Legalism is contrary to the lordship of christ, wherein he directs and guides our lives. Therefore legalism cannot be considered obedience but rather a seeking of vain glory by man to try and achieve the unachievable by resisting christs offer to fulfill the law as a gracious gift. The difference between legalism and obedience romans 58. Of course, if there is a wrong use of the word legalism, there is also a correct understanding of the word. Legalism is when were trying to earn gods favor to be saved. It is taught that the jerusalem council concluded in a groundbreaking decision that converted gentiles are not to be taught obedience to gods law as written by moses. I say rediscovered because some of the founders of the restoration movement understood grace. So how do christians practice a gospelcentered spirituality. Throughout history, however, many people have misunderstood these truths, with the result that they have generally fallen into one of two major forms of error.
Often times the contrast is more between grace and legalism rather than between obedience and legalism. Obedience is taking the words of god literally and applying them to your life. There is a dilemma in the christian church today which, by. A puritans mind brings you the old time radio program the wild boar news podcast from sunny south florida. Legalism is a matter of the heart, not obedience to god and radical love for others. And those that obey the law without dependence on gods grace are accused of legalism to avoid the trap of legalism, we need.
The difference between legalism and obedience romans 58 did you know that christians are called to be slaves of obedience. Articles and sermons obedience versus legalism by simon. In fact, at first glance, it doesnt sound appealing at. Some legalism results from skewed motives and purposes, essentially seeing good deeds.
This is the wrong use of the word legalism, and this is how my students used it that day in my classroom. It should be noted that the words legalism or legalist do not occur in the old nor the new testament. Legalism is contrary to the spiritled christian life, wherein the spirit of christ enables and. When you live from the spirit inside of you and out, you can walk in obedience rather than legalism. Amazingly, some christians say that any attempt to obey gods law amounts to legalism. Kamara krugba we seem to be living in a time in the present christian era where people seem to feel that all that matters in christianity is love and gods grace, that obedience is simply legalism, and that people do not have to obey bible commands for salvation except, of course, for the command to believe in jesus as the savior. There is no greater threat to the unity of the church than legalism. The life of obedience who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of god the father, through the sanctifying work of the spirit, for obedience to jesus christ and sprinkling by his blood. What is the difference between legalism and obedience.
Obedience is always the result of christs saving work, not part of that saving work. Yet jesus said if you really love god, youll do what he asks. You should reward those who do well, and punish those who practice evil. Amazing facts study guide 14 is obedience legalism topics af, amazing facts, doug batchelor, joe crews, study guides, bible, jesus, sda, seventhday adventist, prophecy, is obedience legalism, law, ten commandments, love. Is obedience legalism people often feel it is okay to speed a few miles over the speed limit or perhaps to cheat a little bit on their taxes, but god and his laws work much differently. Legalism is a term believers use to describe a doctrinal stand focusing on rules as a means to salvation.
Obedience or legalism a major supporting pillar of the doctrine that teaches parts of gods law have been abolished is found in often cited acts chapter 15. In fact, obedience is an essential part of the christian faith. You can get obedience by using the government to control everything. I am tired of being called a legalist when i express a conservative feeling about right and wrong. Legalism is a broad term for certain improper perspectives on gods law. We are going to look at the difference between what it means to be legalistic. Legalism in chinese philosophy stanford encyclopedia of. It says, i am doing what jesus said regardless of what everybody else is doing. In christian theology, legalism or nomism is a pejorative term referring to putting law above.
Let us never excuse antinomianism and disobedience with the word legalism. He is not so much seeking to obey god or honor christ as he is to obey rules that are devoid of any personal relationship. God commands us to obey his word, and when pressed with those commands we must not cry foul legalism. His conscience called him to a more careful obedience to god and to his word. No, disobedience is sin, and obedience is not legalism. In this video you will learn the difference between legalism and bible obedience. Of course, this obedience is possible only through christ acts 4. But just because the disciplines of godliness can be misused doesnt mean they should be neglected. Only the torah law shows us how to be holy as he is holy and thus qualified to be his bride. Notice the following comparisons between obedience and legalism. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh and break gods law. We love the most high with all our hearts and live.
Join doug batchelor as he presents the answer to a question that most christians want to know is obedience legalism if youre saved by. Legalism is contrary to christian obedience, which is listening under the direction of the living lord jesus christ. Legalism is a persons attempt to attain or maintain salvation through his or her own works, merit, humility, sound judgement or good character. Again, legalism is the belief good works will save someone, and obedience is thinking christ alone will save with the result being good works. The term legalist school fa jia is ubiquitous in studies of early chinese political philosophy.
But if you believe god is on your side, a god of tender love who has only your best interest at heart, well, then, in that case, obedience is the most intelligent course you can take. Cornerstone bible church obedience, devotion or legalism. The erroneous concept of legalism, being that salvation can be earned by obedience to laws, is referred to in various new testament books, including galatians. It was transcribed from the fourth tape in his back to basics series, entitled obedience transcribed by preach the word.
What these people would rather hear is you are free to, implying you should want to, so when someone teaches you must, there is the suspicion of legalism. He saw much looseness about holiness in his congregation. For our purposes today, we will contrast legalism with obedience, something it is often mistaken for. There is a dilemma in the christian church today which, by no means, will be cleared up easily. It is characterized by people who state things like, we are a new testament church, or we do not need the law anymore because we are under grace. Jesus called the pharisees hypocrites for a reason. Legalism is the damning lie that says gods pleasure and joy in me is dependent upon my obedience.
In my last post, i defined a legalist as a person who believes that god is pleased with him or her on the basis of certain actions or characteristics. Obedience, on the other hand, is the fruit of the work of christ in which the holy spirit renews the heart to which it responds to its salvation by a willing and. The same action can for one be legalism and for an other obedience. Amazing facts study guide 14 is obedience legalism. It has many forms and faces and all of us are susceptible to it. The dangers of legalism sermon by david taylor, luke 11. We often, in the words of dietrich bonhoeffer, excuse ourselves from single minded obedience to the word of jesus on the pretext of legalism and a supposed. In fact, at first glance, it doesnt sound appealing at all. Legalism is the act of trying to earn favor, whether salvation or some other kind of right standing with god. If a person, church, or denomination mandates a fast and people fast to please that person, church, or denomination knowing they will be looked poorly upon if they do not, then it is legalism.
January 7, 20 posted by matt bible and theology, christian character. Although he appears to the external observer as one who is scrupulous in his civic obedience, his obedience is only external, and he doesnt care at all about what the law is actually all about. This second kind of legalism obeys the externals while the heart is far. Christianity is not conformity to externally imposed rules, but, as the apostle. Jesus himself was obedient unto death, even death on a cross philippians 2.
These are strong words, but history, tradition, experience, and scripture reveal that where legalism spreads, disunity prospers. This sermon was delivered at the iron hall assembly in belfast, northern ireland, by pastor david legge. Obedience is a loving desire to obey christ and serve him. It is simply impossible to be a person of grace or a legalist without some very evident practice of obedience. But we must be careful not to confuse legalism with obedience. Obedience is the answer to our challenges and a blessing. Some teach that after the law has accomplished its purpose of pointing a sinner to christ for forgiveness and cleansing, the commandments are no longer needed in the experience of a believer.