The word for today is legalism.
“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men’” (Isa. 29:13).
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? … For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them’” (Gal. 3:3, 10).
“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10).
“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:19-20). “For what does the Scripture say? ‘And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3-5).
Prayer: Lord, thank You that Jesus entered the holy place once for all and obtained eternal redemption, having offered Himself without blemish to God. Now our consciences are freed and cleansed to serve the living God. Hallelujah for the lamb!