Jesus arrived on the scene as "the Lamb of God" and became the final sacrifice for sin under the Old Testament. John the Baptist referred to Jesus as, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29-36) Jesus put away sin "once for all" (Hebrews 10:9-12). God's acceptance was no longer based on your obedience to the law. God's acceptance (righteousness) was given as a "free gift" (read Romans chapter 5) to anyone who would simply place faith in Jesus Christ as their "sacrifice lamb"--the one who died in their place for their sin. After the cross, salvation is by grace (God's unmerited favor). God's favor may be free to us--but it cost Jesus his life. God's grace is free under the New Testament (Romans 6:23), but it didn't come cheap. Anyone who attempts to gain salvation the old way--obedience to law--God rejects their effort. Why? Because Jesus is now the doorway into God's Kingdom (John 10:7-9). No other way--including obedience to law (also known as the works of the law and morality)--qualifies with God (Galatians 3:1-5). Jesus is THE WAY, the truth and the life (John 14:6).
Legalism is a trap. By using God's Word, unscrupulous leaders mix Old Testament legalistic principles into New Testament teaching. It all sounds Biblical because the Scriptures are from God's Word--but used out of context. God's grace is subtly replaced by obedience, duty and religious performance. Legalism is commonly the foundation religious organizations are built on. Most can't exist without it! The counterfeit teaching of legalism takes hold of a person's life over a period of time. Some church organizations teach or suggest, in addition to believing on Christ, keeping the Ten Commandments and obeying Old Testament law is necessary for salvation. Other requirements like keeping the Sabbath (coming to church every Sunday), being at every church service and mandatory tithing are stressed. These are some of the more blatant forms of legalism. Millions of "Christians" are ensnared in it. .
Why is legalism so dangerous? It violates the New Covenant, subtly replaces the direct rule of God in your life and removes you from His grace...and that's serious stuff! The Apostle Paul warns us about this danger...
"You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4 NKJV)
And again...
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16 KJV)
And again...
"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21 KJV)
Paul called it "frustrating the grace of God". Yet, a majority in "the church" live in some form of legalism and considers it normal Christian life. It's a trap--stay out of it!
you: Anyone who attempts to gain salvation the old way--obedience to law--God rejects their effort. Why? Because Jesus is now the doorway into God's Kingdom (John 10:7-9). No other way--including obedience to law (also known as the works of the law and morality)--qualifies with God (Galatians 3:1-5). Jesus is THE WAY, the truth and the life (John 14:6).
me: It is not that salvation cannot be done by obedience to law, it is man cannot obey the Law due to his sinful nature (Romans 3, 9:31-32). Law should be pursued with faith.
you: Why is legalism so dangerous? It violates the New Covenant, subtly replaces the direct rule of God in your life and removes you from His grace...and that's serious stuff! The Apostle Paul warns us about this danger...
me: Obeying the law does not removes grace. in fact, it is the purpose of the new covenant for Christian to obey the law. Romans 7:12 told us that the Law is holy, it is the standard of holiness we as Christian should strive for with the help of the Holy Spirit. "I will put my laws in their minds" is a specific words of the new covenant as in Hebrews 8:10. Therefore once you are save, you will want to obey the Law. Before this, you act as you obey the Law, after salvation you being a Law observer. That is the difference: acting and being.
no disagreement their,as a matter of fact,as a true regenerate christian,we will feel guilty and be convicted when we sin,and we will naturally,as a result of our new nature,hate the sin in us,as did paul,My posts are in opposition to the legalistic positions that have cropped up recently,so that the true gospel can be shown.works cannot save us and works can not keep us,like paul said,then it would no longer be grace,that of course doesnt mean we are free to sin without consequence,anyone who thinks this just doesnt grasp the truth of the grace of God!
Legalism is the notion that a sinner can, by his own efforts, or by the power of the Holy Spirit in his life, do some work to obtain or retain his salvation. Some legalists think man has free will and can perform good works if he just sets his mind to it, thereby obtaining the favor of God. This type of legalist thinks that a sinner can believe the Gospel on his own steam. Other legalists think that a sinner does not have free will, that any good he does is done by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, and it is these good deeds done by the power of the Holy Spirit that obtain or help obtain, retain or help retain, his salvation. Both types of legalists, but especially the latter, may acknowledge that Christ's work of obedience is necessary for salvation, but both deny that Christ's work is sufficient for salvation. Both types of legalists assert that to Christ's work must be added the works of the sinner, done either under his own steam, or by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is what makes them legalists: their shared belief in the incompleteness or insufficiency of the work of Christ outside of them. They may differ on what constitutes good works; they may differ on whether only God's law or church law as well is to be obeyed; but they agree that the work of Christ alone is insufficient for their final salvation.
I GRASP JESUS VERY SIMPLY, GRACE IS APPREHENDED BY FAITH, HIS RESPONSE IS FAITH PLEASE HIM, HE NEVER CONSIDERS BELIEVING HIM AS WORKS, HE CALL IT FAITH, NO WHEN YOU CALL IT WORKS AND GET INTO SAYING WHAT HIS WORD SAYS INSTEAD OF WHAT IT SAYS, THERE IS NO HIGHER FORM OF LEGALISM, THE WORD OF GOD ALWAYS BRINGS LIBERTY, NEVER BOUNDAGE.
Here is a GREAT paper for your edification!!! Hope you READ it in its fullness.
ella
Legalism vs. Believers Responsibility
by
Matthew O. Walker
Dallas Theological Seminary
What is Legalism?
Legalism, which Chuck Swindoll refers to as a "killer of grace", is one of the most serious problems facing the evangelical Christian church today. Many people today think that legalism is a new problem unique to the church in the last couple of centuries.
However, one of the most serious problems facing the church in the Apostle Paul�s day was none other than legalism. The problem of legalism in the Christian church was just as serious in Paul�s day as it is in today�s church. Much of Paul�s writing recorded in the New Testament is responding to
problems that stem from legalism in the church. What exactly is legalism and why has it consistently been such a serious problem facing the Christian church?
Simply stated legalism within the church, as it relates to sanctification, can be defined as an attitude based on pride, in which one uses their own power and effort as an attempt
to gain the blessings of eternal life. In doing this, a legalist actually takes the glory of God and attempts to place it on oneself, because they are using their own effort and resources. There are several things that fuel legalism in the church. There is, however, a single root error that forms the foundation for the legalism. The root error is an attitude of pride that assumes we can be holy and righteous in our daily living through our own efforts to please God and obey Him. Within this attitude of pride, an emphasis on what we should or should not do leads to the development of a rigid list of �do�s� and �don�ts�.
Quite often this list consists of a much larger portion of �don�ts�, which leads to a very negativistic mindset that works in sync with guilt, fear, and shame. The negativistic mindset brought on by legalism unfortunately leads to several effects that legalism has on the lives of those who pursue it. I will attempt to briefly highlight a few of these affects.
The first effect of legalism is that it undermines the work of God�s grace in our lives because it causes us to be self-oriented, rather than God-oriented. Legalism lowers the standards of God to make them seem as if they can be somehow attained by our own human effort. Another effect of legalism is that it introduces an avenue by which shame enters into the life of the legalist. When the legalist fails to meet the standards that are set for them they most often become entwined in shame and guilt. They feel shame because they didn�t meet the requirements that are expected of them.
On the converse side of this is the affect of pride. Pride often enters into the mind of a legalist when they feel they are following their false standards on their own effort. The final major effect of legalism is that it produces fear in the hearts of those who pursue it. They are often overwhelmed by fear because they think if they don�t meet the artificial standard set before them then they will not be accepted by God.
The Believer�s Responsibility
There is a very thin, yet defined line between legalism and Christian discipline in the spiritual life. In the minds of many Christians the thin line is usually blurred, which leads to a tendency to confuse legalism with legitimate Christian responsibility. It is essential for believers to distinguish between Christian responsibility and legalism in order to steer clear of its devastating affects.
Discipline in the believer�s spiritual life is essential to accomplish anything for the cause of Christ. The difficulty in distinguishing between discipline in the spiritual life and legalism stems from the fact that the actions done in either case are, for the most part, identical. The difference is found in the attitude and motivations that are behind the actions used to accomplish the tasks. A legalist attempts to use their own effort based on the resources of the flesh to accomplish tasks. Based on their pride, they feel that if they can somehow work hard enough on their own power they will receive the blessings of God.
The fact is, however, that any effort on the part of the legalist is marred by sin and does not bring glory to God. Their actions do nothing to promote God; they only promote their own self interest. The works that a legalist accom-plishes on their own power are a vain attempt to live up to God�s holy and righteous standard to earn His approval.
The disciplined Christian, on the other hand, realizes that they are incapable of accomplishing anything good without depending on the Holy Spirit to enable them. By relying on Divine power through the Holy Spirit, the works accomplished in response to the grace of God are in conformity to God�s holy and righteous standard. Thus, the works that a disciplined Christian accomplishes through the Holy Spirit is a response to what He has done for them through grace.
The disciplined Christian has no thought of seeking to earn or gain anything from God because they understand that anything they accomplish is not of their own effort, but of the Holy Spirit. They simply seek to please God out of the love they have for Him and the love He has for them. Simply stated, the works done by a legalist on their own effort are corrupted by sin and unrighteous, whereas, the works done by a disciplined Christian are done through the Holy
Spirit and are marked by righteousness and holiness before God.
The question to answer is this: What is the believer�s responsibility in the spiritual life? Simply stated, God has given us as believers the responsibility to be holy. The difficulty with this responsibility is that we are to daily respond to God�s provisions and implement them in our lives. In other words, we must respond to what God has done for us and become disciplined believers to develop habits that make us increasingly pleasing to God.
Ministering to a Legalistic Christian
Ministering to a long-time believer who is suffering under the reign of legalism is a very difficult task. Often times they are completely unaware that they are victim of legalism.
There are several key questions that you must be prepared to answer before trying to help a person immersed in legalism. First, it is vital that they understand what it means to be free and responsible in Christ. The greatest Biblical examples of freedom and responsibility that we have in Christ are found in Romans and Ephesians. Throughout the book of Romans and mainly in the first three chapters of Ephesians the basic premise is that we as Christians are dead to sin and alive in Christ by the grace of God.
In response to this freedom in Christ we, as Christians, have a Biblical responsibility towards God. This responsibility is most clearly stated in Romans 6:13, �offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.�(NIV) In other words, we must respond to
what God has done for us and become disciplined believers to develop habits that lead to holiness. Simply stated, God has given us as believers the responsibility to be holy.
The main principle that a person struggling with legalism must understand is that a Christian is motivated by and responding to the grace of God in their life. According to the
next verse in Romans, we are responding to the fact that we are no longer under law, but under grace. Any works that we accomplish as Christians should not be to gain acceptance by God, but they should be done out of our thankfulness and joy from the grace in our lives because He has already accepted us.
It wouldn�t be uncommon for the person to raise objections to the freedom we have in Christ. In fact, the Apostle Paul addressed an objection to this concept of freedom in
Christ in Romans 6:1. Paul knew that there were those who thought that they could continue to live in sin through the freedom in Christ and by doing so provide the opportunity for grace to exhibit itself even more. Those people thought that if we are free in Christ through grace then we should be free to do whatever we wish, including sin, and it would be covered by grace. Consequently, Paul asks the question, �Are we to continue in sin so that grace my
increase?�(NASB) Immediately after he asks the question, he answers with a resounding, �may it never be!� The most important thing to remember is that our freedom in Christ comes with a responsibility in Christ as discussed earlier. We are not free to let sin reign in our lives, because we died to sin. In the midst of the freedom we are to be holy as God commanded.
Another important concept to understand is the role of the Holy Spirit in our freedom in Christ. The disciplined Christian realizes that they are incapable of accomplishing anything good without depending on the Holy Spirit to enable them.
By relying on Divine power through the Holy Spirit, the works accomplished in response to the grace of God are in conformity to God�s holy and righteous standard. Thus, the works that a disciplined Christian accomplishes through the Holy Spirit is a response to what He has done for them through grace. It is only possible to move towards holiness when we realize that there is nothing we can do on our own to be holy and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us as �instruments of righteousness.�
In order to prevent an over-reaction to legalism that could lead to an unhealthy lack of discipline and purity, it is important to stress spiritual discipline. A disciplined Christian
life is marked by the fruits of the Holy Spirit, �love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control�, as stated in Galatians five. These fruits cannot be evidenced in the life of a Christian that has not turned the control of their life over to the Holy
Spirit.
Legalism finds its roots in the life of a Christian when they attempt to accomplish the fruits of the Spirit on their own.
Finally, it is imperative that a person struggling with legalism understand that when they have an attitude of trying to please God on their own it grieves, hurts, the Holy Spirit.
Paul says in Ephesians 4:30, �do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.� When we try to accomplish things on our own without the Holy Spirit is essentially saying that we don�t need God.
Therefore, the attitude or mindset we must have is this: I desire to respond to the grace of God in my life through the power Holy Spirit enabling me to live a life pleasing to God.
