THE GOSPEL SHAPED HEART

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6 ESV 

Long ago in the garden of Eden, the serpent bypassed Adam the head of his wife and the protector of the Word and therefore approached and deceived Eve.

Hence, at the fall of man, the heart of humanity became incredibly corrupt. The result of this was a distorted view of God. Sadly the divine human relationship became broken as well as the relationships amongst people.

THE DECEIVED HEART OF LEGALISM

In his cunning plan the serpent twisted God’s word to create the problem in Eve’s mind as a result she thought otherwise about God and His law. Evidently, the serpent deception changed Eve’s view of God.

Eve’s view of God became distorted as she starts to think that God is a Father who is hard to please. She believed that God had placed restrictions on what they should not do. The serpent planted the seeds of doubt as he asked Eve, “Did God really say”?

The doubts were sown on her heart. The serpent promised her freedom enticing Eve with pleasure and prestige, but never delivered as it was a deception. If you eat of the tree you will be like God”. The devil’s deception destroyed her heart which leads to the fall of man.

Eve was deceived to see God as someone who was restricting her from her freedom and happiness. The serpent changed Eve's perception of how she should relate to God. However, what Eve missed was all the freedom and blessings God had already granted her and Adam in the many trees God provided.

“You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die” Genesis 2:15–16 NIV

Amazingly, on the other side of the blessings and promises are warnings and prohibitions. This side is also God’s preventative measures of protection and therefore His love. That’s why God said if you eat of this tree you will die.

This was preventing a disaster but also protecting the welfare of both Adam and Eve. However the prohibition was a test for Adam and Eve to trust and obey God’s Word and His character.

God’s grace was abundant in His provision with all the many trees for them to enjoy from, but they were prohibited from just one tree. Unfortunately Eve was unable to perceive her position of unmerited favour and therefore to obey the command of not to eat from the single tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Therefore, this heart disposition is a heart of legalism. “Legalism is simply separating the law of God from the person of God. Eve sees God’s law, but she has lost sight of the true God Himself. Thus abstracting His law from His loving and generous person, she was deceived into hearing law only as negative deprivation and not as the wisdom of a Heavenly Father” Sinclair Ferguson - The Whole Christ - page 83.

When God’s law is separated from His person, it leads to a distorted view of God. Eve’s will and affection towards God changed to a heart disposition of legalism. God’s commands was negatively viewed by Eve.

The heart of legalism is seeing the law of God on its own rather than hearing the law from a loving Father. The laws of God are therefore a problem to the heart and are not seen as a loving care from the Heavenly Father. Eve’s wrong view of God was Legalism this then leads to rebellion and lawlessness towards God.

THE DECEIVED HEART OF LAWLESSNESS

Adam abandoned his role and let the serpent distort God’s character and integrity. Amazingly, later down in history the last Adam (Jesus) obeyed God and humiliated the devil in the dessert and rescued those who will trust in Him (Matthew 4:4-11).

So far, we have discovered that legalism is separating the law of God from His person. Therefore this leads to a wrong view of God. Interestingly, legalism leads to lawlessness.

Lawlessness is seeing God’s law as a burden rather than as love. This view also separates the law from the person. Both legalism and lawlessness distorts God’s law and His character.

Similarly, Christians tends to have a heart disposition of legalism or lawlessness. In both instances, the distortion is in line with their relationship with God.

The legalist will try to please God with their own good works and see grace as conditional, however, they have separated the law from God. Whereas, the lawless Christian wants to enjoy the benefits of the relationship but reject the law of God. unfortunately, both misunderstood their relationship with God.

Amazingly, in the parable of the Prodigal son, Jesus revealed this truth. Both the younger and older brothers had a warped view of their father. The younger brother wants his father’s wealth but don’t want to submit to his father's commands and authority (Luke 15:12).

Similarly, the older brother wants his father’s wealth but wanted to earn his favour by working hard for it which of course, his father’s wealth already belongs to him (Luke 15:29-32). Unfortunately those distorted views of God are destructive and needs to be shaped by the Gospel of Christ.

THE GOSPEL SHAPED HEART

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV 

The Gospel shaped heart knows that they are a wretched sinner and deserve the wrath of God, therefore they are humbled by this. At the same time they feel loved and bold because Christ loved them and gave Himself for them. They’re neither legalist nor lawless.

They have a clear view of the holy and loving God. They live a life of holiness as they are dead to sin and the world. When they sinned, they approach His throne of grace and know that they have an advocate in Christ.

So also so, they feel joyful, valued and loved because the Son of God loved them. The gospel shaped heart, is a heart that is both humbled and bold. Those who are in Adam will have a distorted view of God (Romans 5:12-19).

But if you are in Christ and grasped the gospel you will love God and obey His law. Those who are in Christ know that they are a new creation the old has gone and the new has began (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, don’t be a legalist or lawless but live a Gospel Centred Life.