That’s Legalism!
Blog, Erik Garthe, Grace, Legalism, No Longer Conformed, That's Legalism!, Tradition, Works
2 Comments
How do you understand the term “legalism”? The way you define this word is important to the application of Scripture in your life. What does legalism mean to you? If it means trying to earn salvation by keeping the law, you are right: “for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
If you mean trying to live the Christian life in human energy, you are also correct. Galatians 3:3 asks, “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” The apostle Paul identified the law as a “tutor (schoolmaster) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24) Jesus upheld the law when He corrected the error of the religious leaders for their violation of the fifth commandment by their human tradition. (See Matthew 15:3-6) In fact, Christ took us to the very foundation of the law when He emphasized the spirit of the law as more important than the letter of the law. For example, He took the first commandment from “no other gods before Me” to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37) The sixth commandment was carried from “you shall not murder” to “whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” (1 John 3:15) Another example is that He brought “you shall not commit adultery” to “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) The commanded response of grace is always higher than the requirement of the law. Grace is not license to do what you want, but the power and desire to do what you ought to. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) Paul indicated that the Old Testament events happened “as examples, and they were written for our admonition.” (1 Corinthians 10:11) Do you believe that legalism means standards are too high? See 1 Peter 1:13-21.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
March 31, 2019 @ 5:36 pm
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May 23, 2019 @ 3:39 pm
I do consider all of the ideas you’ve introduced on your post.
They are very convincing and can definitely work.
Still, the posts are too quick for beginners.
May just you please extend them a little from next time?
Thank you for the post.