Legalism

One thing that I struggled with for a very long time, growing up in the church setting, is the issue of legalism. I always knew that we cannot be saved by our works, but I often times tried to walk with God by my own works and think He took pleasure in me because of my works. Thank God for the law of Life, this glorious new covenant.

I think one of the greatest issues in the professing church today is not the prosperity gospel, but a works mentality...

1. Like the Judaizers in the New Testament, we believe even AFTER salvation that God thinks there something good in us. There is no good thing in our flesh - this is a liberating thought - God's not expecting us to reach a standard.

2. the Standard is Christ. The only good that can come out of a human vessel is Christ Himself. Anything outside of that is human striving.

The essence of a religious spirit is feeling superior to another or less than another. We are all one because of Christ. Praise God

There truly is legalism in churches but the bigger problem right now is calling things legalism that are really only true christianity. Obviously we are saved by grace and not of our works. This article is good to clear up many misconceptions of living the Christian life

*did Jesus not command us to produce fruit for Him?
*were we not created in Him for good works?

then why all the fuss over good works after salvation?

just some questions.
phil

I think many people confuse holiness with works.
I will mention holiness and they think Im talking about works.
Unless holiness is works and IM confused.

sermonindex wrote:
There truly is legalism in churches but the bigger problem right now is [b]calling things legalism that are really only true christianity.[/b]

Brother, my heart goes with yours.

sermonindex wrote:
We are so far from normal Christianity that any form of "discipline" amongst those of us that are called saved (by the grace of God) would be good. By our own we are not good obviously but Christ changes us to be "conformed" into His image so that we can walk more like Him. And yes that is Him working in us.. but he is changing us.

hi, it is normal christian activity when you say I must pray and I must study 2 hrs a day or witness to ten people every day.it is legalism for me to say you must do the same.jimp

In reading the responses, it appears that many are taking what I said out of context.

I never said discipline, prayer, fasting, and the reading of the Word is sin or is legalism. I said we do these things to think there is something inherently good in us. If our motivation to do these things is to develope a sense of righteousness in ourself, then we are deceiving ourselves. But if it is the life of God within us that causes us to do these things with His heart and mind, rather than in our own flesh - then we are walking in newness of Life.

Repeat: Prayer, reading Scriptures, holy living, obedience - all are necessity. However, they must be done in and through our Christ rather than us striving in our own strength to develope a sense of holiness apart from Jesus.

Legalism and religion is when we think there is something good in us and when our deeds are motivated by that in our hearts. All we do in this new covenant must be Christ in us and through us, newness of life, the law of the Spirit of life. THis is the glory of the Christian. Christ IN Us the hope of glory

Perhaps we should act out of a knowledge of our inadequacy.This causing us to imitate the great example Jesus Christ. The Scriptures clearly say that there is none righteous no not one. Even in the believer "our righteouness is as filthy rags" [u]apart from the enabling power of Jesus Christ[/u]. One following after righteousness and holiness is often seen as legalistic. This because of the strict standard of Jesus. Philippians 4:8 is the standard that is set forth for the believer to judge all things. I say this even beyond the more explicit mandate of "be ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect", and "be ye holy for I am holy". Bible study and prayer.
Fasting and meditation. Memorization and soulwinning. These things take time and each is required for a well rounded relationship with the Lord. Now is it legalistic to put these things first? Is it legalistic to require these of yourself? your family? Your church? Answer. It can be. If you begin to make rules. (Pray, study for this long everyday. If you don't your a backslider!You had better witness to at least five people every day or you don't care about souls!) That is legalism.
It is not the act but rather the motive. Jesus told the Pharisees that the things they did were good but they were trading the best for the good.( tithing of spices but robbing widows, he said to take care of the last three but not to leave the other undone). He exposed their motives and was quick to point out there is a difference between doing something for self exaltation in self righteousness(look at me) and doing something for the sake of Christ (look at Him).The same action but a different motive leads to a different reaction from God Himself. This is what I see in the issue of legalism. I had better stop this may not even be online with this thread.

this is a quote:"our righteouness is as filthy rags"

Unless someone has the scripture for me, it is correctly quoted, from Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our "righteousnesses" are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
verse 7
And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our "iniquities".

When I studied this verse the righteous acts as stated in other versions of the bible.. the king James says righteousnesses.
this is not holiness but acts of holiness.
Isaiah is Lamenting the fact that since they were not being holy before God their righteous acts were not going to be acceptable before God.
This is one of the most misquoted scriptures known.
If were going to be unholy, ungodly, and hipocrites, our righteousnesses, are going to be filthy rags before a holy God,,
I hope this helps..
If someone has other ideas concerning this it would be helpful. Thx.

There is a video sermon by Zac Poonen on this very topic. I must admit I haven't watched it as of yet, but I will. I'm listening to this whole series of his right now. (His Freedom from Denominationalism is wonderful!)

[url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=7647&commentView=itemComments]Freedom from Legalism[/url]

Philippians 2:13 "for it is God who causes you to WILL and to DO His good pleasure"

It is God who causes us to pray in the Spirit. It is God who gives us understanding and the ability to comprehend the Scriptures. It is God who gives us His power to witness. The point I'm making in all this is that it is all a work of God through a vessel, so no flesh can glory in His presence.

It is possible to evangelize, pray 3 hours a day, read Genesis to Revelation and still be a self-centered, arrogant, wrong-spirited person.

So the issue is not the works, but what is causing us to do the works? God looks at motives and not the outward acts.

Revelations 2 - the Ephesians church had deeds, labor, patience, and tested false apostles, yet lacked the love of God behind it.

1 Corinthians 13 - it's possible to prophesy, have faith, know all the mysteries and knowledge, give to the poor and be a martyr, yet without love it's nothing.

So again.. the point is that we should not look to deeds and righteous acts to feel a sense of "righteousness" because only God in us is righteous. When it is He who causes us to will and do His good pleasure, He is fulfilling righteousness in us by the law of life. When we are striving to "appear righteous" or feel righteous by these deeds, we're under law again (the yoke of bondage) and we are estranged from Christ.

The entire book of Galatians talks about this.

Greetings in Jesus' name!

It's been a while since i've been on sermonindex, so grace and peace to everyone again! God bless you all. i trust that we are all growing in grace and the knowledge of the Father, and His Son.

Here's some thoughts about legalism, particularly on the subject of an ordered life (Bible reading, praying, etc.) being accused of legalism.

1. Since i eat every day, at the same time, and it's not a spiritual activity, i must be a legalist. Oh, wait, if i don't eat, i'll die.

2. Since i sleep every night and its not a spiritual thing, but a physical, i must be a legalist, because i have to DO it! Oh, wait, if i don't sleep, i'll die.

3. Since i bathe and keep clean, and would never stop doing it, and it's not a spiritual thing, but a physical, i'm must be a legalist. Oh wait, if i don't bathe.... :-?

SO...

If i say that i have to feed on the Word of God daily, or i'll die, it is just as silly for one to consider me a legalist as if they would condemn me for eating food every day...

If i say that i have to pray to my heavenly Father every day, or i'll die, it is just as silly for one to consider me a legalist as if they would condemn me for sleeping every night...

Etc.

i hope that you can hear my point through the lame illustrations.

Brethren, sisters, many times we do ourselves damage, and its just what the enemy wants it, to stay away from the necessities of the Christian life: because we don't want to be legalistic.

Just because it's practical, doesn't mean its legalism.

Hey, in order to serve God, you've gotta get outta bed in the morning, RIGHT??? Is that legalism/ serving God through works instead of Christ?

Nay, but, rather, the practical outflow of God's Spirit in your life.

To seek God for service that is practical, and to keep Christ as the center, this is maintaining the Christian life, in a nutshell. Then as we are doing that, let's go out and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE LOST AND DYING WORLD!!

Hence, my thoughts...

God richly bless all of you dear ones. i hope i don't come across as sarcastic, or harsh... that's not my heart. :-D

Highest regards and utmost respect to you all,

-nathan

Reply to Mattie

Mat that was real sheep food, thanks.
Eddie