheme of things (like food). He was living out his teaching in Romans 14. Yet, he also knew that these things were not of faith, legalistic, and immature; thus he taught otherwise.
NOTE: I want to be clear up front. While I believe a legalistic mindset is harmful and not of faith, sometimes our brothers and sisters need time and patience (as we all do).
Walking by faith is always the best way, but everyone is in a different place. The core of the gospel is love, and patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit and a core tenant of love. I know how destructive these mindsets have been in my life so I want everyone to get their minds right, right now! I want everyone to see the benefit in a pure gospel mindset! But love never forces itself on you.
I will not hold back fighting these faithless legalistic philosophies in my writing and discussions. But speaking the truth in love often means compromising in our relationships, much like Paul did in this and other examples. Repentance resulting in changed mindsets can be a long process for believers.
Caution Pulling Doctrine from Historical Accounts
The Jerusalem council is an historical account from Acts while Paul's epistles teach the clarity of the gospel. Thus, for doctrine, always go with the Epistles over Acts. Be careful finding doctrine in scriptural history. Often history is God showing us the human process and how folks are getting it wrong. Many corrupt beliefs have been taken from historical passages that are not corroborated elsewhere. The council is a good example of early church unity, but their conclusion was dead wrong. Paul makes it clear elsewhere that believers are not under a single one of the Mosaic Laws, period. Especially food.
Paul uses this trip as an example to the Galatians that even the “Party of the Pharisees” did not insist, in the end, that Titus follow the circumcision law. This experience for Titus would be valuable as he later faces these type of people on the island of Crete. Clearly Paul and Titus were tight and Titus was mature in his thinking about the gospel. A great example of the unifying power of Christ - Jew and Gentile.
Jewish Myths
The main passage I want to focus on is in Titus 3, but Paul has several leading thoughts which provide context. Paul was constantly defending the new covenant gospel against legalism (old covenant earning mindsets mixed with the new covenant gospel; the idea of earning or improving God's gifts by what we do - not simply accepting them). This is certainly a theme in Titus.
In chapter 1, Paul guides Titus on picking good leaders. He warns him to beware of certain teaching. In context, he wants Titus to make sure the leaders’ mindsets are not corrupted by false teaching. Carefully note that this specific false teaching has a Jewish context and is based in the Mosaic Law.
Titus 1:10-14 “10-For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11-who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.
12-As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13-This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith 14-and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.” (emphasis mine)
Paul is not one to mince words - “rebellious deceivers” - and notice the distinctly Jewish context in his warning. This is compelling for Titus who was part of the Jerusalem council where they faced these type of deceivers. Don't get sidetracked by the term ‘circumcision’. While that was an extreme thing this group tried to push on adult male Gentiles - thus they were well known for it - this legalistic based philosophy goes far beyond that extreme act. Today we could replace circumcision with “quiet time” or “spiritual disciplines” and it is from the same earning root.
Especially Judaism
Note the word “especially”. Paul is saying that Judaism is the false teaching that must be opposed “most of all”. The Mosaic Law and attitudes toward it are the basis for legalism, though any list of rules and regulations can apply. Paul is writing to help Titus fight the enemy philosophy of legalism. It often comes in the form of God's own Mosaic Law as this is easy to push as being a “godly” mindset. However, nothing is further from the truth. Law and grace - the old and new covenants - are diametrically and epicly opposed.
When God supercedes something (the old covenant), even though it was something He gave, we must pay attention and listen. This is what He did with the new covenant vs. the old (see the book of Hebrews). Many miss this, including these early church Judaizers. The detailed reason for this is covered in my next set of articles, but we will touch on this concept often in this Titus article. Mixing the old with the new is the ancient root of legalism and it hinders the gospel.
Judaism is the main false teaching opposed by the Apostles as a belief system or religion.
Judaism is the false teaching most often brought up by the Apostles. Given current events, I must emphasize that this is not Jews as an ethnic group. The focus is on the Mosaic Law or old covenant centered belief system, not the people group. The gospel is a unifying message - we are all one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28)
Judaism is a legalistic religion based on earning God's favor or avoiding His curses by keeping the Mosaic Law. This can certainly be taught as a way to obtain salvation or enter God's Kingdom. However, most often in the early church, same as today, a mixture was taught - Christ (the gospel) for salvation and Moses (the Law) for living. This was the mixture that Paul wrote against in the book of Galatians; but this is referenced many times in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3 as an example). Back then, it was the extreme act of adult circumcision that marked this mixture; but, it is really any type of works based righteousness, either to achieve salvation OR to help you ‘behave’ after you have been saved.
Attacks on the Gospel of Grace
There are a few groups like the Messianic Jews who still push full Law keeping, but I see mixture as being the most prevalent in our churches today. The legalists divide the Book of the Law into sections like moral laws and proclaim that believers are still under the Law in some way; yet, scripture clearly says we are not. In most churches the “10 Commandments” are sacrosanct. Despite clear scripture portraying believers as “dead to the Law” and not “under the Law”, the legalists will make up words like ‘antinomian’ or ‘hypergrace’ in an attempt to smear the pure gospel of grace and those who teach it.
NOTE: even the council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 only included one ‘moral’ Law in their recommendation for Gentiles. The only one from the 10 Commandments was sexual promiscuity. I think we should denounce the council as antinomian! But I digress. My point is that those today trying to put believers under the 10 Commandments are going even further than the early church council compromise with the party of the Pharisees! That should tell us something.
The slander for those who stand up against this faithless mixture of Law and grace is that they are ‘lawless’ and advocate that sinning is OK. Grace is not lawless, far from it. As we will see, it is the only way to perform legit “good works”. Whether they realize it or not, even pushing a small mixture of legalism is anti-gospel. This is a matter Paul takes quite seriously, and so should we. It is easy to proclaim a lukewarm, leavenous mixed Law and grace message as the gospel and get away with it. But it is the surest way to disrupt proper spiritual growth, walking by the Spirit, and bearing genuine Spirit fruit.
The predominant measure of a legalistic message is any thread of obligation or coersion.
Any coercive message of obligation that adds conditions to receiving God's gifts is legalistic. Of course God wants us to behave well…but, He does not require it to be His child. He wants good behavior because He loves us. He wants us to sow good things on earth so we reap good things. Being His child - a new creation - will inspire and motivate good works. But there is no list of good works or performance consistency that is required, period. That mentality will cause any good works to be from flesh power not faith - thus dead works.
I do not know if Paul, in Heaven, is aware of the modern use of his teaching; but, if he is, he must be in a constant state of face palming. Every single instructive behavior statement he makes is always rooted in the gospel and walking by faith (even in Titus 1). He portrays how the character of Christ within us will reveal itself; but, he is never giving a list of demands! The amazing thing about the gospel is that Christ never face palms about us even when we have faithless legalistic mindsets! It is only these mindsets that would think in this way.
The requirement based coercive aspect of the old covenant Law is why Paul calls it a curse! He would be appalled that this same requirement based coersion would be used to teach his own writings. This is the root of the very mixture of Law and grace he calls leaven. We must learn to root these instincts out of our thinking and actions. And we must ignore teaching that pushes us into these mindsets.
Religious Desire
The historical account of the council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 provides some direct statements about this mixture. Notice that these instigators are called ‘believers’ in verse 5, yet still they are trying to mix in the Law with the gospel of grace. Even as believers, they are immature in their understanding of the gospel. They have not rightly divided between the old and new covenants.
This mentality is alive and well in the institutional church today; though, of course, circumcision is no longer the primary emphasis. As we will see, it is not the actual laws in the Law that matters. This division of the Book of the Law into moral laws, etc., is a legalistic red herring. It is not the list of activities - it is the mindset, motivation, and power behind the Law that matters. These are quite different for Law vs. grace. And just like the Party of the Pharisees in the early church, these profound differences are often missed or ignored by the institutional church today.
Acts 15:1,5 - “1-Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
5-But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”” (emphasis mine)
Notice the fleshly factions already appearing in the church: the “party of the Pharisees”. You would think that label would give anyone pause - they were the main enemies of Christ! Yet, Luke labels them as believers so I won't disagree with his opinion. Maybe they were, just as many legalists today are simply confused believers. That doesn't change the destructiveness of their message. A message so destructive that Paul made one of his few trips back to Jerusalem to be a part of this council! He felt it was important enough to influence the council against this false philosophy.
Circumcision was a “Moral Law” for the Judaizers
Again, the modern day legalist will take the idea of circumcision and other “ceremonial” aspects of the Law and try to hedge against grace, dividing the full Book of the Law (Torah) into parts. Because lying, stealing, and such are harmful and bad; because they will always be opposed to the character of God; the legalist misunderstands the motivation or mindset of the old covenant Law. Thus, they miss the new covenant mindset. An old covenant mindset is not of faith and a new covenant mindset is. A faith based new covenant mindset will never lead to lying and stealing.
For these Judaizers, circumcision was a moral act. No matter which of the laws are in focus, it is the “required to obey” part that is not of faith. A new creation is not required to obey any law - even the moral laws - to maintain their spiritual status. Life in the Kingdom is a gift. Our new creation status is not based on works - only the work of belief leading to living faith. The mindset of requirement kills faith - it causes dead works. Again, I will get into the details in my next article, but the root of living faith is always expressed through love, and love can never be coercive or “seek its own way” (1 Corinthians 13:5)
A coercive mindset of requirement will kill faith.
This false idea is opposed mightily by the Apostles, especially Paul. His language could not be clearer in Titus. Again, like all belief systems, legalism is not actually about specific rules or activities - it is a mindset, power, and motivation. Two believers can perform the exact same “good deeds” and one be motivated by faith and the other by religious flesh or legalism. As we will learn later, Paul calls this mindset “religious desire”. Religious desire is as worldly a desire as any other human desire. I will get into this later and it is fascinating! If only the institutional church was as focused on religious desire as licentious desire, the body of Christ would be much healthier!
The Apostles, and especially Paul, never discuss believer behaviors without rooting them first in the gospel. We don't behave because we have to - we behave because we want to! We are in union with the character of Christ within - at our core we want what He wants. But, the flesh and the power of sin war against us in our minds and try to convince us we want them. Worldly religious desire is all a part of the temptation - it is one side of the flesh coin. On one side is licentious desire and the other side is religious desire. When we believe God is coercing us to behave in any way, we take our eyes off Christ and put them on ourselves. The enemy loves this mindset - since it is flesh based - it is still enemy thinking.
Since it is flesh based, religious desire tends to lead to or partner with other fleshly desires like greed.
Paul calls these purveyors of lies “those of the circumcision” who believe “Jewish myths”. It is clear the Judaistic focus - and thus the Mosaic Law focus. Apparently there was some financial gain related to teaching these lies. The Jewish religious organization at this time was a fairly powerful entity. The Romans gave them leeway and put some of their rulers in power to help manage the Jewish people. Thus, a level of money and power were elements of joining this religion at the time. Paul makes the tie between religious desire and other fleshly desires - like greed - clear.
Paul's language about legalism is pointed.
Paul calls out the fact that this teaching is deceptive and those teaching it have “rejected the truth”. Even the phrase “Jewish myths” means Jewish lies - they are polluting the gospel in a Judaistic way. This mixing of Law and grace is the corrupt root of legalism. His comment in verse 16 does not hold back:
“They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deeds. (emphasis mine)
In my past, I would skip over the Judaism context and think that Paul was describing some kind of licentious folks caught lying in a bed of prostitutes. Only these kind of folks would be detestable and disobedient, right? However, that is not the context. These are religious, upright, moral acting folks. They love God's Law, and require everyone to be under it.
These religious based activities are what deny God, not some pagan ideas. This is far more dangerous than paganism since it is obvious that paganism is not godly. Legalism is a “form of godliness” without the power of faith through the Holy Spirit - it is paganism in the name of God. It can fool even the most sincere believer.
Legalism: an Enemy Mindset
This enemy mindset towards God has not changed since Christ walked the earth - from Christ to Paul until today. Christ’s biggest opponents were the scribes and Pharisees who pushed behavior reform and Law keeping. They were prideful, thought they could please God by their works, and hated Christ for teaching otherwise. If the historical accounts are to be credited, they also excused much immorality while claiming to be keeping the Law. On the legalism spectrum they are extreme; but, any mixture of this mindset into the gospel is harmful, however small.
This teaching is a wolf in sheep's clothing and enemy lies. But it often fits right into our churches. And that is why it is so dangerous. It takes many forms. Legalistic mindsets and teachings fill both our ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ churches. It is the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is a form of godliness without the power. It is faithless living. No matter how many “good works” folks with this mindset appear to do, it is not Kingdom of God living. Don't be fooled by it.
“Unfit for Any Good Deeds”
Remember this phrase for later. The point of the Mosaic Law is to help you do “good deeds”, right? It is the main emphasis of legalism and religion. People with this mindset are obsessed with their lists of works. They often label this mindset as “obedience to God” or “being radical”. Their messages are full of how to be “obedient”. But there is always some level of behavior that you have not achieved yet. It is the video game “gospel” - working your way up levels. The Law itself is a checklist of good works to do and bad works to avoid. This is always the primary focus.
Yet, Paul says those with this mindset are “unfit for any good deeds”. This is a theme in Titus. Putting yourself under the Mosaic Law does not promote good works - it is opposed to grace. Only grace by faith produces genuine good works. Paul could not be more clear in Galatians 3:12 - “the Law is not of faith”. As we will see, we don't have to seek out good works or make lists in order to obey and please God.
How can you “keep the Law” and yet be disobedient?
How dare Paul call these folks disobedient? Their identity is dedication to obeying God's Law. Obedience is a constant theme in their messages! They would be welcome and elevated in most churches. They are as externally upright and moral as anyone. Yet, their obedience is false - it is not the obedience of faith (Romans 1:5, 16:26). I'm sure most are quite sincere - they may truly want to “obey God” - but they refuse to understand and believe the pure gospel message and push a works based righteousness. The only true godly obedience is the obedience of faith. We are not saved by works; nor do we mature by works.
By what actions are they denying God since they are obsessed with His Law? Legalists love to call out licentiousness, (particularly those areas which are not their own struggles); but in this case, this is not some kind of moral failures. This time they deny God by their legalistic teaching and religiously moral lifestyle. They are often the ones loudly judging others for their immoral life.
How many sermons have you heard preaching against sexual immorality, yet how few (if any) against religious desire? Paul never holds back against licentious immorality when needed; but, here, it is “religious desire” as his target - the desire to earn points with God - not licentious desire. Yet, religious desire often gets a pass or is promoted in our churches while sexual type desire is over-emphasized.
The Real False Teachers
What is ironic is that a legalistic mindset is often characterized by an over-emphasis on hunting out “false teachers”, usually related to teaching that, in their minds, will “lead to” licentiousness or lawlessness. This is what they accuse the genuine gospel of grace teachers of due to their misunderstanding of grace. Much like Paul, those who preach and teach a pure new covenant gospel without a law mixture are often accused of teaching a message of “continuing in sin so that grace can abound”. Yet, like Paul, I must say, “God forbid”. Those who over-emphasize licentious sinning over religious sinning simply don't fully understand what sin is. Replacing licentious sin with religious sin is not Kingdom living. It is still not of faith and still sin.
While licentious mindsets are a concern (see Corinthians), and the Apostles address it, it was legalism they opposed the most. It is easy to walk by religious flesh and throw stones at those walking by licentious flesh. In God's Kingdom, both ways of living are of the flesh. But, only one of them gets by with a fake shell of righteousness - thus; again, it is more dangerous. Those who are walking by licentious flesh are usually well aware of their failings - mostly because those walking by religious flesh don't let them forget it!
As Christ proclaimed, so I must loudly proclaim: “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees”. Watch out for this mixing of Law and grace. Watch out for this mixing of the covenants. Just because they both came from God does not make them equal. When God says the new replaced the old and says the old covenant is weak and useless, we must hear and believe Him. Don't turn to something that is obsolete, weak, and useless to empower your life and walk. Trust Christ by faith for that power. As Andrew Farley says, “You don't need rules, you only need to let Christ rule by faith.” But, let's jump into chapter 2 and see the contrast between Law and grace - earning vs. the gift.
Grace Teaches Us to Say No to Sin
Titus 2:11-15 - “11-For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. 12-It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13-as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
14-He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 15-Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
There is much here, wow. Titus 2:11-12 have been some favored verses of mine for quite awhile now. I feel I should remind of another common verse as Paul restates the same concept.
Romans 6:14 - “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
Grace (gift) and law (earning) are opposing forces fighting to be the power by which we live and walk. This is the same battle between the Spirit and the flesh. Grace based living is of the Spirit; Law based living depends on the flesh. This is truly an epic battle that started with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. That was the earning tree while the tree of life was the gift tree. Again, I will get deep into the details of why this is in my next set of articles, but notice: Paul says it is only God's grace that teaches us how to live well. Under law, sin will be your master; under grace, it will not. Every time we sin it is because we are not walking by grace - we are walking with a law based mentality - that is Paul's point.
Grace and Law are opposing forces seeking to be what we put ourselves under for power to live. Grace is of faith; Law is not. This enmity must not be ignored in scripture.
Grace is the power that enables us to act from our slavery to righteousness and freedom from sin’s power. Again, read these well known words and tell me: what helps us walk in freedom from sin? Being under law or under grace? Then why do we insist on a law, requirement, or earning based relationship with God? It simply makes no sense. This idea flows from the flesh and the world and becomes so engrained in our brains that we find it difficult to give up.
Legalism is any mindset of living by rules and requirements as a source of power. It is not always only the Book of the Law, though obviously Paul is focused on that in Titus. Even the secular world orders have a set of morality they live by. Thus, the modern term ‘woke’. Yet, it is all a rebellion against the gospel and the gift of the life of Christ as the power for living. These are competing powers - they seek to replace each other. The same flesh power is behind religion as any other worldly order. We cannot let the “God” shell distract us from how evil a legalistic mindset really is.
Remember, despite the emphasis on doing the deeds of the Law, Paul said in Titus 1:16 that those who teach this Judaistic mixture of Law and grace are “unfit for any good deed”. It is the mindset itself that makes them unfit, not the deeds. No one is saying that lying, stealing and the like are good and charity is bad. But not lying or stealing to earn God's favor is not of grace, faith, or love. It is not the gospel - it is not allowing Christ’s life to empower you.
There are many motivations for teaching and having this mindset. Some are truly egregious like greed, power, or excusing secret immorality. But, I think much of it is fear based - fear of displeasing God and believing we must act to please Him. In all cases, this is based in a lack of understanding and trust in gospel truth. These mindsets ignore or minimize the gospel promises of God.
The message of the gospel is we have complete peace with God by faith. The pressure or compulsion to act is utterly gone. As new creations, we please God by nature. The message is we are “dead to sin and alive to God”. This is a fixed solid truth, not based in our actions. It can and should influence our actions, but it is true whether we act like it is or not. A legalistic mindset minimizes or ignores these truths. Instead of acting from faith in them, it seeks to cause or confirm them through action. This is opposed to the gospel. Our identity in Christ is a gift - Christ freely made us a new creation. Our works don't cause us to become a new creation and they don't improve that status in the least.
Grace and Law Contrasted - Promises vs. Commands
In Titus 2:14, we see a contrast. Those who live under God's grace - by recognizing they are good and holy saints; children of God; a people of God's own possession - will be zealous for good deeds. This is NOT a command - it is a promise! It is Christ’s work of purifying us that causes the desire for good deeds. It is not a command where we must seek them out.
This is another distinction of how a legalist interprets scripture vs. the gospel lens. A legalist sees instruction passages as commands - you must perform these or else. The gospel sees God's instruction as a promise - this behavior is a gift through the finished work of Christ - the new creation.
If you read scripture with an earning mindset, then you must find the list of commands to follow. Whether this is old covenant Law or new testament instruction, it is the same mindset. However, a gift or grace mindset sees new covenant instruction as a gift or a promise. You don't have to receive a gift, but a good gift always has a built in incentive to receive and open it! And there is no better gift than Jesus Christ and His life.
In one Greek lexicon I looked at, it describes this particular word translated zealous as “wanting to possess a thing”. Grace will cause you to want to display goodness. It will cause you to want to bear the fruit of the Spirit because you recognize the benefits. Only with a mindset of grace will you recognize your own personal deep desire for acting righteous - gifted to you by Christ at your new birth. Legalism spurns the gift of life because there is no earning in a gift.
Promises vs. Obligation
Again, a legalistic or earning mindset will read this passage, not as a promise, but as an obligation. They will think along the lines of: “Paul is saying that a “good” Christian is zealous for good deeds, so I need to get my checklist together for how to pursue good deeds. I need to find them and do them so I feel good about myself that I am a “good” Christian and am being obedient to God.” Yet, this mindset is not of faith - it does not reflect genuine obedience - nor does it please God.
Paul is clear - the zealousness for good works flows from the redemption and purification that Christ does to us - we don't have to try to be zealous. The trying is where legalism sneaks in. Because Christ gave Himself to us - gave us His life - this redeems and purifies us, changing our nature and desires to want what He wants. Paul is not treating “zealous for good works” as a command but as a fact.
This is the “circumcision of the heart” that Paul speaks of. (Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:11). This is the natural rhythm of grace. We reject this rhythm when we have a mindset of law, earning, and requirement. We become unfit for any good work because our works are from the flesh and not of faith. They are like filthy rags. We must learn to reject these worldly and fleshly inclinations of obligation and coercion. We must have the same mindset about religious desire as we do any other out-of-bounds sensual desire - it is something to reject.
A Supernatural Life
Andrew Farley has recently started saying if your attitudes and actions are not ‘supernatural’ - flowing from Christ's life within - then they are not of faith. I think this is a good way to put it. Again, no condemnation, we cannot ‘legalize’ grace. Our growth is an eternity long process that is ultimately in Christ’s hands. Yet, the mindsets we choose do play a part, and there is no time like now to begin walking in gospel truth and allow your living faith to give you a supernatural way of living through the power of Christ within. Rejecting legalistic lies is a big step towards embracing this manner of life.
Sometimes this is obvious; sometimes it is not. I have mentioned in other articles how major struggles like addiction can be light posts to guide you into this faith based walk - those things that you have worked so hard to defeat, yet never could. And then suddenly you stop trying, give them to Christ, and they begin to go away. I have seen this mindset of dependency on Christ literally take away struggles immediately! Sometimes it takes longer; yet, there is no condemnation. It is the lack of condemnation that fuels the ability to conquer any struggle. Trying to earn through legalism is a condemning mindset - you never measure up - and it will never work.
The Spirit is always acting - we don't need to do anything to get Him to act. Our focus should be eliminating mindsets that “quench” His activity in us.
As you reject legalistic motivations like guilt and shame to try and stop sinning; and replace them with gospel of grace motivations like your “slavery to righteousness”; then you begin to see the supernatural happen. It was always there - Christ always wants to act - but now you are not “quenching or grieving the Spirit”. Legalism quenches Spirit power - grace releases that power. As Paul puts it - it teaches us how to use it.
As you adjust to these grace mindsets they begin to impact even those ways of living that you do not consider a struggle. Maybe you are naturally honest - you cannot get away with lying - your physiology gives you away. So, you learned to be honest by flesh power to avoid these consequences. Yet now, you have a better reason to choose truth - the love of Christ infused in your heart. Your honesty may not change outwardly, but the inner power and motivation changes significantly! Now you are living from the supernatural - even in those ways of living that you did not “need” it before.
Christian growth is Christ's strength being “perfected” within us as we recognize our own weakness.
When Christ told Paul how His strength was “made perfect in weakness” - this is what Christ means. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We must come to the end of our ‘strength’ before we will use faith in Christ for living. The Law or earning system totally depends on our strength. We either choose the grace manner of dependent life by believing truth OR the world and sin will force us into it. Of course, there is nothing wrong with Christ's strength within - it is always our mindset that is at fault. As I described in my ‘faith’ articles, believing is our main work. It is the root of all other works.
You can only maintain outward ‘success’ in the Christian life by fleshly earning for so long. Eventually it catches up to you. Many last a really long time in flesh based living - they live the life of a baby Christian - either through religious or sensual desire. But if you are truly a new creation, the misery will get to you. Christ isn't making you miserable, but He uses it to help you see your weakness and learn to rely on Him. Don't see weakness as a detriment - it is a blessing in disguise! Our weakness helps us learn to develop a mindset of dependency on Christ.
Failure is an opportunity - a training lesson - in dependency on Christ.
If you take nothing else from this article, please consider this: those secret things that you are most ashamed of - your weaknesses - are no longer items of shame or guilt because of Christ. They are opportunities for dependence on Him. This is a gospel and faith mindset. This does not mean they are not sin or harmful. Of course, Christ’s goal is to help you overcome. There is no spiritual condemnation; but, there are earthly consequences.
Only by releasing the shame and guilt to Him can you proceed in faith. You will never conquer a struggle until you decide that never conquering the struggle doesn't change your peace and closeness to God! The true gospel message is ironic in that way. It is your connection to Christ that conquers all struggles; yet you must think in a way that acknowledges this truth: Christ is your life whether you conquer the struggle or not! You are always a new creation even if you carry the struggle until the end of your earthly life. You are simply a new creation - a child of God - with a struggle.
Trusting the New Creation
This is the hard part of faith. The naturally ‘moral’ person will not need faith. Those who don't need saving will not seek a Savior. When we stumble - when we are figuratively laying in the dirt with skinned and bloody knees - that is when it takes faith to set our mind on the gospel truth of our slavery to righteousness and connection to Christ. To trust that we are still at peace with God. We can walk by sight, look at the skinned knees, and decide that is our identity; or, we can walk by faith and believe in our righteousness.
This mindset starts with a full trust in the new creation no matter how much we stumble. We must believe that every stumble is an opportunity for growth and God never holds our stumbles against us. He promises never to remember them! (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17)
A faith walk always starts with agreeing with God - confession. Part of that is thinking of and treating ourselves as He does. This is not easy since we often train our brains to think poorly of ourselves and to overly focus on every stumble. Of course, this isn't helped by most teaching that encourages this view of sin! Is our sin bigger than our Lord? God forbid! I am certainly not saying sinning is OK, but let's keep it in perspective. It is nothing compared to the power of Christ's life within. Until we can agree with God on that, then we will struggle immensely.
Part 1 Conclusion
I am ending Part 1 here - there is much more to come. We will discuss “worldliness” in scripture, and how in common church parlance it is one-sided, leaving out a major way scripture uses the word. We will flesh out the phrase “religous desire” from Colossians 2. And finally, we will discuss my titular topic of how the gospel views “good works” or deeds. Thank you for reading this far and I hope you will continue.
As always, my goal is to stimulate your thinking about gospel truth and I pray to be used by the Spirit in the renewing of your mind. Until next time, continue to walk as those who are raised and seated with Christ! Because you are a child of Light, walk as a child of Light.