Legalism

[gerald285]

Legalism, what is it? There seems to be some confusion as to what it is. What constitutes legalism? I believe that because of the lack of understanding of what legalism is that most who claim to be fundamentalists are actually moderates or liberals and do not know it. So what is legalism?

 

[North Carolina Tentmaker]

Hey Gerald,

Well, from Wikipedia:

Legalism, in Christian theology, is a pejorative term referring to an improper fixation on law or codes of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of misguided rigor, pride, superficiality, the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God. Legalism is alleged against any view that law, not faith in God's grace, is the pre-eminent principle of redemption. Its opposite error is antinomianism, which is alleged against a view that moral laws are not binding.

Hope that makes things clear. Legalism is a blunt instrument that liberals use against anyone who dares to condemn their lack of Biblical standards when it comes to any aspect of their lives.

Anyone with standards more stringent than mine must be a legalist, especially if they are vocal about them. They are probably looking to their works for their salvation and may in fact be lost. On the other side, anyone with standards lower than mine must be a liberal, not commited to a real relationship with Christ and might even be lost.

Yep, I must be the only Christian left because nobody agrees with me.

[I hope the sarcasm is evident]

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Here are a few statements I liked:

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.

John Robbins

Legalism could be definied as any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God. In Paul's Epistle to the Galatians he warned them sternly about such false understandings of the gospel when he asked the offenders: "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Gal.3:3). Legalism always seems to have one thing in common: it's theology denies that Christ is sufficient for salvation. That some additional element of self-effort, merit or faithfulness on our part is necessary. As an example, those who erroneously teach that a Christian can lose his or her salvation are, in essence, denying the sufficiency of Christ to save to the utmost. They believe sin to be greater than Christ's grace. But Christ's righteousness which he counts toward us is not only effecient for our salvation, but sufficient. His once for all sacrifice put away sin for all time in those He has united to Himself. His salvation also means that he not only saves at the beginning but preserves us to the end, sealing us in His perfect righteousness whose blood "reminds the covenant God" not to treat us as our sins deserve. Any attempt to add our covenant faithfulness as part of the price of redemption after regeneration is an "attempt to attain our goal by human effort" and thus a complete misapprehension of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must, therefore, reject any and all attempts to maintain a judicial standing before God by any act on our part. Salvation is of the Lord.

John Hendryx and Bill Baldwin

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

To me, legalism in a nut shell, is adding a bunch of "do's and don'ts" (that are not in the Bible) and insisting that you adhere to them.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Here are a few statements I liked:

John Robbins

John Hendryx and Bill Baldwin

"Legalism could be definied as any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God."​

I believe the above to be the truest definition of legalism as it pertains to Christianity. This word is typically used, as one of the previous posts indicated, as a pejorative but typically it is used in error for the user confuses legalism with holiness and living sanctified lives. Any one that says you have to do any work to be saved in eternity, is engaging in legalism.

 

[Mexdeaf]

To put it in a nutshell, a legalist is one who looks at another brother and says, "Surely, God cannot use him (or "He must not be a Christian) because he doesn't live according to MY definition of how he ought to live."

Luke 18:9-14

 

[npetreley]

Here are a few statements I liked:

John Robbins

"Legalism could be definied as any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God."

Interesting quote, in view of the fact that one or more folks on BB repeatedly insist that we are justified by our works.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Interesting quote, in view of the fact that one or more folks on BB repeatedly insist that we are justified by our works.

"The doctrine of justification itself, as preached by an Arminian, is nothing but the doctrine of salvation by works..." C.H. Spurgeon

 

[Rufus_1611]

Interesting quote, in view of the fact that one or more folks on BB repeatedly insist that we are justified by our works.

----

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" - Romans 3:24

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." - Romans 3:28

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" - Romans 5:1​

---

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" - James 2:21

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." - James 2:24

"(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." - Romans 2:13​

 

[ReformedBaptist]

----

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" - Romans 3:24

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." - Romans 3:28

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" - Romans 5:1​

---

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" - James 2:21

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." - James 2:24

"(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." - Romans 2:13​

Not sure what your point is...but I thought I would add some comments to the Scriptures for clarification.


Concerning James 2:21 - Works are not the cause of justification, because that is denied by the Scripture Romans 4:2. But this is showing the effect, or fruit of it.

It appears, or is shown, by his works that Abraham was a true believer, justified before God, by his obedience.

Concerning James 2:24 - Again, not as the cause procuring man's justification, but as the fruit declaring it. Born-again, justified persons bear fruit. The Apostle James in no wise is contradicting the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:28. They are not speaking of the same KIND of faith. James speaks of a dead, lifeless, mere profession, and the other speaks of true, saving faith.

 

[npetreley]

Not sure what your point is...but I thought I would add some comments to the Scriptures for clarification.


Concerning James 2:21 - Works are not the cause of justification, because that is denied by the Scripture Romans 4:2. But this is showing the effect, or fruit of it.

It appears, or is shown, by his works that Abraham was a true believer, justified before God, by his obedience.

Concerning James 2:24 - Again, not as the cause procuring man's justification, but as the fruit declaring it. Born-again, justified persons bear fruit. The Apostle James in no wise is contradicting the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:28. They are not speaking of the same KIND of faith. James speaks of a dead, lifeless, mere profession, and the other speaks of true, saving faith.

MErs are by definition legalists. They need to take James 2 out of context in order to support their doctrine.

 

[ReformedBaptist]

MErs are by definition legalists. They need to take James 2 out of context in order to support their doctrine.

What is a MEer?

 

[npetreley]

What is a MEer?

One who believes in and promotes Millennial Exclusion (Kingdom Salvation, or whatever you want to call it).

 

[gerald285]

Here is a link http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/faq/what_is_legalism.shtml to an article that gives one of the best understanding of legalism I have seen. it also deals with how any misunderstanding of what it is can do to a church. However I am afraid it has already happened to most churches today.

 

[TCGreek]

The stence of legalism is the worst there is.

 

[npetreley]

Here is a link http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/faq/what_is_legalism.shtml to an article that gives one of the best understanding of legalism I have seen. it also deals with how any misunderstanding of what it is can do to a church. However I am afraid it has already happened to most churches today.

From your link...

Simply put, legalism is any belief system that supports the contention that man's salvation is in some way connected to his own works, in accordance with law.

True. And although this thread is supposed to be about legalism, it is synonymous with Millenial Exclusion. The ME folks claim that there is a second (and third) salvation. The second salvation is of the soul, called Kingdom Salvation, and it is entirely by works.

They believe salvation by grace of the spirit takes but a brief moment of assenting to facts. After that, the newly saved Christian must attend to Kingdom Salvation, which occupies every moment of a Christian's life thenceforth.

So you are released from bondage to fear for a split second, after which the ME doctrine brings you right back into fear, and keeps you there from that moment forward.

It is a damnable doctrine of demons. Definitely.

 

[Jarthur001]

Legalism, what is it? There seems to be some confusion as to what it is. What constitutes legalism? I believe that because of the lack of understanding of what legalism is that most who claim to be fundamentalists are actually moderates or liberals and do not know it. So what is legalism?

Legalism is setting standards for others to live by and thinking of them less than godly if they do not follow them. In other words legalism is wanting people to be as you see holiness.

 

[saturneptune]

Legalism is setting standards for others to live by and thinking of them less than godly if they do not follow them. In other words legalism is wanting people to be as you see holiness.

Bravo, an excellent definition.

 

[av1611jim]

From your link...


True. And although this thread is supposed to be about legalism, it is synonymous with Millenial Exclusion. The ME folks claim that there is a second (and third) salvation. The second salvation is of the soul, called Kingdom Salvation, and it is entirely by works.

They believe salvation by grace of the spirit takes but a brief moment of assenting to facts. After that, the newly saved Christian must attend to Kingdom Salvation, which occupies every moment of a Christian's life thenceforth.

So you are released from bondage to fear for a split second, after which the ME doctrine brings you right back into fear, and keeps you there from that moment forward.

It is a damnable doctrine of demons. Definitely.

I sure hope you do not intend to hijack this thread fella!

Stick to the topic!!!!

 

[gerald285]

How so? please explain

The stence of legalism is the worst there is.