He saw much looseness about holiness in his congregation. 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. Obedience is always the result of christs saving work, not part of that saving work. Of course, this obedience is possible only through christ acts 4. It says, i am doing what jesus said regardless of what everybody else is doing. No, disobedience is sin, and obedience is not legalism. 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. Obedience is the answer to our challenges and a blessing.
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. Legalism is contrary to christian obedience, which is listening under the direction of the living lord jesus christ. I say rediscovered because some of the founders of the restoration movement understood grace. I am tired of being called a legalist when i express a conservative feeling about right and wrong. 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. Legalism is a matter of the heart, not obedience to god and radical love for others. For our purposes today, we will contrast legalism with obedience, something it is often mistaken for.
But we must be careful not to confuse legalism with obedience. 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. Obedience is taking the words of god literally and applying them to your life. Obedience is expressing the love of christ to christ in keeping the law. 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. Amazingly, some christians say that any attempt to obey gods law amounts to legalism. Notice the following comparisons between obedience and legalism. We love the most high with all our hearts and live. A puritans mind brings you the old time radio program the wild boar news podcast from sunny south florida. Often times the contrast is more between grace and legalism rather than between obedience and legalism.
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. His conscience called him to a more careful obedience to god and to his word. It should be noted that the words legalism or legalist do not occur in the old nor the new testament. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it matthew 7.
The term legalist school fa jia is ubiquitous in studies of early chinese political philosophy. Paul explains how he was set free through the lord jesus christ. Articles and sermons obedience versus legalism by simon. Again, legalism is the belief good works will save someone, and obedience is thinking christ alone will save with the result being good works. 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. Legalism is the act of trying to earn favor, whether salvation or some other kind of right standing with god. Christianity is not conformity to externally imposed rules, but, as the apostle. The dangers of legalism sermon by david taylor, luke 11.
This sermon was delivered at the iron hall assembly in belfast, northern ireland, by pastor david legge. Cornerstone bible church obedience, devotion or legalism. 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. Obedience versus legalism by simon schrock sermon index. You can get obedience by using the government to control everything. The gospel translates into devotion expressed by the apostle as. It is simply impossible to be a person of grace or a legalist without some very evident practice of obedience. Jesus called the pharisees hypocrites for a reason. Some legalism results from skewed motives and purposes, essentially seeing good deeds. Legalism is contrary to the lordship of christ, wherein he directs and guides our lives. There is a dilemma in the christian church today which, by no means, will be cleared up easily. 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.
Is a believer who joyfully obeys the bible out of love for the messiah a legalist or engaged in covenant obedience. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh and break gods law. Yet jesus said if you really love god, youll do what he asks. Obedience is a loving desire to obey christ and serve him. In fact, at first glance, it doesnt sound appealing at. In christian theology, legalism or nomism is a pejorative term referring to putting law above. Legalism is a broad term for certain improper perspectives on gods law. Scripture is abundantly clear from start to finish that this is not possible. Join doug batchelor as he presents the answer to a question that most christians want to know is obedience legalism if youre saved by. 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. 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. In fact, at first glance, it doesnt sound appealing at all. 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.
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. Jesus himself was obedient unto death, even death on a cross philippians 2. Let us never excuse antinomianism and disobedience with the word legalism. This second kind of legalism obeys the externals while the heart is far. 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. 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. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 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.
What is the difference between legalism and obedience. When you live from the spirit inside of you and out, you can walk in obedience rather than legalism. Of course, if there is a wrong use of the word legalism, there is also a correct understanding of the word. It has many forms and faces and all of us are susceptible to it. There is a dilemma in the christian church today which, by. But just because the disciplines of godliness can be misused doesnt mean they should be neglected. Now this combination of obedience and desire is surely an intricate one. These are strong words, but history, tradition, experience, and scripture reveal that where legalism spreads, disunity prospers. 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. The difference between legalism and obedience romans 58 did you know that christians are called to be slaves of obedience. Only the torah law shows us how to be holy as he is holy and thus qualified to be his bride.
Legalism is the damning lie that says gods pleasure and joy in me is dependent upon my obedience. The same action can for one be legalism and for an other obedience. There is no greater threat to the unity of the church than legalism. Legalism is when were trying to earn gods favor to be saved. Legalism is contrary to the spiritled christian life, wherein the spirit of christ enables and. Legalism is a persons attempt to attain or maintain salvation through his or her own works, merit, humility, sound judgement or good character. So how do christians practice a gospelcentered spirituality. In this video you will learn the difference between legalism and bible obedience. Legalism in chinese philosophy stanford encyclopedia of.
You should reward those who do well, and punish those who practice evil. Amazing facts study guide 14 is obedience legalism. This is the wrong use of the word legalism, and this is how my students used it that day in my classroom. Obedience versus legalism by simon schrock posted by sermonindex, on. Legalism is a term believers use to describe a doctrinal stand focusing on rules as a means to salvation. The difference between legalism and obedience romans 58. January 7, 20 posted by matt bible and theology, christian character. God commands us to obey his word, and when pressed with those commands we must not cry foul legalism.
And those that obey the law without dependence on gods grace are accused of legalism to avoid the trap of legalism, we need. In fact, obedience is an essential part of the christian faith. Obedience isn t legalism, unless you believe god is an arbitrary control freak who hates you. 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.
323 1217 1565 1332 250 242 688 144 870 592 444 1198 1527 915 296 1616 1582 1081 72 83 1157 1338 572 323 888 1404 182 937 1420 1212 1282 174